Mine to Steal (Mine to Love) (10 page)

“Sorry, Pops,” he says, brushing past me in a hurry. He takes a seat and begins to excuse his tardiness. “I
got off the phone with Rock Solid, and we are set for this afternoon.”

I instantly recognize the name of my former employer and realize this meeting isn’t as cut and dry as I assumed.
My jaw clenches as my body fills with tension. He’s still yet to acknowledge me, so I introduce myself. “You must be Grayson,” I offer for him. “I’m Trey Miller. It’s nice to meet you.”

He sits upright in his chair to accept my handshake. “Sorry ‘bout that, man. Nice to meet you.”

“I was telling your grandfather about T.M. Enterprises and what I have planned for Cavette.”

Cal stands up abruptly, “Lemme be honest with you, Trey. I met with a rep from Rock Solid yesterday
, and I really liked what they had to say. They’re a large company with over twenty years in the business and that says something. Ya know?”

“I understand. But, like you
pointed out, they’re large. I know their business model and quite frankly, I’d hate to see you get lost in the shuffle. They have several Fortune 500 companies they deal with every day, and it’s the smaller companies who suffer. That’s the reason I started T.M. in the first place. I could go on and on about where they lack, but I’d rather tell you what
I
can do for
you
.”

Cal waves his hand to stop me from continuing my explanation. “I like the initial information you sent over. You’re hungry, and I like that. But I can’t rule
out the big fish either. How long are you here for, son?”

“As long as it takes,” I admit. I need this win, and if I have to stay here a week to convince him, I’ll do it.

“I like that attitude. I’m going camping, leaving tonight. The rep from Rock Solid will be there, and I’d like you to come along. We’ll be back on Sunday, but whoever I pick to represent my company has to know my business. And what better way to figure it out than with a camping trip.”

This isn’t happening. This whole thing has gone from a sure thing to a three-ring circus in a matter of minutes. He’s waiting for an answer, but the only thing that comes out is a question.
“Sir?”

“You don’t have a problem with that, do ya?”

Is this guy out of his mind?
There was no mention of going anywhere besides this office, but clearly it doesn’t matter to him. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, and if I want this, I have to play ball.

“No. Not at all,” I
hesitate, still stunned by the change in venue. “It’s just, I don’t have any gear with me. Wasn’t exactly planning an outdoor excursion.”

“Good thing I own a camping store then, huh?” He laughs at his own attempt to be funny
, and I fight the scoff that wants to break free.
I need this win, but hell if I don’t have other clients who also need my attention. This was supposed to be a slam-dunk and yet here I am being put on the spot and there’s only one right answer.

“I suppose so,” I manage to say through a gritted smile.

“I’ll have the essentials, and Grayson here will set it up so you can go to the store and select anything else you might need for the three nights.”

Are you kidding me? Did I walk in to an audition for the follow-up of
Deliverance
or something?

I
scan the pictures that line his wall before glancing at the man in front of me. “Where do you camp out here?”

“Not here.
Texas. Grayson got his pilot’s license a few months back, and he’s been itchin’ to get me up in the sky with him. I rented a private jet so he can co-pilot and get a little more experience. Figure now’s as good a time as any.”

Not only am I going on a spur of the moment camping trip,
but I’m also a fucking Guinea pig for his grandson who’s still a newbie pilot? In fucking Texas?

I swallow hard and ask for clarification. “Texas?”

“Big Bend.”   

This has to be the most absurd request -
no, demand
- I have ever encountered, and this isn’t even a client.

What in the hell have I gotten myself into?

Big Bend.

Texas.

Humidity and hell are the first things that come to mind. I’m all for a camping trip, but a last
-minute one in Texas sounds like a recipe for disaster. Camping with a man who seems to be slightly out of his mind is something else altogether. When I get home, I might need to consider getting my head checked for agreeing to this fiasco.

Sitting in the rental car,
the words replay in my head over again. Cavette is bringing me, and the competition, camping so we can actually have it out in front of him to see who will win the contract. I feel like I’m about to be on a bad reality show where we have to jump through hoops and hope not to come off as dumbasses along the way.

Mom and Dad used to take Jett, Abby
, and me camping when we were kids, but I haven’t gone since high school. I think I can probably still set up a tent easily enough, and I know I can still fish. At least that’s one thing I manage to do somewhat often enough between work and sleep. But I have no idea what else he might have in mind.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to get enough information about Big Bend to
appear knowledgeable before we get there this evening. Cavette plans to take off at five sharp, and I’ve still got to get to the hotel so I can load up.

Jett is supposed to be taking care of things
at the office, but right now, I need him to focus on my latest instructions. I call the office and Hattie answers, but I don’t give her a chance to finish the greeting.

“It’s Trey. I need to talk to Jett.”

“He, um, hold -” she stammers before clearing her throat. “He should be back any minute. Is everything okay? You don’t sound too good. Did the meeting go okay?”

“It went,
” I snap quickly as I make my way to the hotel.

“That good, huh?”

“Yeah, something like that,” I answer distracted by the whirlwind that has been my morning. “Look, have him call me -”

“Wait, here he is,” she says quickly before I hear her muffled voice say something to someone else. “Trey, hold one sec. ‘Kay?”

I don’t bother to respond, what does it matter anyway?

“How’d it go? I guess he didn’t sign?”

“Not yet. I’m going to be here longer than I thought. Cavette wants me and the other guy to go camping this weekend to basically compete. He wants to see which of us knows his business better. Get this, my competition is Rock Solid.”

