His Small Town Dream
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Tara Randel
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HarlequinCHAPTER ONE
CARRIE MITCHELL GLANCED at her watch as she headed toward the only decent coffee shop in Golden, Georgia. Living here was a far cry from the frenetic energy she’d navigated daily in Manhattan, but the town was growing on her. Not enough to keep her from her goal of returning to the corporate world in a big city, but for now, it served her purposes. Kept her busy. Gave her fresh insight that she would add to her arsenal of creative ideas.
As she crossed Main Street, Sit A Spell Coffee Shop came into view. It was nice to have that place, a location where she could greet her neighbors or sit at one of the outdoor bistro tables and enjoy some alone time. Sit A Spell had become her haven of sorts since arriving in Golden eight months earlier. She’d never had a special spot back home. Any shop would do as she hustled to the office. But here, the small mountain town grounded her. Made her appreciate her surroundings, something she’d lost sight of in the big city she’d grown up in.
Drawing closer to her destination, Carrie smiled as she inhaled the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans. The regular line had already formed outside. She recognized the retired judge, a group of women from the community center and... Her smile faded. Adam Wright.
Her steps slowed. He was here.
Again.
When she’d started her job at the Golden Chamber of Commerce four months ago, she’d taken to walking to work. She only lived a few blocks up Main Street, sharing an apartment with her friend Serena above Serena’s stationery shop, Blue Ridge Cottage. Serena was the reason she’d landed in Golden after everything that had happened in New York. She’d needed a friendly face and a shoulder to cry on while she tried to regroup.
Initially, the walk was her way of fitting in, to interact with residents and let them get to know her. Folks had been a bit wary when the city girl rolled into town. She needed to visit with the shop owners of Golden for work, and she’d tried hard both to advocate for the business owners and to get them to accept her. She had good marketing strategies to promote Golden, so she was finally breaking down walls. While it had taken some time to be accepted, the fact that Serena was her best friend had helped her make connections.
Adam Wright was another story.
Not that he shouldn’t get coffee from the same shop as her or even that she didn’t like to see him here. But his presence threw her off. Why, she didn’t have a clue. He wasn’t grouchy or difficult. He didn’t dominate a conversation so you couldn’t get a word in. In fact, he was on the quiet side. So they always made small talk. And for some reason, every time they were in each other’s company, she walked away wanting more.
They’d randomly run into each other at Sit A Spell before rushing to their respective jobs, and it had soon become a ritual of sorts. It just happened that they arrived like clockwork at eight thirty, lining up behind other folks who knew this was the place to get their caffeine fix. She stood directly behind the man who made her antsy, wondering if she should say hello to let him know she was there. Instead, she pulled up an email on her phone to read over the bullet points before the meeting taking place in fifteen minutes. She sighed.
“In a hurry?” Came a deep male voice.
She glanced up, locking eyes with Adam.
“I’ve got a meeting first thing.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything more.
After arriving in Golden, Carrie had first met Adam through mutual friends. He wasn’t outgoing but he spent time with Serena and her group. She could count the facts she knew about him on one hand: he co-owned Deep North Adventures, a family business, volunteered in Golden activities and was highly regarded by the business community. And Carrie had sensed his walls soon after they’d started their morning chats.
Those chats were usually about light, generic topics. Town events, mutual friends, an upcoming wedding. Once, they’d had an interesting conversation about the challenges of operating a business in a small town and she was impressed by his acumen. She’d wanted to hear more, but the line moved quickly that day and their time had run out. Maybe today she’d learn more about what made Adam tick.
“I wanted to thank you,” he said, turning back around.
She arched an eyebrow as she went over a mental list of reasons why that might be.
“You’re welcome?”
His chuckle was warm and inviting. “For the initiative the Chamber launched last month. I can tell it’s already paying off.”
“The Vacation Forum?”
“That’s the one. The business owners are still buzzing about it.”
She couldn’t hold back her grin.
From her first day on the job, she’d taken every challenge thrown her way. Had handled each project successfully for the Chamber. A big difference from when she’d arrived devastated on Serena Stanhope’s doorstep, hoping her best friend would let her stay for a while. Despite the one mark on her work history, landing the job at the Chamber had boosted her lagging confidence, and, so had advocating for the community. Her marketing experience was finally being noticed and appreciated.
