Johnny turned to Owen and, once again, Damion watched with pleasure as the man’s eyes widened. “I know your old man.”
“Yes, so I hear,” Owen said easily.
“He lived next door. I remember the three of you boys running around that yard.” He motioned to the yard a ways down from the land. “Back when I lived here with my family.”
“Yes, I remember your daughter Kaley,” Owen said easily. “How is she?”
“Married with five kids of her own,” the man said as his chest puffed out.
“Good,” Owen said and then turned his eyes to the land. “The old place has seen better days.”
“She has. After Mary passed, I moved into a smaller place in town. Doctors told me I wasn’t supposed to do too much yard work.” He patted his leg. “Not after the last surgery.”
“My son has mentioned what you’re asking for it. Mind if we have a look around?” his father asked.
Johnny motioned with his hand. When Owen and his father started walking the land, Johnny turned to him. “You never mentioned you were a Wells.”
“You never let me get that far in the conversation before.” He held out his hand again. “If you’re agreeable, I’d like to offer you what you’re asking. A deal between you and me before those two sharks come back and try to talk you into a lower price.”
Johnny looked down at his stretched-out hand for a split second, then easily put his hand in his and shook it vigorously.
Four hours later, he strolled through the camp’s doors with a bottle of champagne and a proper bouquet of flowers in his hands.
Jules looked up from her computer screen and her eyes widened.
“Hey,” she said as he set both in front of her. “What’s all this?”
“We’re celebrating,” he said with a smile.
“What?” she asked, burying her face in the flowers.
“I am now an official land owner. Well, I will be in about a week,” he added with a shrug. “But the legal paperwork is all signed to put things in motion.”
“You are?” She looked up at him. “You… bought a house?”
“Land. There is a house of sorts sitting there, but it’s going to be hauled off and a proper home built in its place.” He leaned on the counter. “So, I figured as celebration, I’d take you out to dinner. By taking you out,” he added quickly when her eyes narrowed slightly, “I mean grab a couple Isaac-packed dinners and go watch the sunset on my new property,” he finished quickly.”
Her eyebrows arched up. “Now that’s a date I can get excited about.” She nodded. “Let me finish up here. Five minutes?”
He nodded. “I’ll go get us some cups and some dinners to take with us.” He started towards the dining hall but stopped and said over his shoulder, “And I will not be getting you a salad.”
He enjoyed her laughter as he walked away. Since it was past normal business hours, most workplaces would be quiet, but the camp was still full of employees. Most of them were just coming on shift or taking their lunch breaks, which happened to be during dinner time.
The fact that there were employees pretty much around the clock was another reason he liked working here. His hours were pretty close to normal workday hours, except twice a week when he had sunset sails booked. But if he was being honest, he lived for those evenings.
He was standing in line for food when Andrea came and stood next to him in line.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were working today?” she asked him.
He liked Andrea. Had even taken her out on a date. But they just hadn’t clicked. Instead, they’d fallen into a very comfortable friendship, almost like brother and sister.
“I’m not. Just here to grab some food.” He moved forward in the line and picked up two premade meals.
“Eating for two?” Andrea nudged his shoulder playfully.
“Jules and I are going to head out and have these on my new property,” he said proudly.
“What?” she asked, excited. “The land you’ve been wanting?”