Read Online Sweetheart Cottage (Cranberry Bay #1) by Mindy Hardwick - Free Book Online
Authors: Mindy Hardwick
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seashell lamps, and they didn’t need one more. She handed it to him for free, and he set it up on his desk as his first piece of office furnishing. The large conch shell reminded him of a trip he’d taken with his brothers and Dad to Hawaii. It had been one of the only trips they’d taken where Bryan could remember his Dad enjoying himself.
Restlessly, Bryan shifted on the hard swivel chair. For the last hour, he’d tried to come up with catchy captions that would encourage buyers to request a showing. Former agent Rob Decker hadn’t believed in using technology to promote his business. He’d been in business long enough that he had a long list of satisfied clients who, in turn, gave him a steady stream of new clients. As a new agent, Bryan needed the online Multiple Listing Service to attract buyers. He only wished writing one-liners about a home’s marvelous backyard with a play-area for kids didn’t have him staring at the screen for over an hour.
A gust of cool wind blew inside the small office as the door opened, and a burly man entered the room. He wore a thick, heavy black down coat, jeans, and tall leather boots. Bryan pushed back his chair and squeezed between the large maple desk and the wall. He stepped forward and embraced the man in a large bear hug. “Dennis. How have you been?”
“Good.” Dennis returned the hug. “Got a minute?’
“Always.” Bryan gathered a stack of manila folders from a chair and placed the files on the floor. “Sorry about the mess. I’m trying to update some of Rob’s listings.”
“Allison and I heard you took over for Rob. How are things going?”
“Slow. But it’s the time of year. How is Mrs. Perkins?” Bryan asked, and smiled at the thought of his first-grade teacher. Allison Perkins was a longtime resident of Cranberry Bay whom everyone still called Mrs. Perkins. She’d retired last year after a thirty-five-year teaching career. The town held a large celebration for her in the park. Her former students had returned from all over the country, and the day had included a marvelous afternoon of stories, tears, and joy.
“She’s getting used to retirement.” Dennis ran his hand over his lower jaw. “But, we’ve decided to sell the river fishing cottages. Our grandkids are in California, and we’d like to buy a condo closer to them.”
A memory of the old fishing cottages flashed across Bryan’s mind. On the night Rylee turned twenty-one, they had slipped into one of the cottages with a key he’d found tucked under a flower mat. The rustic cottages offered very little comfort, but that hadn’t mattered to them. He’d brought a thick blanket, and they’d placed it in front of the stone fireplace, talking all night and dreaming of a future together. He had proposed not soon after. Foolishly, he believed that night would lead to her spending the rest of her life with him. Their lives seemed wide-open and filled with promise.
“Do you think you can help us with the sale?” Dennis repeated.
Bryan flushed and cleared his throat, embarrassed to be caught lost in his daydreams and not paying attention to business. “I’d be happy to help you with the sale of the cottages. These are the six cottages alongside the west bank of the river, correct?”
Dennis shifted in his chair, leaned forward, and tapped his fingers on the desk. “Yes. Those are the ones. I’ve used a couple for storing fishing gear and other items from our house.” Dennis shook his head. “I’m afraid one of the cottages is loaded up with nothing but Christmas boxes. I’ll ask Allison to clear it out as soon as possible.”
Bryan chuckled. “Mom would love a spare cottage to store Christmas decorations. She must have saved every snowflake and Santa picture my brothers and sister and I ever made. Mom keeps saying one day she’ll have a house full of grandkids to enjoy the old things. So far, there’s only two, and it doesn’t look like any more are on the way.” He ran
Restlessly, Bryan shifted on the hard swivel chair. For the last hour, he’d tried to come up with catchy captions that would encourage buyers to request a showing. Former agent Rob Decker hadn’t believed in using technology to promote his business. He’d been in business long enough that he had a long list of satisfied clients who, in turn, gave him a steady stream of new clients. As a new agent, Bryan needed the online Multiple Listing Service to attract buyers. He only wished writing one-liners about a home’s marvelous backyard with a play-area for kids didn’t have him staring at the screen for over an hour.
A gust of cool wind blew inside the small office as the door opened, and a burly man entered the room. He wore a thick, heavy black down coat, jeans, and tall leather boots. Bryan pushed back his chair and squeezed between the large maple desk and the wall. He stepped forward and embraced the man in a large bear hug. “Dennis. How have you been?”
“Good.” Dennis returned the hug. “Got a minute?’
“Always.” Bryan gathered a stack of manila folders from a chair and placed the files on the floor. “Sorry about the mess. I’m trying to update some of Rob’s listings.”
“Allison and I heard you took over for Rob. How are things going?”
“Slow. But it’s the time of year. How is Mrs. Perkins?” Bryan asked, and smiled at the thought of his first-grade teacher. Allison Perkins was a longtime resident of Cranberry Bay whom everyone still called Mrs. Perkins. She’d retired last year after a thirty-five-year teaching career. The town held a large celebration for her in the park. Her former students had returned from all over the country, and the day had included a marvelous afternoon of stories, tears, and joy.
“She’s getting used to retirement.” Dennis ran his hand over his lower jaw. “But, we’ve decided to sell the river fishing cottages. Our grandkids are in California, and we’d like to buy a condo closer to them.”
A memory of the old fishing cottages flashed across Bryan’s mind. On the night Rylee turned twenty-one, they had slipped into one of the cottages with a key he’d found tucked under a flower mat. The rustic cottages offered very little comfort, but that hadn’t mattered to them. He’d brought a thick blanket, and they’d placed it in front of the stone fireplace, talking all night and dreaming of a future together. He had proposed not soon after. Foolishly, he believed that night would lead to her spending the rest of her life with him. Their lives seemed wide-open and filled with promise.
“Do you think you can help us with the sale?” Dennis repeated.
Bryan flushed and cleared his throat, embarrassed to be caught lost in his daydreams and not paying attention to business. “I’d be happy to help you with the sale of the cottages. These are the six cottages alongside the west bank of the river, correct?”
Dennis shifted in his chair, leaned forward, and tapped his fingers on the desk. “Yes. Those are the ones. I’ve used a couple for storing fishing gear and other items from our house.” Dennis shook his head. “I’m afraid one of the cottages is loaded up with nothing but Christmas boxes. I’ll ask Allison to clear it out as soon as possible.”
Bryan chuckled. “Mom would love a spare cottage to store Christmas decorations. She must have saved every snowflake and Santa picture my brothers and sister and I ever made. Mom keeps saying one day she’ll have a house full of grandkids to enjoy the old things. So far, there’s only two, and it doesn’t look like any more are on the way.” He ran
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