“Your best bet would be to renovate like you were going to live there. Make it state-of-the-art everything. This area is growing like crazy, man. You’ll get a bidding war going.”
Pax listened to Brandon Littlefoot give his best business and real estate advice. There was no one else Pax trusted more in this industry than Brandon. Not only was he the lead in this Willowvale Springs office, but he also had been with Pax since the beginning. He knew the values in the area, and he also knew Pax better than just about anyone...at least as far as business went.
They’d met in high school when Brandon had been new to the area. He and Pax seemed to hit it off because Brandon also guarded himself with relationships. The two seemed to jibe when it came to business sense, so when Pax needed a right-hand man, so to speak, Brandon was the only choice.
Laughter from the café filtered toward him and Pax stiffened, his shoulders taut. He knew that sound. He’d tried like hell to ignore the fact Kira sat behind him in a booth. She’d brought her laptop and said she had some work to do, which he figured meant she was still on the house hunt.
Pax had told the barista to put anything Kira ordered on his tab, but he hadn’t let Kira know that. He didn’t know why he felt the need to protect her or suddenly come to her aid. He had enough on his plate without some destitute traveler. She didn’t seem upset about her situation, so why should he?
Or was she trying to play off just how dire her current state actually was? Something about her stubborn independence coupled with a layer of vulnerability made him want to intervene.
“Pax?”
He blinked and focused back on Brandon and not the woman behind him, who’d obviously made a friend.
“Yeah. Just thinking.”
Brandon’s dark brows rose. “Thinking about the woman you walked in with, who is back there talking with some guy?”
He would not turn around to see what Brandon could see. He had no ties to Kira, nor she to him. He’d invited her so she could see the town and get off the property for a bit. He was surprised how busy the café was today, but perhaps people were over the family gatherings and needed out of their own houses.
“She’s just a guest at the ranch,” Pax defended. He reached for his mocha and curled his hand around the warm mug. “Figured she could use a change of scenery since she’s the only one there right now.”
“Is that so?”
If possible, Brandon’s brows rose even higher.
Pax set his mug back down and sighed. “Relax. I’m just playing the dutiful owner, although she thinks I’m a stable hand.”
Brandon chuckled and eased back in the booth. “And you don’t see the need to correct her?”
He could straighten her out, but why? His whole life since becoming successful involved people wanting something from him. So many people sought him out looking for a backer for their business deals. They wanted advice on real estate, always wanting something from him for nothing. Women who tried to date him were especially attracted to the money and the power. Being around Kira was quite refreshing and a nice change. Between her and the extremely slow-paced lifestyle of Willowvale Springs, he didn’t hate his return trip as much as he thought he would. The timing could certainly be better, but this dude ranch had to be restored and resurrected better than ever.
“She’s not staying long and we’ll never see each other again,” Pax replied. “It sounds arrogant to tell her I’m the owner.”
“Or maybe it’s embarrassing, considering the place has gone to hell,” Brandon retorted. “I mean, to a new person coming in, the grounds are still beautiful and so are the cabins. You can’t beat the Wyoming scenery. But the amenities aren’t what they used to be, and the added touches Edith insisted upon are gone.”
Yeah. Edith and Hank had been such a dynamic duo when it came to knowing exactly how to run a business. Hank was a shark when it came to finances, but none of that ever mattered to Edith. She homed in on the people, their hearts, and that is what made their employees so loyal. Everything they touched in town had exceeded success, and Pax refused to see that dude ranch be anything less.
“I’m not embarrassed.” Pax stretched his arm along the back of the booth. “I’m frustrated and can’t figure out where to start.”
“Because your mind is preoccupied with Spain and your new guest.”
He ground his teeth together. There were drawbacks to having such a close associate.
“My mind is definitely on Spain,” Pax agreed, dodging the topic of Kira altogether. “We’re so close to the opening and I’ve still got agents to interview, not to mention trying to oversee the final designs of the building. It will be worth it once I’m up and running, but it would be a hell of a lot easier if I was there in person.”
Brandon’s eyes moved from Pax to just over his shoulder and then he got the widest smile on his face.
“Good afternoon.”
Pax didn’t even have to turn. He knew who’d come up to their table. If Brandon’s flirty smile didn’t give away their visitor, the familiar scent of floral perfume wafting around him certainly did.
Pax resisted the urge to kick his buddy beneath the table.
He had to get it together. The sudden burst of jealousy had no room here. Brandon could flirt all he wanted. Kira was a free woman, not to mention just passing through.
“Hey. So sorry to interrupt.”
Now Pax did glance to Kira, who offered one of her sweetest grins as she darted her attention between the two guys. She clutched her shoulder bag and motioned toward the door.
“I’m going to head to the boutique next door and then I’ll be back,” she told Pax. “Take your time. I’m just checking things out.”
Brandon eased from the booth and extended his hand. His long, black braid hung down his back as he turned on his charm. Pax wanted to laugh, but he also wanted to swat that hand out of the way. Being jealous was beyond ridiculous. He’d shared a kiss with her and a few stolen glances and one evening. That didn’t bind them together.
“I’m Brandon Littlefoot.” He extended his hand and shook Darcy’s. “I’m an associate of Pax. Do you want to join us?”
