The Merriest Magnolia (Magnolia Sisters #2) - Michelle Major Page 0,62
and the smell of stale urine?” Steven asked with a mock shudder. The guy was a complete tool.
Sam glanced up at Dylan. “Nasty.”
“The building is clean,” Dylan assured him, leveling a glare at Steven. In the past Wiley had been the one to work with Steven’s firm. The two men had even been friends. Dylan could hardly believe it. Five minutes of dealing with the guy and he wanted to punch him in the face.
Elizabeth looked like she felt about the same despite the fact that she was engaged to the oaf. “Don’t listen to him.” She gave Sam a genuine grin. “You look like your dad.”
Sam’s shoulders hunched even more. “Thanks, I guess.”
This had been another mistake of epic proportions, Dylan realized as he led the small, disjointed group into the building. Sam didn’t need reminders of his father or the past or to act as Dylan’s wingman on a deal that had so much personal meaning for him.
He ushered them through the space, trying not to let memories overtake him. The cool interior of the building smelled musty, yet the scent of oil from the machines still lingered in the space even though operations had been closed down for years.
The local real estate agent he’d worked with to broker the sale had sent him photos of the building, both inside and out, but this was Dylan’s first visit since he’d returned to Magnolia.
With Steven making disparaging comments every few feet, Dylan’s head was pounding by the time they returned to the entrance. They stood inside the building to finish talking as the sky outside had gone from partly cloudy to fully gray with a spitting rain coming down.
The gloomy weather only added to his melancholy. Sam looked like he felt about the same. The kid had been quiet and dour during the tour, not even cracking the hint of a smile at any of Steven’s lame attempts at humor.
Elizabeth saved the day, rattling off a list of tasks for each of them to push the project forward. She was efficient and upbeat, which Dylan appreciated. Although that didn’t make him want to accept when Steven invited him to dinner before they headed back to Boston.
Instead, Dylan sent the couple on their way and headed to the car with Sam after locking the factory’s heavy front door.
“Sorry about that,” he said as the defrost air blew from the vents. “I forgot what a tool Steven could be.”
Sam gave him a look that could only be described as withering. “I thought you’d be thrilled because spending time with him was a true punishment.”
“Good point.” Dylan slowly pulled out of the parking lot, glancing up through the front windshield. “It looks like the rain is going to pass. I have some work to do this afternoon. Is there anywhere you want to go first?”
“Back home to Boston and my friends,” Sam answered automatically.
“Christmas tree shopping it is,” Dylan replied, ignoring the boy’s request.
Sam gaped at him. “You said we could only have that stupid little fake tree I found in the basement.”
“I changed my mind. Maybe all the holiday spirit around here is finally wearing me down.”
“Maybe,” Sam agreed, almost reluctantly.
If the kid suspected that Dylan made the offer about a tree out of guilt, he didn’t let on. Dylan was happy to pretend if it meant a chance at changing both of their moods.
As he turned onto the road that led to downtown, he flipped on a holiday channel on the vehicle’s satellite radio system. Anything to drown out the doubt that seemed to fill his mind and heart.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CARRIE FELT COLD all the way to her bones. She’d been helping at the Wainright’s Christmas Tree Lot, situated on the far side of the town square, for the past several hours.
Phil Wainright, who owned the hardware store a few doors down from The Reed Gallery, had been running his tree operation every year for as long as Carrie could remember.
In addition to the rows of fragrant trees brought in from farms in the Great Smoky Mountains on the western side of the state, they had strands of twinkling lights, holiday-themed inflatables, garland and gorgeous wreaths. The festive operation attracted more people into downtown and ramped up the holiday vibe. With additional tourists coming through for the festival, the Wainrights were having a banner year in sales, both of Christmas trees and decorations and accessories sold from the hardware store.
So when Lily Wainright, Phil’s youngest daughter who’d recently moved back to