Chapter 9 #2
“Do you know West?” she asked.
He looked at her slyly, and Summer felt Chance’s hand press more firmly into her back.
Buzz gave her a million-dollar salesman smile. “Do I know West? You betcha. My family owns several car dealerships. Your brother was a spokesman for a couple of them for several years. He even drove some of our cars and did ads for us. We’re going to take good care of you, Summer.”
Already, she didn’t like the slimy Buzz. If it had been up to her, they would leave right now. Still, she didn’t want to embarrass Chance by doing that. What Summer decided to do was take charge of the situation. This was a guy who didn’t think women had a brain in their heads.
She was ready to prove him wrong.
“I’m here to look at your SUV inventory, Buzz,” she said brightly. “I’m leaning toward either the Murano or Rogue and would like to test drive both models.”
“Ah, the little lady knows her own mind,” Buzz said almost condescendingly.
“I do,” she said firmly, unwilling to be pushed around by this guy. “I’ve already studied both models online, but I’d like to hear from you. Compare both and tell me the advantages and disadvantages of each model,” she said, her tone businesslike.
Chance’s thumb stroked her back in approval, while Buzz seemed to be flustered for a moment. She believed he was more of a figurehead at his family’s business.
Diplomatically, she said, “You are more of a big picture guy, I assume, running this dealership. You may not know all those particulars about every model.”
Summer looked to the salesman who had started to greet them and waved him over.
“Why don’t you let this gentleman answer my questions?”
He reached them, and she thrust out her hand. “I’m Summer Sutherland. I’d like to hear your expert opinions about the Murano and Rogue.”
“I’m Jim Hamilton.” The salesman’s eyes flicked to his boss, and she saw Buzz nod. “I’d be happy to walk you through both cars, Summer.”
She turned to Chance. “Why don’t you and Buzz catch up? Jim and I will look at the cars before I test drive each.”
As she and the salesman walked away, she heard Buzz’s low whistle, and heard him say, “She’s a firecracker, Chance.”
“Summer definitely knows her mind,” Chance replied. “I like that in a woman. Especially my girlfriend.”
Hearing him call her that caused her spirits to skyrocket. It took everything not to rush back to him and throw her arms about him, giving him a big kiss. She played it cool, though, letting Jim do his spiel. Summer turned her attention to him and even stopped him a few times, asking questions.
“You’ve done your homework, Summer,” the salesman said approvingly after he’d answered everything for her. “I wish more shoppers did the same. Which car would you like to drive first?”
“Let’s go with the Murano,” she told him, and then she looked to Chance. “Want to go out with me?”
“Nope,” he said. “You’re the one buying the vehicle. You’re the one who should decide. You don’t need my input.”
Jim said, “I’ll need to get your license, Summer.”
“Not necessary,” Buzz told his employee. “Just give her the key fob, Jim.”
The salesman quickly returned with both fobs, and he told Summer to try both city streets surrounding the dealership and then take the car on the highway for a couple of exits, saying, “You want to see how it performs at both low and high speeds.”
She accepted the keys to the Murano and did as he suggested, returning about twenty minutes later. Chance gave her a look that told her he needed rescuing.
Summer traded fobs with Jim and then motioned to Chance. “Come on, Cowboy. Let me take you for a ride.”
As he came toward her, a slow smile spreading across his face, she realized the innuendo of her words, and her face flamed.
They got into the Rogue, and Summer drove the same route she had before, assessing the Rogue’s performance versus the Murano’s.
“What are you thinking?” he asked after a few minutes. “Like one over the other?”
“They both handle well. I think the Rogue is actually giving a slightly smoother ride. And it’s a bit smaller but still a decent size. It’s the one I want.”
She glanced his way and smiled. “Besides, I think it’s pretty funny that a romance writer would choose to drive a Rogue.”
He looked baffled. “Why so?”
“I guess you’ve never read a romance,” Summer said, laughing.
“Nope. Never have. I like Louis L’Amour novels and read him and biographies, mostly.”