And this job was important to her future outside of Golden, too. On her road back to corporate America in a big city. New York, to be exact, but after all that had happened in the last year, she wasn’t about to get ahead of herself. Slow, steady, aiming for the prize.
She pulled herself from her musings. “I’m happy to hear that,” she said to Adam. “My job is to make Golden a major vacation destination.”
“I agree that’s a good mission, to a degree.”
She tried not to get her back up. “In what way is it not?” First praise, followed by a complaint? Not someone else disappointed in her.
“Golden is becoming a sought-after mountain getaway. And we want tourists, but we’re also residents. Everyone helps each other, looks out for each other. To me, that’s the mark of a successful community.”
“So my proposal was a hit, but not a hit?”
He chuckled again. “You got the merchants together, gave us some well-thought-out strategies to increase tourism. But—”
“Please, not a but,” she groaned.
“A good but,” he continued. “You also took into consideration that while the business owners need tourist traffic, they also love Golden. That if we never welcomed another visitor, we still have each other. You included that vision in your presentation, creating opportunities while maintaining the small-town charm. Can’t have charm without interesting people.”
Genuinely grateful, she said, “You’re welcome.”
Adam nodded and turned when the line moved forward. She gazed at the cotton shirt stretching across his broad shoulders and basked in his thoughtful comments. Her first big marketing initiative had worked. Was it going to be smooth sailing ahead?
She glanced back at her phone to review the agenda email. There’d been a last-minute change in the schedule, which had thrown her off. She wasn’t a fan of last minute, although she could scramble with short notice, but Carrie’s boss was very last minute. In fact, Carrie’d had to improvise at the last few meetings they’d conducted with local business groups.
Adam turned around again.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with next.”
She blinked. This was the most in-depth conversation they’d had yet.
“Whatever we decide in this meeting, you’ll hear about it eventually.”
“Then let’s hope this line goes faster so you can keep that promise.”
She peered around him. “What’s the holdup?”
“Something about a new coffee maker. Apparently the Hopkinses haven’t quite mastered it.”
“I thought the way they did things before was working.”
“Me, too, but progress happens whether we like it or not.”
“I suppose we could always get what passes for coffee at Frieda’s Bakery.”
His hand flew to his heart. “Traitor.”
She laughed. She didn’t know Adam well, but this was the most animated she’d seen him. Most of her new friends in town were open books. She’d felt comfortable in their company right away. Adam? He was reserved, but there was something about him that caught her attention. Had from day one. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but his reserve piqued her curiosity.
She smiled because Adam was smiling. “I’ll stick with the bakery for their awesome treats and Sit A Spell for the coffee.”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“I can be as patient as the next person, but the clock is ticking,” she announced.
“Admirable quality,” he said, turning again.
They all took another step forward.
A few cars motored by, signaling the start of another busy day. The multihued snapdragons planted in bright red pots gave the sidewalk a pop of color. On the next block, she could see Serena opening the doors of her stationery shop.
Carrie had to admit, Golden was totally unlike Manhattan. There wasn’t the thick traffic to contend with on this Wednesday morning, the constant honking of horns and the mass migration of pedestrians at crossroads. The sidewalks might not be shoulder to shoulder with people hustling to work or wherever else beckoned them, but the tourists who did roam Golden were pleasant, and happy to spend their dollars at the many shops and restaurants located up and down the six blocks of tree-lined Main Street. Carrie’s job was to highlight Golden not only as a great vacation destination, but a potential place to open a successful business. She had a ton of ideas, and great local owners, to work with.
The North Georgia mountain town featured lots of charm to promote. Old-fashioned, cast-iron lampposts with hanging planters featured black-eyed Susans. Brightly painted buildings housed charming shops. Beyond that, a range of outdoor activities that drew the adventurous types. Beautiful sights that ran from winding forests trails, splashing waterfalls, and a blue, sparkling lake, calling to those who loved boating and fishing.
A marketing dream come true. And Carrie intended to market the heck out of Golden in order to get back to those busy streets of Manhattan. To show her father that despite a hiccup in her career, she had what it took to make it in the corporate world.
She glanced at her watch again. The line moved a step. She blew out an audible breath.
“Where’s that patience?” Adam asked over his shoulder.
“Slowly being whittled away.”