Darcy’s smile widened as she continued to clutch Brandon’s hand. “Oh, that’s sweet, but I’ll let you guys finish your meeting and I’ll get some shopping done.”
She pulled her hand back and gripped the bag on her shoulder. Pax remained seated, but kept his eyes locked on her. Did she captivate everyone she came in contact with? He’d been no different, even though he’d tried to avoid her charms and appeal. There was just something about her positivity and the way her whole face lit up when she smiled. If he could use one word to describe Kira, it would be refreshing.
“Well, it was nice to meet you,” Brandon told her with a nod. “We’ll be right here if you change your mind.”
Kira shot them both her signature megawatt smile before turning on her booted heel and striding through the café toward the exit.
Brandon stared down the path she’d taken, still with some dumbass smile on his face.
“Would you sit down,” Pax growled. “You look like a damn fool.”
His friend shifted his focus back around as he slid back into the booth.
“Well, well, well.”
Brandon let out a chuckle that grated on Pax’s nerves. He ground his teeth and toyed with the handle of his mug. He’d let his emotions take over and now he was the one that looked like the fool.
“Don’t start,” Pax muttered.
“Why not? This is great.” Brandon couldn’t seem to stop laughing as he shook his head. “I’ve never seen you infatuated with a woman before.”
“Infatuated?” Pax scoffed, annoyed that Brandon might just be hitting too close to the truth. “I’m not sixteen and I’m sure as hell not infatuated. She’s a guest at the ranch. My only guest, I might add, which is concerning, considering that place used to be booked up months, if not a year, in advance.”
There. Let Brandon chew on that nugget of information. The man loved solving business crises, which is why Pax brought him on years ago.
“We can circle back to Kira in a bit,” Brandon stated, shifting in his seat to lean forward. “You need to zero in on what your plans are for the ranch. Do you want to stay? Let’s start there.”
Stay? No. That had never been on his radar. How could he remain in Willowvale Springs when he had a new company in its infancy in Spain? He’d need to be there for quite a while to set a solid foundation and make sure he had the right crew to take over and make sure the company soared. Remaining in Willowvale for too long would be too risky. Getting involved or attached would only go against everything he’d vowed to distance himself from.
“I don’t see how that’s possible unless you want to go to Spain,” Pax joked.
Brandon would never leave Willowvale Springs. Even though he hadn’t lived on the reservation with the rest of his family, he wouldn’t want to be that far from his family.
“Okay, so you’re not staying,” Brandon replied. “So you need to do some updating and then find a hell of a property manager to breathe new life back into that place. It would have to be someone lively and social, but also have a good business mindset.”
Kira instantly came to mind. Lively? Check. Good business sense? Check...at least from what he could deduce. But he couldn’t ask her to stay here. Hell, he didn’t even know her. She could be a smart businesswoman because she was a scammer for all he knew.
Pax blew out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. Unfortunately, this dude ranch was just like any business that needed time, attention, and funds. He had the funds, that was never the issue. The time and attention? He didn’t have either of those to invest. But Hank had trusted him with this inheritance, for reasons Pax still didn’t understand. As much as Pax wanted to up and leave and wish some new owner or manager the best of luck, he couldn’t do that. He owed everything in his life to Hank and Edith. Without them, Pax wouldn’t have near the work ethic he did. They’d always been more than just his employer...they’d been like family.
“There’s no quick solution,” Pax finally stated. “I keep waiting on some miracle to fall into my lap.”
“You know that’s not going to happen.”
No, it wasn’t. He’d have to carve out the time to get this dude ranch up and running. So what did he do with Spain? Virtual appointments were okay with an already established business, but that’s not how he ran things or ever wanted to start up.
“I’ll go to Spain.”
Pax jerked and focused on his friend. “Excuse me?”
“Not long-term,” Brandon amended. “But I can take a few months and get things up and running. I mean, if you trust me with that process.”
Trust him? There wouldn’t be anyone else Pax would trust with this vital step in the Agency expanding overseas.
“Man, if you’re serious—”
“I am.”
A weight seemed to lift from Pax’s shoulders that at least one of his issues had sorted itself out. Maybe a miracle had fallen into his lap.
“Let me know where everything stands,” Brandon went on. “The prospects for interviews, the building itself and renovations—I’ll need it all.”
“You’ll have it,” Pax confirmed. “Let me know when you can go and I’ll change the interviews from video to in-person. I trust you to make the right decisions.”
“No pressure,” Brandon chuckled.
“There shouldn’t be. You’re the only man I’d put in this position, and I’m positive you’d make the same decision I would if I was there.”
Brandon nodded, and Pax mentally ran through all of the pertinent information he’d need to send over. There were several applicants, potential listings already on the docket, finalizing office structure and design. There was a great deal left for the initial foundation, but having Brandon there to spearhead that part while Pax figured out the dude ranch was the perfect solution. While Pax would have liked to have been the one to launch everything, he’d rather this than to push out any date for opening.
“Now, let’s get back to your guest.”
Pax reached for his coffee at Brandon’s statement. Of course the man wouldn’t let that go, and Pax was about to bring this little lunch meeting to an abrupt close.