Page 2 of Bargain With the Boss

I grinned.

He glanced at the broken window. “When did that happen?”

I shrugged. “The wind has been just as brutal all winter.”

“Sure it’s not kids?” Jude frowned.

“Could be, but then they’d probably have broken in to fuck around. No sign of that.” Gavin turned so we all stood side by side looking at the rapidly deteriorating strip of buildings. “Is that roof lower?”

I sighed. “Pretty sure that snow storm in January didn’t help there.”

“Shit.” Gavin raked his fingers through his bark brown hair. “Probably water damage.”

“It’s going to be a full gut job.” I jutted my chin out to gesture to the corner of the awning over the old gallery. “Pretty sure there’s rot there too.”

“Always nice to bitch about this property with you guys, but why am I here?” Jude asked.

I pulled a cold hand out of my pocket and slapped Jude on the shoulder. “Miss you too, pal.”

Jude grunted in response.

Gavin started down the incline to the parking lot. I glanced at Jude who shrugged, and we both followed.

Gavin dug keys out of his pocket and unlocked the old delicatessen’s door. I heard him swearing before I got inside.The wind died down once we got inside. Gray clouds hung over the lake leaving watery trails of light highlighting a board that had crashed into the old countertop.

Gavin hopped up on the counter, his head disappearing into the hole in the drop ceiling.

“Would you get down from there?” I hurried to the counter to peer up after him. “I don’t need you cracking your skull open to add to this shitshow.”

“Aww, nice to know you care.” Gavin grinned down at me, but hopped down then wiped his hands on his jeans.

“Just wait, you’ll love this new one.” When the both of them just stared holes into my head, I sighed. “I got another injunction against starting the renos this spring.”

The laser beams turned to fire. “Excuse me?” Jude asked.

“Yeah. This one from the city for some zoning violation. I’ve had the paperwork put in twice. Seems to get lost each time.”

Gavin growled, “Fucking Maitland.”

He wasn’t wrong. The old man wasn’t even trying to hide that he was fucking with us. “I went to the town hall and handily, his niece works there now.”

Jude crossed his arms. “I’m aware I don’t know how small town politics work, but we could file a counter suit on that.”

“Glad you said that.” I flexed my fingers inside my coat pockets, but it wasn’t helping the bone deep cold. “I have an email drafted to send to Preston, but we might need to look for a more cutthroat lawyer. He took us on as a favor, but his focus is family law these days.”

Gavin’s jaw tightened. “I might know someone.”

“Someone who doesn’t have a Maitland on their roster of clients?”

“Definitely.”

“Good. Because the longer we are on hold for this project, the longer it will take to renovate this. We only have eight goodmonths to work on the outdoor build.” I rocked back on my heels.

“I’m aware.” Gavin’s voice was cool.

“Just saying.”

Jude peered up at the hole then stepped back over to us. “I’m working on moving out here to help out more, but my mother has locked me up in projects I can’t get out of.”