He spun on his heel to face her and again she couldn’t help but notice that Adam was a very attractive man. With thick, russet brown hair cut short on the sides and longer on top, steel gray eyes and very tanned skin proclaiming his love for the outdoors, he cut quite a fine figure. Plus, he had a snappy intelligence she found fascinating.
Wearing a button-down shirt, pressed Dockers and a great pair of shoes, he gave off an air of roguish gentleman. Because of him she’d upped her clothing game, which had wilted after arriving in Golden. Now she was back to corporate casual, today wearing a flirty blouse, pencil skirt and heels.
From the town grapevine, she’d heard that Adam had returned to Golden a year ago to run the family business so his parents could retire and head out on the open road in the RV of their dreams. Colin, Adam’s brother, led most of the outdoor tours while Adam manned the financial side of the company.
But that was the extent of what she knew. It was as if he held a part of himself back. Despite his good looks and invisible boundaries, she could imagine most single women in Golden would happily go on a date with him.
Not Carrie.
No sirree.
Not when she had the goal of getting her life back on track.
“You okay?” he asked.
A gust of wind rustled her shoulder-length hair. It was the middle of July and the temperatures had risen, even up here in the mountains. She brushed a few strands from her cheek. “Just wondering how long this line will take.”
He stepped to the right and swept his arm forward, saying, “Please, go ahead of me. I’m not in a hurry.”
She blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
The line moved. She took his place, wondering why her stomach did a funny little flip at his generosity. Before she knew it, she was in the shop, placing her order.
“Sorry about the holdup.” Myrna Hopkins, the shop owner, couldn’t disguise her flustered state. “New equipment.”
“Take your time.” Carrie might be in a rush, but she wouldn’t add to Myrna’s stress.
Soon, a cup slid over the counter in Carrie’s direction. Carrie tucked a few extra dollars in the tip jar. She’d worked as a server briefly in college. She knew how tough it could be.
When she moved away from the counter, Adam was placing his order. She held up her cup and said, “Thanks for the upgrade in line.”
“You do a great job here in Golden,” Adam said. “It’s the least I can do.”
“All these compliments. I don’t know what to say.”
He grinned, showing off dimples. “Keep Golden on the right road and who knows, we might find more to talk about.”
“Are we becoming...friends?”
“Seems like it’s about time.”
Myrna handed Adam his coffee. He took it with a thanks, then they walked outside into the bright morning sun. Carrie moved to stand in the shade of a leafy tree.
“I enjoy when we start the day together,” he said. “Maybe we can branch out beyond Sit A Spell.”
She toyed with the cup lid. Adam didn’t know much about her past. What really brought her here to Golden. Having a clean slate might be nice.
“You’re really serious?”
“I am.”
Hmm. Their daily interaction was one thing, but to kick it up a notch? Her prior dating life had been dismal. Any guy she got close to serious with didn’t understand why she was so career-driven. Why she didn’t have fun.
Maybe this wasn’t a half-bad idea.
“So we could talk about improving Golden?” she asked.
“If that’s what you’re interested in.”
She wanted to get back to the corporate world, not put down roots, but in the short term...
“Well, then, the next time I see you at Smitty’s Pub, I’ll be sure to come up with a riveting topic that we can discuss for longer than it takes to order a cup of coffee.”
At his relieved smile, she added, “I really need to run. So we’ll talk again?”
“Right.”
A laugh slipped out. “You look like you’re ready to walk the plank, not make a new buddy.”
A pained expression crossed his face. What brought that on? Now she was more certain than ever. She had to discover what motivated Adam Wright.
“Thanks for considering my request, Carrie.”
Not so much consideration as curiosity.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m always up for a challenge.”
ADAM WATCHED CARRIE hurry away. What had he been thinking to suggest they go out of their way to talk more often? It had to be his brother’s nagging. Colin, and his parents, had been sensitive to his heartache when Adam first came home. But now? The gloves were off. They wanted him to start living life to the fullest, but he was more than happy to be alone.
What was a year in the grand scheme of things? Nothing, really. But getting dumped just before your wedding seemed to stick with a man, so yeah, he wasn’t ready for another romance.
