Free Wild Ride by Rebecca Avery Page A

obviously very organized but with the amount of work they had coming in from shows and the online marketing Lilly had been doing, they were looking at possibly hiring more help… if they could afford it. 
    Looking briefly at the shops finances she could only see data for the past six months.
    “Your business projections look great so I don’t see any issues with hiring one or even two employees with the work you have coming in.  From what I can see the issue is that the work isn’t getting done fast enough.  That could be from needing more help or even a larger facility so additional jobs can be done at the same time,” she said. “If you could show earnings from the past two or three years you could try for a small business loan to help in that process.  Did you switch software or something… there is only about six months’ worth of actual figures here…”
    Laughing , Lilly said, “No… but it’s a long story best saved for another day.  I need to run out and grab some lunch for the guys… would you like to go with me?”
    Looking toward the garage bay she said, “Umm…”
    “Chuck is painting so he’s in his own little world at the moment.  As much as he obviously likes you he won’t even know you’re gone ,” Lilly said and then placed her fingers over her mouth.
    “Ok , if you’re sure you don’t mind,” she said.
    “No… we’ll swing through the drive thru and be back before you know it,” Lilly smiled. “I’ll just go get Gretchen.”
    With that she was out the door… leaving Meredith behind.  She moved her chair out from behind the desk and over to the door and was about to attempt holding the door open while moving through it when the older man opened the door slowly.
    “Let me get that for you ma’am ,” he said with a grin. 
    Somehow he looked familiar to her but she couldn’t place where she might have known him from.  Maybe he just had one of those faces.  He held the door open and she wheeled herself out into the garage bay just as Lilly came around the side with Gretchen in tow.
    “Maybe we should take your car instead of the truck,” Lilly said looking thoughtful.
    “Chuck has the keys…” she said.
    Lilly walked over to the little booth area at the back .  After tapping on the window, she then made a sign as though she were starting a vehicle and then driving. 
    A few minutes later Chuck appeared at the door with his mask pushed up on the top of his head and handed her the keys.  They talked quietly and , rather than drive herself crazy wondering what was being said, she wheeled over toward her car.
    Lilly headed toward her showing her the keys and Chuck stared at her for a brief moment before grinning and winking at her and then heading back inside the booth.  As Lilly approached she said, “Mind if I drive?”
    “No…sure , that’s fine” Meredith replied as her eyes went back to where Chuck had been.
    Then she opened the car door and wheeled forward a bit and got out of the chair and into the passenger seat.  Looking back at the chair, she watched as the older man approached and folded it up.  Smiling at her, he walked to the back.  Leaning over she popped the trunk and yelled, “Thank you.  I’m sorry I forgot your name.”
    After shoving her chair in the trunk and closing it he walked back and held her door . “Dickie… and it’s the least I can do for keeping Chuck in line,” he said, making a gesture as though he was tipping his hat at her.  With a wink he closed the car door and went back in the garage.
    She watched the older man walk away trying to figure out if he was older than he looked or if he just looked good for his age.  Lilly got behind the wheel as Gretchen got in the back, closed the door, got up in her seat and buckled herself in. 
    Looking over at her Lilly said, “Yes… they are all good looking… even Tommy who you haven’t met yet.”
    She giggled . “Sorry… he’s old enough to be my dad but he’s a nice