Moving On (Rolling Thunder #7) - P.J. Fiala Page 0,74

questions?"

"Not at all."

Chase looked at LuAnn. "I'll be right back."

She smiled at him. "Okay."

He hopped from the Jeep, walked to the picnic table, and sat down. Shaking first Buddy's hand, then after he was introduced to the second man, Tank, he shook his.

"Can you give it to me straight? How is Gil to work for?"

Buddy started first. "I've been here seventeen years. Gil is honest to God one of the nicest men I know. He expects a good day's work, but he pays us well and treats us good. Not many like that around."

Tank nodded. "I'll second that. I've only been here three years, but I'll tell you I worked for some pricks before. Yelling. Screaming. Swearing. Bullshit answers to questions. Shitty shop conditions. This is like heaven compared to that shit."

Nodding, Chase processed these answers but didn't say anything else. Usually, if you let folks talk, you heard great information.

Tank chuckled. "Last year we had an issue. Someone was stealing from the store. Gil was trying to figure out why the books were so off and there was a week there where he was very quiet. I think he wasn't sure who was stealing from him, and he was feeling betrayed. Which he was. But soon enough his security cameras caught the culprit. Some shop rat he'd hired within the year was taking shit at the end of his shifts."

"Oh, that's right. That son-of-a-bitch got busted and is now in jail for theft for a couple of years. Dumbass." Buddy mused shaking his head.

"Thanks, you guys, just checking it all out."

"Welcome aboard, Chase, you'll like it here for certain." Buddy said.

"Thanks, guys. It just helps to chat with everyone to make sure. I've got a good boss now and I hate to leave there only to hate it here."

Tank laughed. "You won't hate it here. If you do, there's something wrong with you."

49

Sitting in the driveway of the house on the lake, they both stared at the lake. It was perfect. The water rippled here and there, and the sun glinted on the ripples creating the most exhilarating effect. Then the water smoothed out and the sun's rays created different effects. It was hard to look away.

"While we're waiting for the realtor, let's go walk around," Chase said.

"Okay." She unbuckled her seatbelt and jumped from the Jeep excited to see the house. She'd thought about it during the night last night. She hadn't slept well, there was so much going on in her mind. They needed to make the right decision. It seemed as though it was a done deal. They were moving here, so it seemed natural that they'd need a house to live in. But buying one right away was a big step.

Chase walked around the front of the Jeep and took her hand. They walked in unison up the driveway, to the side of the house and into the backyard for the full view of Waverly Lake. Houses dotted the shoreline here and there. Not so many that it was intrusive and, to be honest, the homes that showed were easily twice or more valuable than this one, but she didn't care. The bricks and stone on the other houses were cold and formal while this house, as she turned to look at it, was the warm and welcoming appearance she'd always liked in a home.

The weathered cedar shakes on the house, while they could use some cleaning and stain, spoke of a modesty that personified she and Chase. The full wraparound porch, while piled with old wooden boards, firewood and a couple mismatched chairs, would look spectacular with some matching rocking chairs and baskets of flowers strewn about. She'd have hanging baskets on all sides of the house and that in itself would change the overall look of the place.

A car door sounded, and she turned toward the lake and Chase. She watched him as he stared out at the lake, lost in some sort of trance. Giving his hand a squeeze, she smiled when he looked into her eyes.

"I think the realtor is here."

"Oh, I didn't hear a car."

Staring into his earnest, sexy eyes she whispered, "You've already fallen in love with this place."

It was hard to tell with the sunlight shining on them, but she could swear he blushed.

"Kind of."

"Hello, I'm Leslie Peyton, the realtor. You must be Chase and LuAnn."

Leslie reached forward and shook Chase's hand first, then hers. It didn't go unnoticed that her eyes slid up and down Chase's firm