He pondered it as he walked to his car. Carrie reminded him of what he’d had, lost and would never go after again. Living in a big city, pursuing a career in high finance, had become his worst nightmare. He thanked his lucky stars every day that he’d come back to Golden. A place that kept him grounded. Deep North Adventures wasn’t Wall Street, but it also didn’t devour his energy every second of the day. In Golden, he could breathe like he never had in New York.
So, why had he been hustling to meet the ex-New Yorker when he should be avoiding anything related to his time there? A question he had a difficult time answering, especially when greeted by Carrie’s infectious smile every morning.
He hadn’t told many people what had happened when he lived in New York, and he liked it that way. Only his family, who kept mum at his request. At least, he hoped they did. He wasn’t so sure about his aunt Bunny, but no one brought up that disastrous period to his face. He didn’t want constant prying by well-meaning townsfolk who had known him since he was a child. Guess that was part of the give-and-take in a small town. Everyone knew you, mistakes and all. Unless you moved away and kept said blunders a mystery.
He reached his luxury car, the only nod to his past life he’d kept, and drove two miles out of town to the office. He chuckled as he pictured Carrie’s surprise when he’d given up his place in line. Maybe Colin had a point. He was rusty with women, for sure.
After a curve in the mountain road, he stepped off the accelerator and turned into a parking lot. Colin’s truck was already there. Unusual, his younger brother beating him to work.
Savoring the bright sun on his face, Adam crossed the lot, the crunch of crushed gravel under his shoes, and opened the door to Deep North Adventures. It was eerily quiet inside. He moved down the short hallway that opened to a spacious gathering room scattered with couches, chairs and tables. His parents had always wanted the business to feel like home to their customers.
When he came back to town, Adam had added a retail section, taking advantage of folks wanting a souvenir from their time in Golden. Shirts, hoodies, hats and water bottles, featuring the store logo, to name a few of the available items. They also now had a small snack bar for those who needed a nibble before or after their outdoor trek.
There was the main counter where tourists checked in or made appointments. Down another small hallway on the opposite side of the room were two offices used by Adam and his brother. He stopped at Colin’s door and rested his shoulder against the jamb.
Colin glanced up and grinned. “Hey, bro. Get your morning fix?”
“My coffee, yes.”
His smile grew. “If you say so.”
Ever since Colin found out Adam went to the coffee shop and ran into Carrie, he’d been pushing Adam to get out of his comfort zone.
“I say so.” Adam stepped further inside. “You’re here early. The first tour isn’t until ten.”
“Spoke to Mom last night. She and Dad are checking in on a video call this morning, so I thought I’d get here beforehand and finish up some paperwork.”
His mother had also called Adam, vague but insistent that they have a family conference call at nine.
“What’s up with them?”
Colin shrugged. “Maybe they want a business update.”
“I send them a progress report every month.”
“Then maybe they found a new place to settle down.”
Definitely not. “All they’ve talked about for years is seeing the country. Doesn’t sound right.” They wanted to travel, yes, but once the traveling bug was out of their systems, they’d return to Golden.
Colin tossed a piece of paper onto the desk, which was already scattered with schedules and invoices. “Look, I’m not a mind reader. We’ll know when they call.”
Someone was in a mood. “Sorry to disturb you.”
Colin sighed. “It’s not you.” He waved his hand over the desk. “It’s all this.”
“I told you I’d manage it.”
“You have enough to do.”
Actually, he didn’t. Deep North Adventures ran smoothly after the systems he’d put into place. What he needed was a new project to sink his teeth into, but he knew better than to push his stubborn brother.
“If you change your mind...”
He left Colin to rub his temples as he viewed the workload piled up before him.
Adam returned to the main room, switching on lights as he went. His employees would arrive soon. Jocelyn, a mother of two elementary-school-age kids whose husband was in the military, took care of administrative work at the front desk. Brea, the magenta-haired twentysomething with a pierced eyebrow, ran the snack bar.
He walked behind the desk, placed his coffee cup on the counter and booted up the computer, pulling up the day’s timetable. Three big tours today. Zip-lining, a river tubing trip for a large group and a twilight hike up to Bailey’s Point with a local seniors’ group. Colin would handle the first two, while Adam led the hike. He might spend most of his time in the office, but he escaped to the outdoors any chance he could. Hiking during the summer, inhaling the scents of straw pine and damp earth while walking through the dense summer foliage, was just what he needed to ease his restlessness.
