Page 24 of Thor
I had a bad feeling about that.It looked like the kind of walk-in cooler you’d find in a restaurant and that’s not what you needed for flowers.Unlike cases of drinks, or sandwich meats and cheese, flowers needed a very gentle air flow to keep them as fresh as possible.The glass display cooler out front was ideal but not big enough.I’d need a second one to have enough room for stock.Bigger would be better, but unless I was doing a wedding or another type of event it would do.I’d probably be able to order larger amounts close to the date of a big event.I made a mental note to check the cost of coolers, and to see if there were any places where I could pick up a used one.
Thor broke into my train of thought.“You look worried.”
I shook my head.“Not worried.Just thinking.”I opened the cooler door and confirmed my suspicions.This wouldn’t do for flowers at all.I explained the problem to Thor.
“A flower cooler would be part of the renovations.”He put his hands on his hips.“Not much room in here for that though.Could you have it out front?”
“Out front would work better, actually.People could see what we had in stock that way.Often people can picture what they want, but they don’t know the flower’s name.”
He nodded.“Yeah.Makes sense.We would have to update the wiring if you’re putting a second cooler out front.Deuce mentioned having an electrician and a plumber in to check things out before we put in an offer.We could have them add hookups for a display cooler as part of their estimates.”
* * *
Thor
I felt a surge of satisfaction.She’d take the shop.
I could tell by the adorable wrinkle in her brow that she was already cataloguing what she needed to do to get the place in shape.Adding a cooler wouldn’t be a big deal.The place needed a good scrubbing down, and maybe a coat of paint.Nothing major.
As if she could read my mind, Janet commented, “It would be brighter in here if we painted the walls a lighter color.Maybe an off-white or a really pale yellow?I could get Sophia to come look at it.She has a knack for that kind of thing.”
“Do you want that walk-in cooler in the workroom taken out to give you more room?”
She shook her head.“No, it could be useful for other supplies I need to keep cold, like fruits and things.It just won’t work for flowers.And this room is plenty big enough to work in.”
She pulled out her phone and started to dictate notes into it.I trailed behind her as we toured the entire ground floor.She investigated every nook and cranny, speaking into the phone as she went.
She was already hooked, and we hadn’t even gone upstairs yet.Once she saw the living space, she wouldn’t be able to say no.She paced into the retail space and chattered away, pivoting in a circle as she talked.
When she finally fell silent, I took her by the hand.“Want to see the living quarters?”
She glanced around.“Yes please.I don’t see a stairwell.”
“The suite is separate from the shop, so the stairs are outside.We could add an entrance from here if you want one, but it would take up room.Just let the guys know when they are renovating.”I led her out the side door and around the back.Ace had left a set of keys with me, and I unlocked the door.The stairs were in good shape and led to a landing outside the apartment.I unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping aside to let Janet enter.
Her swift intake of breath sent a curl of satisfaction sliding through me.She loved it.How could she not?The open living area had been painted in muted tones of pale pink, fading into a creamy white in the kitchen.The floors were oak hardwood polished to a high shine in a soft hue that matched the kitchen cupboards.A built-in shelf unit covered one wall in the living area, with a gas fireplace set in the middle.
The kitchen had granite counters on three sides, and shiny stainless-steel appliances.A shiny chrome faucet with a pull-down sprayer graced the double sink.Having a window over the sink that looked onto the parking lot would be helpful for watching customers.
“It’s way nicer than my current apartment!”She turned to me, her eyes taking on a worried slant.“How am I going to be able to afford this?The apartment alone is worth a fortune.”
“You haven’t seen the whole place yet.There’s still the bedroom and a bathroom.”
“With a tub?”Her constant complaint about her current place was the lack of a tub in the bathroom.It had a shower, but she wanted to be able to soak in a tub.
“Yes.There’s a tub.”I smiled indulgently.“A deep one.”
She squealed and raced over to the hallway.It wasn’t much, just a few feet long but it had two doorways.One opened into the bedroom, which was pretty standard -- a ten by twelve-foot square room with a window and a closet.Mirrored sliding doors on the closet made the room appear bigger than it was.
The bathroom, which was right next to the bedroom, clinched the deal.
“A clawfoot tub!I love it!”Janet clapped her hands in delight.I swear she hadn’t been this excited when she’d been touring the flower shop.“And a separate shower stall!”She ran her hands over the tiled wall.“Look!It has one of those rainforest showerheads.And it’s so big!We could both fit in it.”
A picture of the two of us sharing the shower filled my mind, her generous breasts gleaming wet and droplets dripping from her puckered nipples.
My jeans were suddenly uncomfortably tight.Yup, the shower thing was definitely top of my to-do list.
She turned to face me, her expression suddenly sober.“Do you think I can really afford to do this?”
