Once Mated Twice Shy(28)

Chapter Nine




“I don’t know Jordan. I’ve gone along with many things over the years but this is…I’m not sure if I am ready to retire. If your people need jobs, I can offer jobs but I don’t know if I’m ready to let the store go.” Lettie sipped the soda from the bottle. Jordan was tense and she felt it. What would they do if this didn’t work out? He would have to start the heating company that he mentioned. She didn’t want him to be unhappy for her sake or the pack’s sake. Jordan had come in here expecting this to be a breeze. ‘What do you say to letting me buy the store so you can retire.’ He should’ve known better. He must approach this with kid gloves. This man had run the store his whole life and it was like his child. You don’t just breeze in and take a man’s child away.

“Mister Thompson,” Lettie said softly, “what is it that you are hanging on to?” She asked gently. “You keep telling me that you want to retire and move to Florida. I thought this would help you and us.” He rubbed his balding head with a wrinkled arthritic hand. “You should enjoy your life.”

“I don’t think that Mister Thompson is holding onto anything. I think Mister Thompson isn’t ready for change. Am I right?” His lips pressed together and Mister Thompson nodded. “It’s okay. We understand.” Jordan said. “We’ll find another way.”

“Another way?” Mister Thompson asked. Jordan nodded.

“The last alpha lost all of the money and he convinced me to challenge him for alpha. I fell for it and inherited an empty bank account and houses in foreclosure. We hoped to borrow against our land to buy the store so we would have an income. Lettie had money saved and that kept us out of foreclosure but I don’t know what we will do next winter. It all seemed perfect when Lettie came up with it. Everyone would get what they wanted, you could retire and move to Florida and we would have the store.

“I still have the house and the land behind the store. So if I sold you the store, I’m here in the house without a job.” Jordan pulled a face and sat back to study him. Jordan hadn’t mentioned the house or the land yet. Sometimes it was best to let someone think he had the upper hand. He thought.

“So if you could sell the house and the land with the store, then you could retire?” Mister Thompson’s eyes cleared and he sat up straighter. His chin came up and his chest swelled. “Gee, that’s a lot, I don’t know.” Jordan stammered.

“I think it’s the only way that I could do it Jordan. I would have to sell the land, house and store together. I want to sell the store to someone who would care for it as much as I have. Someone like Lettie would appreciate it.” Jordan smiled at her. “That would be a condition too. She would have to be the manager as long as your pack owned it.”

“She was our pick too Sir.” Jordan clasped his hands lightly on the table in front of him.

“Are you together.” Lettie smiled and nodded then showed Mister Thompson the mark. Jordan pulled his collar aside proudly showing the mark that she’d made on him. Mister Thompson’s eyes twinkled.

“Now how long is this for this time?” He chuckled.

“This is it.” Jordan’s eyes flashed at his mate. “No more of this on again off again bullshit. We have made a fresh start, let go of our past and we are going to act like grownups. Lettie needs security and stability.”

“I know she does. She reminds me so much of Missus Thompson, God rest her soul. I think of Lettie as a daughter. I’m so proud of the person that she has grown into, of how brave and independent she is. I know that usually wolves are dependent on their packs. My wife was so frightened to leave her pack and come to live with me. Luckily, she loved me just a speck more than she loved the pack.” He smiled fondly lost in the memory. “She wanted to retire to Florida someday. She wanted to sit on a porch and look at the ocean.” He sighed. “It won’t be the same without her. I would be all alone there. At least here, I have my employees to talk to me. I don’t think that I want to sell Jordan. Thank you for the offer but I think that I’ll keep it a little while longer.” Jordan nodded in defeat and squeezed Lettie’s hand.

“We’ll find another way sweetheart.” She grimaced and dropped her head. “It’ll be okay. There’s always the other business that we discussed.” Lettie bit her lip and stood. “Are you going to stay here and work or do you need a ride home?”

“I’m going to stay. I want to finish resetting the cleaning aisle. Is that okay Sir?” He nodded. Jordan stood and shook Mister Thompson’s hand.