“I’ve edited my fair share of both historical and contemporary romances.
Historical heroes are often rogues. Contemporary romance authors simply call them bad boys.
Women seem to be consistently drawn to a rogue or bad boy.
The heroines, though, whether they’re strong personalities or a little meeker in nature, always seem to smooth out the rough edges on a rogue, and those rogues find they’re crazy about the heroine.
They find their happily ever afters together. ”
She pulled back into the dealership and said, “I’m going to buy this Rogue.”
“I can’t wait to see you at the bargaining table,” he said, his gray eyes dancing with mischief.
Summer grinned. “Watch and learn, Cowboy. I’ve had my fair share of dealings with ornery authors. Dealing with Buzz and Jim will be a piece of cake.”
They exited the Rogue, and she handed the fob back to a waiting Jim.
“Let’s go talk numbers,” she told the salesman, and he led her inside the building to an office with Buzz’s name on the door. The dealership owner quickly joined them, and they all took a seat.
Though Summer had read online that a buyer was never supposed to admit to a car salesman that you wanted a car, her strategy was a bit different.
“I’d like to buy this Rogue. It only has twenty miles on it, and I like the dark gray color. It also has the exact options I’m looking for. I’m not interested in financing. I’ll pay cash for it.”
She saw the surprised looks coming from all three men.
“We usually finance cars,” Buzz said, frowning.
“That won’t be necessary,” Summer emphasized. “I’ve researched sticker prices for Rogues, and I know you’ve marked it up significantly for your MSRP,” referring to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. “I’m willing to pay above costs by a thousand dollars.”
Summer named the figure and added, “You can take my offer or leave it, gentlemen. If I were you, though, I wouldn’t walk away from a cash deal.
Your profit will be slim, but you won’t have to fret about moving the car, plus you don’t have to worry about getting the price of the car spread out over four or five years. ”
She smiled brightly. “So, what’s it going to be? Do you want my business or not?”
Jim swallowed, looking hesitantly to Buzz, who said, “You drive a hard bargain, Summer. I was willing to make you a good deal since you’re related to West, but what you’re offering barely covers?—”
“That’s fine, Buzz,” she said, cutting him off and rising. “We’ll go somewhere else.” Then to make certain the fact she was leaving stuck in his craw, she added, “I’m sorry I’ll have to tell West how disappointed I was that you refused to do business with me.”
“Wait,” Buzz said, and she waited for him to capitulate. “That won’t be necessary. We want you to be happy, Summer.” He looked to Jim. “Write it up.”
“Yes, sir,” Jim said, leaving the office, and she noticed he bit back a smile.
“How long will that take?” she asked Buzz sweetly.
“Not long.”
She looked to Chance, who said, “I’d like to take my girlfriend out to lunch to celebrate her new car. We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Thanks for your time, Buzz,” Summer said breezily.
He looked unhappy but said perfunctorily, “Thank you for coming in. I hope you’ll be happy with your Rogue.”
Looking to Chance, she said, “Oh, I’m very happy with my rogue.” She winked at Chance, who chuckled.
They went to his truck, and he opened the door for her. Before she could get in, his hands captured her waist.
“You are a smooth operator, Sutherland,” he complimented. “Are you certain you’re not the rogue in this scenario? You handled him with ease, making Buzz dance to your tune.”
Summer smiled at him. “It felt pretty darn good,” she admitted.
“Holding you this way feels pretty darn good to me,” he said, his voice husky, causing those tingles to ripple through her again.
Then Chance kissed her possessively. Summer didn’t care who saw. She merely reveled in the kiss. In the feel of his hands on her. The scent of his cologne, crisp and clean.
He broke the kiss. “Now, you can get in.”
“Where are you taking me to lunch?” she asked, getting into the truck.
“Wherever you want to go, babe.”
Ooh. She liked him calling her babe. She liked him kissing her. Touching her. Summer liked everything about Chance Blackstone.
And she ready for whatever came next.