Page 81 of Love You
TJ studied the number, got on the Internet, and made some notes on a yellow legal pad. “That would be your monthly payment, according to interest rates on a ten-year variable loan.”
Win whistled. “No can do.”
“Uh-uh. You need a bigger down.”
“If we get FlashTag would my bonus cover it?”
TJ did a few more calculations on his yellow pad. “Yeah, maybe. But getting them is by no means a done deal. Apparently, they’ve scheduled a second trial with the Mammoth group as well.”
Win leaned forward. “How do you know that?”
“Remember Joe Robalardi?”
Win drew a blank. “No.”
“He worked for us a couple of summers ago as a guide. He’s in Southern California doing freelance for Mountain Adventure. We still keep in touch and he let it slip that the FlashTag crew is coming back for a second round.”
“Huh, well, that sucks. When were you planning to tell us?”
“I’m telling you now.” TJ propped his feet up on the couch. “I’m hoping we have the advantage because of you and this Madison woman.”
Win held up his arms. “Dude, I don’t even remember her.”
“Well, she remembers you. So turn on the Win Garner charm and bring home the prize.”
Win pointed at the yellow pad. “You’re supposed to be a financial genius. Figure out what I have to do to get Reggie’s cabin. I want it. In the meantime, I talked to Lucky Rodriguez. He’s in.”
“What do you mean he’s in? When did you talk to him?”
“Yesterday, over the phone. He’s game to do business with us. We just have to work out the details. I told him you and I would go to his dude ranch and discuss ways we could cross-promote.”
“Really?”
“No, I’m making it up.” Win smacked TJ in the head with a throw pillow. “Oh ye of little faith, didn’t you think I’d follow through?”
“Quite honestly, no.”
“Well you were wrong, dickweed.” He swung his feet onto the floor and went into the lobby to find Darcy.
“You ready to do inventory?”
She’d worn jeans and a T-shirt because they’d be in the storage room most of the day. He liked the way the clothes clung to her curves. Hell, he liked everything about her.
“Let me just set things up to send calls to TJ.” She fidgeted with the switchboard and he took a picture of her with his phone.
“I don’t have any of you,” he said, and studied the one he’d shot. “It’s a good one of your dimples.”
She gave him a look like he’d lost his mind. That was the thing about Darcy, she wasn’t overly taken with him, like most women.
“I’m ready,” she said, and together they walked to the big room in the back of the building where they kept the life preservers, the bike helmets, the personal flotation devices, and all the other gear they required their clients to use.
GA ran a strict shop when it came to safety. If any of the equipment wasn’t up to snuff, they tossed it and got new. They’d had a few nasty situations, mostly involving avalanches in the backcountry, but that came with the territory. And then there was Stanley Royce, who because of his own carelessness had rolled down a mountainside in a porta-potty and sued Garner Adventure. Otherwise, they had a good record.
“TJ just told me that FlashTag’s also doing a second trial with Mountain Adventure. I had sort of hoped that De Wolk’s coming was just a formality and that the account was ours.”
“Me too.” Darcy flipped open her tablet and started a spreadsheet. “I want my promotion.”
“I want my house. Reggie called with the price and I can’t swing it without a decent bonus.”
