Love Me Nots (Jasper Falls 3)

“Sue,” Perrin hissed, her gaze peeking through the order window at Luke and Gage.

“What?” she snapped.

Perrin frowned at her tone but only glanced over her shoulder and then back to the men. She only had a few seconds before someone needed a refill. “There’s a hot guy at the bar.”

Sue was suddenly beside her. “Well, hello handsome. Who is he?”

“He’s from Houston.”

She frowned. “What’s he doing all the way up here?”

Perrin shrugged. “I don’t know, but he’s not wearing a ring.”

Sue’s brows shot up. “You noticed that?”

“I…I guess I did.”

“Then you should ask him out.”

Now it was Perrin’s turn to frown. “Get real. You know I don’t date.”

“Girl, you have got to get over your shit.” She tipped her head toward the bar. “I bet getting under that hunk of man out there would get you over it really quick.”

When she walked away, Perrin did a double take. “Aren’t you interested?”

“Nope.” She disappeared back into the freezer.

“Why not?”

“Because finders keepers. You saw him first.”

“I’m not interested.” Three customers stepped up to the bar at once, expressions going from searching to impatient in two seconds flat. “You’re wasting a perfect piece of man candy.”

“Then you better step in.”

Rolling her eyes, she went to help the customers. For the next hour, she barely had time to think. As the rush slowed, the bar was less full and the tables were starting to thin. Luke still sat at the bar, but he and the man no longer spoke. They seemed content to simply stare at the flat screens and watch some sports show Luke had put on. Since the bar used to belong to his family, he often helped himself to the remote.

“Refill?” she asked.

Luke waved her off, but Gage slid his empty glass forward. “How long have you owned the bar?”

“A little over a year.”

“How’s business? Is this an ordinary crowd?”

She refilled his Scotch. “Actually, this is a little busier than the norm, but each weekend seems to generate a bigger crowd than the last—especially since the revitalization project started.”

He nodded his approval. “So business is good? Steady?”

Business was great. “I can’t complain. What do you do?”

“Ever hear of King’s Construction Outlet?”

Luke turned, his eyes narrowing and his ears practically perking.

“Yeah, I’ve seen their commercials.” Everyone had. They were the country’s leading hardware and lumber distributor. Pop-up box stores were in every town, but Jasper Falls did their best to avoid the larger chain companies in favor of mom-and-pop stores.

“I’m Gage King,” he said as if that explained everything.

Perrin’s eyes widened. “Like King as in King?”

He chuckled. “Correct.”

“As in you’re the King.”

He chuckled again. “That’s one way of looking at it.” He reached in the breast pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a business card, sliding it across the bar.

It didn’t have the orange logo of King’s Construction on it, and it wasn’t a normal paper business card. This one was thick like a credit card and pearl white. It only said Gage King on the front. The back had a phone number and email.

“That’s my personal card.”

Luke’s gaze narrowed. “You hear on business or pleasure?”

“A little of both.”

Oh boy. That wasn’t going to go over well. Everyone knew Jasper Falls was most famous for its lumber. McCullough Lumber was owned by three generations of McCullough men. Everyone worked there, including her brother-in-law, Ryan, who also happened to be a co-owner with Luke and his twin brother Finn.

“What kind of business?” Luke all but growled. Gone was the friendly bar patron attitude from earlier.

“Just keeping my options open.”

And apparently, keeping his plans to himself. Perrin shot Luke a look, warning him to play nice. This guy was still a paying customer.

Luke tossed some cash on the bar and grabbed his jacket. “I’ll see you later, Perrin.”

“Bye, Luke.” She sighed. Within ten minutes, every McCullough in a ten mile radius was going to be gossiping about this guy. And there were a lot of McCulloughs.

“Something I said?” Gage asked, glancing over his shoulder as Luke left the bar.

“His family owns the lumberyard up on the mountain.”

“Ah.” He sipped his Scotch.

Since he didn’t offer any further information about his intentions, Perrin did her own digging. “So, are you really thinking about putting one of your stores here?”

He eyed her skeptically. “Do you have an opinion on the matter?”

“I’ve got lots. But it’s rude to answer a question with a question.”

He chuckled. “I’m undecided. I could be convinced either way. How about we have dinner and you do your best to persuade me?”

She frowned. “You don’t know which way I’ll try to sway you.”

He glanced at Luke’s empty seat and arched a brow, as if somehow challenging her. Crossing his arms on the bar, he leaned forward. “If I hesitated every time I came across a family-owned business, I’d barely own a single store.”