He was making notes for Jocelyn when he heard Colin call his name. Upon reentering his brother’s office, he saw that Colin had angled the screen of his computer with a webcam so they could both view their folks.
“Hey, Mom and Dad,” Colin greeted them. “Still enjoying life on the road?”
“We have a house on wheels,” his father deadpanned. “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
They looked good. Seeing his father’s broad smile made Adam relax. His dad brushed at his thinning hair when it lifted in a breeze. His mother, her dark hair streaked with gray, smiled at them, her eyes sparkling from behind her glasses.
“I always knew you were a hot-rodder,” Colin said.
“Stop,” their mother cut in. “We’re having the time of our lives. Is your brother there?”
“I’m here, Mom,” Adam said as he took a seat beside Colin.
“Then let us get right to the point.”
“No small talk?” Colin asked. “No asking about our health? If we’re eating properly? Dating?”
Their mother jumped right in. “Are you dating? Who’s dating?”
“Guess she doesn’t care about our health,” Colin joked.
“Of course I do, but the idea of one or both of you settling down is always on my mind.”
“You had to bring it up,” Adam muttered.
“Like we can stop her from worrying.”
“I can hear you,” their mother said.
“Listen to your mother,” their father said as he motioned to his wife to move ahead.
Adam and Colin exchanged glances. Sandy Wright was about as even-keeled as a person could be. She’d always been the behind-the-scenes force while Beck, their father, had been the people pleaser. Their time on the road hadn’t changed things.
“This is important because it affects us all,” she went on to say.
“I know that. The boys don’t,” their dad added.
“What’s going on, Mom?” Adam interrupted his parents, who’d banter on and on as if they’d forgotten the reason for setting up this call.
“Right. I might as well get to the point,” Sandy said, then took an audible breath.
Adam sighed. “You already said that, Mom.”
“She’s working herself up, boys,” their father warned, trying to lighten the mood. “Get ready.”
“Beck, I swear—”
Adam put a little heat in his voice. “Mom?”
She faced her screen, squared her shoulders and blurted, “We’ve been approached with an offer to buy the business.”
Silence filled the room as Adam’s glance flew to his brother’s. Colin’s surprise matched his own.
“Someone wants to buy Deep North Adventures?” Adam choked out once he found his voice.
“Yes. It’s an outdoor company similar to ours, based in Colorado. They want to expand and establish a presence in the East. Aiming High Sporting Goods and Adventures.”
Colin whistled. That company was huge.
Immediately, Adam’s mind whirled. Why now? Why Deep North Adventures? There were any number of companies in the state. He couldn’t explain it, but his gut didn’t like this at all.
“Can you give us a little more information?” he asked.
“Sure,” his mother said. “I’m still getting over the shock of them reaching out.”
“About that,” Colin said. “When did they reach out?”
“A day ago. Their CEO, Mr. Fletcher, called. Seems they’ve been searching for a company to merge with. A company that has already made a name. He came across us and did his research, then called me to talk about it.”
Odd. Why didn’t Fletcher approach Adam? He ran the business while his parents were gone. And how would this guy have gotten his mother’s private number? While his mom relayed the highlights of the conversation, he did his own search on his smartphone.
“The proposal is nothing to shy away from,” their mother said.
When she mentioned the high number, Adam’s diaphragm squeezed tight. Colin coughed, then pounded on his chest.
“What did you tell him?” Adam asked.
“Nothing, really. That I appreciated his interest. That I’d have to discuss this with the other owners of the company.”
Except this wasn’t usual. Or normal operating procedure. No one had asked to buy their business before. Nor had the Wrights expected anyone to come forward because they weren’t considering selling.
“What do you think, Adam?” His father’s booming voice filled the room.
“I don’t think anything right now. I need to know more, see numbers and what kind of deal he’s proposing. A whole host of variables apply here, Dad.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Mom?”
She blinked, looking uncharacteristically unsure. “It is a surprise, but...”
Adam’s eyes went wide at her hesitation. His mother had always loved the business she’d started from the ground up. Even if the money was substantial, he couldn’t imagine what could persuade her to sell.
“I agree with you Adam,” she said, her tone more pragmatic. “There is much review and discussion to be done before ever considering the offer. It’s such a compliment when a major competitor acknowledges the worth you’ve poured into a family enterprise. And while the idea of selling our baby is—” she paused, as if searching for the right words “—exciting and sad, I can see it benefiting you boys.”