“Your nemesis,” he says, dragging out the “s” like a snake. “So where are you going anyway?”

“Texas.”

“What?
In August? Good luck with that. Your balls are gonna melt out there.”

“I’m heading to the store to grab a few things. I need you to have Hattie do some research and send me a list of things I might need and tell me as much as possible about Big Bend.”

“We’ve been there before, remember?”

“If I remembered, would I be asking for information about it? I was maybe, what, ten when we went?
Can you get me the damn information?”

“When do you leave?”

“I should be at the hotel in a few minutes, and then I’ve got to get to the store. It’s -” I check my watch, “ten o’clock. Try to get me the list in the next thirty, the rest, I need before noon.”

Phone etiquette has always been lost on Jett
, and he hangs up before I say anything else. I’m sure he’s worried that I might add to the list.

This is a work trip, so most everything I have with me is for meetings. Luckily, I thought ahead and packed my jeans,
so I’d have one comfortable set of clothes with me. They’re faded and worn out, and when I wear them with a t-shirt, I don’t look like an entrepreneur at all. I shrug at the thought and unpack my relaxed clothing so I can change before heading to Cavette’s store. I make quick time to gather my suits and toiletries, tossing them into my suitcase. I don’t bother to attempt folding since it’s obvious these are not the type of clothes I’m going to need.

Checking around the room to make sure I have left nothing behind, I
tug the door shut behind me and head for the elevator. When the doors open, I step in and make a mental note of things I need to do before we fly out this afternoon. My phone vibrates in my pocket, so I dig it out, hoping it’s what I asked for.

Hattie: Got a list for you:

- Clothes (ha)

- Portable charger

- Flashlight

- Sleeping bag

- Towel (please shower)

- Shower things

- Bug spray

- Swimsuit?

- Baby wipes

The list seems simple enough
, and I feel relieved when the doors open and I make my exit to check out. The front desk has a few people waiting to check in or out, I don’t know and don’t care, but I spot Pamela, the cute hostess from last night. She waves me over, and I look around to the others who are waiting, but when no one moves to her area, I move in her direction.

“I thought you were here for the weekend,” she all but purrs at me.

I give her a smile. “I thought so, too. But work has other plans.”

She takes my keycards and hands me the itemized receipt. I start to tuck the slip of paper into my bag as she finishes talking. “We hope you enjoyed your stay. If you’re in the area again, please come back.” My eyes meet hers
, and she has a wide smile in place before she gives me a wink.

“Will do, Pamela.
Actually, can I ask you to do me a favor?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Would you mind sending my luggage to this address? I won’t need it where I’m headed.” I write the address to my office and hand her the slip of paper. “If you could charge it to the card on file, I would appreciate it.”

“I’ll take care of it, personal
ly.” She smiles and takes the small carry-on from me.

As I walk through the lobby doors, I can feel her eyes on me so I turn back to confirm.
Damn. One more night would have been nice.
I wave, exiting through the sliding doors and wait for the valet to retrieve my rental car.

* * *

Cave Camo and Outdoor is known for their over-the-top displays and employees donning fishing, camping, and hunting clothes. It’s a little strange to walk in and have a man approach you in full hunting gear to see if you need any help. Before I have a chance to respond Cal’s grandson, Grayson, appears.

“Trey, great. You’re right on time.” He pats the employee on the shoulder, dismissing him and shakes his head with a laugh. “Don’t think I’ll ever understand what Pops is trying to accomplish with that getup.”

“It’s different, I’ll give him that.” He leads me toward some racks containing anything you could ever want for camping.

“
Grab whatever you need. Dressing rooms are back in the corner. When you’re done, have someone find me.”

He walks away, leaving me in the middle of too many clothing racks. I hate shopping. The idea of it makes my feet hurt. I know my size, I know what I like, and there will be no need for fitting rooms. I grab several shirts and a few pair of cargo shorts before spotting a rack off to the side with baseball caps. There are several to choose from, but it’s a no-brainer for me; I grab one with the Cave logo and toss it into the
basket.

I continue looking around and spot a woman across the way
that resembles Faith, but from this distance, I’m sure anyone could look like her. She’s dressed comfortably in a tank top and shorts that show off her tanned legs, but it’s all I see before she rounds an aisle. Something propels me to get closer, to see if it’s really her, but I’m barely able to take two steps before a female employee approaches me and gives me a once over.

I don’t
feel out of place in my jeans and t-shirt, but she seems to think so. “Can I help you find what you need?”

“Nah. I’m good.”

“Mr. Cavette sent me over to check on you. So if you need anything, let me know.”

“I think I’m set.”

She looks at my feet and cocks her head to the side. “You realize you’re going camping, right? Those aren’t exactly the kind of shoes to walk around in.”

She’s right.
Flip-flops aren’t the right footwear at all. Had they not fit in my suitcase, I’d be left with only my dress shoes. “Lead the way,” I laugh, stepping aside to follow her.

“Have you ever been camping before?” Her tone has a ring of annoyance to it, but I don’t let it bother me.

“Yes. Many times.”

She walks to the shoe department and points to the
men’s sections, leaving me alone. That chick has a bad attitude for some reason, but it’s her problem, not mine.

I’m not too picky when it comes to
footwear. I find a pair of waterproof hiking boots in my size since I have no idea what the old man has planned out there. I think my bases are covered in these and a set of socks.