Page 21 of Pain in the Axe
No one had ever mistaken me for the sweetheart every man fell in love with or the gal that guys were comfortable flirting with in professional spaces.
No, I was the ball-buster.
They made jokes about Commando Chloe and having to wear a cup to meetings.
But maybe honesty was the only way forward here. The thought made my heart sink, but what other choice did I have?
“I need your help,” I admitted, as much as it felt like defeat. “I took a big risk when I bought Hebert Timber, and I want to do right by it.”
He straightened, then dropped into the chair opposite me, his expression open and full of interest.
“And while I know you don’t care whether I lose money, if we can’t make this work, it’s not just my ass on the line.”
“My employees,” he said.
I nodded. “And the town. This company is important to a lot of people. I won’t play games with you. The crime and the drugs and the assault and the thefts? That’s all just icing on the shit cake right now. So I am going to ask. Humbly. Can you help me? Give me all the background, walk me through the last few years. I’ve got the court documents, but that’s just a small snapshot.”
“I’ll clear my weekend.” He stood and headed for the door. Halfway there, he turned to look at me, his eyes softening. “And after we talk shop, you can tell me why you’re really here.”
I scoffed. That would absolutely not be happening. I needed his help, but I was determined to keep all our interactions business related.
He bit his lower lip. “I think you feel this just as much as I do. I think you came back because you missed me.”
“Really?” I gripped the edge of my desk and laughed. “I missed you? After twenty years?”
“Nineteen years, four months, and eleven days,” he said softly, never breaking eye contact. “And for the record, I missed you too, Dragonfly.”
Chapter 6
Gus
The sun was shining, and a light breeze carried the smell of blooming flowers through the woods. In the trees above, chickadees flitted from branch to branch. Summer in Maine was its own special kind of magic.
But I felt like shit. My entire being was in turmoil, and I hadn’t slept in days.
I prioritized order and productivity. I made plans, set goals, and followed through. But right now, there were no goals, there was no plan. My life was chaos.
And it was all her fault.
For all these years, I’d convinced myself that I’d healed, that I’d moved forward from our whirlwind love affair.
But now, as I surveyed the tranquil forest around me, I knew it was a damn lie.
I’d never gotten back what she took with her.
My innocence. My belief in true love.
My heart.
How could I do this? Work for her?
It seemed impossible, but I’d committed to one year.
A year doing what I’d always done, just for someone else. Watch as the Hebert name was stripped from the buildings and the equipment. Even after it had been erased completely, the legacy would continue. That’s what was important. My guys would still have jobs, and hell, maybe we could hire even more.
She’d promised to keep operating. That was all the information I had on her future plans. And that would have to be enough.
It was the only way to ensure that my brothers got paid and that the business’s doors stayed open.
