Page 31 of Thor
He just grinned.“Go.Your lawyer friend is waiting.”
I stuck my tongue out like the mature woman I was and turned to walk over to the front door.As I pulled it open, Thor let out a low wolf-whistle from his seat on the bike.
I pretended I didn’t hear it.
The law offices were on the second floor, and despite what I’d just told Thor, I had no idea which one belonged to Jason.I approached the reception desk manned by a blonde dressed in an impeccable three-piece suit.She gave me a professional smile.“Can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Jason Witherspoon.I have an appointment.”
The woman pulled up something on her computer, and her smile became more genuine when she looked back at me.“You must be Janet.Mr.Witherspoon said to send you right in.”
“Thank you.”I looked around at the array of tightly closed doors.“Which office would be his?”
“I’m sorry.He said you were an old family friend, so I assumed you’d been here before.”She nodded her head at the second door on the right.“I just started a month ago so I’m not up to speed on everything yet.”
“No problem.”I stepped toward the door she had indicated and grasped the door handle.Taking a deep breath, I opened it and stepped inside.
Jason stood as I walked in, stepping around the desk to take me in his arms and give me a big hug.“You’re not a little girl anymore.”
“No, I’m not.But you still look the same.”I wrinkled my nose.“Maybe one or two extra gray hairs, but they just make you look more distinguished.”
A wry grin crossed his lips as he let me go and went back to his chair.“More than a few, I’m afraid, but thanks.”
I looked around.I’d never been to his office before.Legal things were always handled by my father.Everything in the room was carefully chosen to create an impression of power and wealth.From the high-end leather seats to the signed artwork on the walls and the gleaming hardwood flooring, the subtle message clear: this was the office a man to be reckoning with.I was glad he was on my side.
“So, tell me what’s going on.”He leaned back in his chair.
I slid my backpack off and unzipped it.Pulling out the folder Thor had given me, I laid it on the desk.“As I mentioned on the phone, I’m going to open a flower shop, and I’ve been offered a lease for the premises with a buyout option at the end.”I went on to explain the deal, making sure to stress the fact that my relationship with Thor wasn’t a factor.
Jason narrowed his eyes, flipping through the papers in the folder.He looked up for a minute.“Can I have my assistant get you something while I take a look at these?Coffee?Water?”
I shook my head.“No, thanks, I’m good.”I was much too nervous, afraid he’d find something in the paperwork that would torpedo the deal.
He went back to reading, and I sat back in my chair, willing my body to relax.It seemed like hours as he carefully read all three pages of the contract and studied the pictures of the property.He finally raised his head.“That is the least complicated document I’ve seen in decades.”
I frowned.“Is that a bad thing?”
“Far from it.There’s no clauses or fine print to trip you up.The building is freehold.The lessor has already made sure they have clean title to it.There’s a set payment schedule with a very reasonable buyout clause at the end.And you have the option, without penalty, of not buying it out if circumstances change.It’s most likely the best deal you’ll ever see.”
I let out a sigh of relief.“So, I can go ahead with it?”
He nodded.“Definitely.Now tell me about this new beau of yours.”
I hesitated.How to describe Thor?“He’s an ex-SEAL.He’s part of the group that is offering me this deal, but he’s a really good guy.He makes me feel special.”
“Riptide is a motorcycle club, correct?”
I nodded.“But they’re not one-percenters.They don’t sell drugs or run prostitutes or anything like that.They mostly do security work.They’re kind of like a little family all of their own.Most of them aren’t close to their real families.Thor is actually an orphan who was adopted out as a baby so he had a family, but no blood relatives that he knows of.”
The lawyer raised one brow.“Thor?”
“My boyfriend.”It felt silly calling him that.“His teammates nicknamed him that back in the SEALs because he looks like one of the old Norse gods.”
“Sounds fascinating.Do I get to meet this Viking god of yours some day?”
I nodded.“Once I get things settled, we can arrange to have lunch or something.I’d say I’d invite you over for dinner, but my cooking leaves a lot to be desired.”
He laughed.“If you’re going to stay away from the family and settle down with a biker you might want to take some cooking lessons.I’m guessing there isn’t going to be kitchen staff in the new life you’re building for yourself.”
