Birdie rolled her eyes, and then glanced at the clock. “Let me call Hunt. If he’s still there, I’ll take you by on my lunch hour.”

“Thanks,” Wade said.

“You’re welcome,” Birdie said. “Now please hang that back up on the bulletin board when you go by. We need all the prospective buyers we can get.”

“Yes, ma’am. Just don’t forget to let me know if we have a date.”

“Oh, we won’t be having a date. We will be taking a ride and that is all,” Birdie said. “Now scoot. I need to call my brother.”

“Scooting,” Wade said, then smiled all the way back to the front desk.

* * *

Hunt was on the downhill slide of being done. The floors had been sanded and stained, and tomorrow the sealant would go on. He was running a dust mop over the floors to get rid of footprints when his phone rang. When he saw it was Birdie, he smiled.

“Hey, little sister.”

“Hi, Hunt. Are you at the house?”

“Yes, why?”

“Oh, I have a maybe-possibly-prospective buyer who just saw the auction sign and wants to come look. I told him I’d bring him by on my lunch hour, but only if you were there.”

“Well, I’m here, and it’s ten to twelve. Are you coming now?”

“I guess,” Birdie said. “I’ll get him and head that way.”

“You don’t sound very excited,” Hunt said. “A buyer is a buyer.”

“I don’t know whether he is interested in the house or in me. There, I said it. Just don’t you dare tease me about it later.”

Hunt laughed out loud. “Bring him by anyway. I might need to check him out.”

“Lord,” Birdie muttered. “See you soon.”

“Oh…who’s the buyer?” Hunt asked.

“Wade Montgomery. He’s my boss’s nephew.”

“Bring him on. I’ll know if he’s serious about you or the house when I see him.”

Birdie hung up, then grabbed her purse and jacket and headed up to the front of the store.

The last customer was walking out of the door when she walked up to the counter.

“Hunt’s there. It’s now or never,” Birdie said.

“Now,” Wade said, and then called out to one of the employees who was stocking shelves. “Hey, Eddie. You’ve got the register until I get back.”

“Yes, sir,” Eddie said and headed for the desk.

Wade walked out behind her, then as they started down the steps, he offered to drive.

“We can take my car if—”

“You’re riding with me or you can follow me. It’s your call,” she said.

Wade frowned. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Not yet,” she said. “What’s it gonna be?”

He sighed. “I’m riding with you.”