Adam saw his confusion mirrored on Colin’s face.
“How do you mean, Mom?”
“Colin’s furniture designs are taking off. It’s not just a hobby anymore.”
True. What had started as a way for Colin to indulge his creative side had gotten people taking notice of the unusual furniture he hand-built and sold. He’d always been artistic, starting with whittling when he was a kid and leading up to designing his own functional pieces. Due to interest from prospective buyers, he’d taken the step to move beyond featuring his work in a few of the local stores. Adam had set him up with an online shop, taking care of the website and business details. Colin still liked to keep his hand involved in the office side of things, as evidenced by his desktop overflowing with papers, but he went to Adam when he truly needed help. Adam was always happy to lend a hand.
“Mom, yes, the furniture business is going well,” Colin agreed. “But I love leading outdoor adventures. Honestly, I’d be lost without it.”
She drew in a breath, as if second-guessing her own reasoning. Adam and Colin were usually her biggest supporters. Did she think that would change with a lucrative offer?
“And Adam,” she went on to say, the fervor in her argument abating. “You modernized Deep North in ways I never could. I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated all your improvements, but surely you want more than running a business in a small mountain town.”
Did he? Since returning home he’d been happy to work for the family. He’d grown up in this place, had worked beside his parents since he was a kid and discovered his aptitude for numbers and finance. Once his dreams dissolved, he’d come home, needing connection to the family who loved him. But to start something new? Move on to... What? He hadn’t put too much thought into where his life was going. Now he might have no choice.
But he didn’t say anything aloud. An odd silence lingered, so unlike their usual family chitchat. Then again, the reason for the call was anything but usual.
“I know this has come completely out of the blue,” Sandy said. “Why don’t I send you the information Mr. Fletcher emailed to me. See what you can make of it.”
Adam nodded, his mind still racing.
Colin answered for him. “We’ll be on the lookout for it, Mom.”
“Wonderful. Now, I’m sure you’re busy—”
“We’re going hiking in a few hours,” their father cut in. “Old Faithful is waiting to put on a show and we didn’t drive all this way to miss out.”
“Take pictures,” Colin said, indulging their father’s new passion. When Adam didn’t chime in, Colin poked him in the ribs to get his attention.
“Right. Have a good time.”
“We’ll talk soon,” their father said, his eyes filled with empathy, then signed off.
Adam turned his focus back to the smartphone screen, reading up on the details he’d found during the discussion with his parents. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Colin asked, “So, what do you think?”
“I’m not sure right now.”
“Weird, an offer coming to Mom. We weren’t even interested in selling.”
The dread building in Adam grew. “Which makes me suspicious.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Adam leaned back in the chair and stared at his brother. “We need more information than what Mom will send us.”
“Agreed.”
He gave Colin a penetrating gaze. “Be totally honest. Would selling be okay with you? In light of your other interests?”
Colin rested his elbows on the desk. “I don’t know. I’m trying to process the entire call.”
Adam nodded. “Mom’s right, though. Your furniture business is taking off.”
“It is, although I have mixed feelings about the growth. But to sell this place? I can’t even fathom.”
Adam was of the same mind. He’d made a career out of analyzing business opportunities, had bought and sold more companies than he could recall, but it had never been personal. Until now.
The side door opened and closed. It was one of their employees. Adam rose and returned the laptop to Colin’s desk. “We keep this between us for now,” he said.
Colin nodded.
His mind still spinning, he walked out front. Jocelyn sent him a cheery “Good morning.”
“You, too,” he replied, grabbing the cup of coffee he’d left behind when his parents called. He took a swig and grimaced. Cold.
Catching his expression, she said, “I’ll make a pot,” then moved to the snack area.
Adam went to the sink and poured out the dregs before tossing the cup away. He moved past the floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the front of the building, noticing a few cars driving by. Locals off to work, most likely. Once behind the counter, he stared blindly at the computer screen.
He wondered how Carrie’s meeting was going. Not that he was particularly fascinated with the inner workings of the local Chamber of Commerce. No, more to take his mind off the pressing question that wouldn’t leave him alone. A question that had been niggling at him since he moved back to Golden.
If he didn’t have Deep North to manage, what would he do?
