Page 46 of Quinn

“Burt?” Eloise’s face crumpled with confusion.

“He owns Fred’s Hardware store,” Aunt Eileen explained, waiting for Danny to continue.

“I’m sorry.” Eloise set the ice to one side. “Fred’s is owned by a man named Burt?”

Most of the Farradays in the room chuckled. Aunt Eileen just shrugged.

“Anyhow…” Danny looked ready to jump out of his skin if they didn’t let him finish. “Burt thought it was a great idea, but since there’s nothing available on Main Street any time soon, he offered to give some space at the hardware store for new bikes, and he even has a nearly empty store room that we could use for repairs and restoration.”

“Apparently,” Quinn stepped in, “restoring vintage bikes is a thing. Burt said that if Danny is any good at it, he could even sell the bikes online.”

“Really?” Now Aunt Eileen’s face carried the curious expression.

“Doesn’t surprise me,” Finn interjected. “People sell and ship things of all sizes, all over the country.”

“Well, if that’s true,” Aunt Eileen waved a thumb over her shoulder, “you can start with those two beat up old bikes that have been rusting behind the storage shed since before Grace was born.”

Danny’s eyes looked like they were about to fall out of their sockets when his head spun around, slack jawed, to face Quinn.

“Told you.” Quinn shrugged.

“Told him what?” Eloise’s gaze darted from Quinn to her brother.

“That there were two bikes on the property that were older than dirt and just as rusty, and that no one would mind if he restored them.”

“That’s certainly a start,” Finn nodded his approval, “but aren’t you going to need working capital for supplies as well as new bikes?”

“I could try for a start-up loan. There are programs for veterans,” Danny suggested.

Heads in the room nodded, but waited for more.

“That’s where I come in.” Quinn patted Danny on the back and her brother’s eyes narrowed with confusion. Seemed there were a lot of confused people today. “I think it’s a great idea, and if Danny’s willing to do all the heavy lifting, I’d be real pleased to be the money man partner.”

The only thing that felt better than seeing the shock and excitement on Danny’s face at Quinn’s offer, was seeing Eloise’s head snap around to face him, her eyes filled with what he hoped was love.

“So y’all are in the bicycle business?” Finn looked to the two men.

“Are we?” Quinn looked to Danny.

The young man, barely able to hold his excitement, nodded.

“But there’s a condition.” To his pleasure, Danny remained calm, his shoulders straight, and his smile hadn’t faltered.

This time when Quinn spoke, he stared Danny in the eyes. “There will be no more running away and scaring the life out of your sister.”

“I’ve learned my lesson on that. May have taken Mother Nature and the worst dust storm in half a century, but I get it now.”

All he could hope was that the fix would be that simple. Though with Gray sitting nearby, his focus on Danny, Quinn had the feeling that Danny would be getting more support than any one man needed.

Inching to the edge of her seat, Eloise slowly stood upright and leveled her gaze with Quinn’s. “May I speak with you a minute? Outside.”

Something akin to panic gurgled in his chest. All he could do was nod. Had he done something wrong? Should he have talked to her about it first? Of course he should have. Danny was her brother and he’d overstepped. Dang it.

Following her as she slowly crossed the living room and made her way through the kitchen and out the back door, Quinn prepared himself for the dressing down of a lifetime. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

“What?” She turned around to face him.

“I’m sorry?”

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