Page 59 of A Tempting Seduction

Harvey wants to meet tomorrow about some of the specs on the luxury homes. Plus, the Hendersons signed off on their plans - they want to discuss custom millwork ASAP. Can you handle it?

I typed back quickly.

Still in Nashville.

Still? Ford, I'm juggling the development planning with Renzo and Harvey plus this new custom work. Can't keep doing both jobs.

The frustration in his message was clear. Walker had been handling the Jasper Creek development meetings, going over site plans and infrastructure details with Harvey and Renzo, while also managing our first signed homeowner who wanted extensive custom millwork. The Hendersons had big ideas and bigger budgets, but they needed handholding through every decision.

I know. I just need a call from Les, with his okay, and I can come home.

Maybe today?

Before I could respond, my phone rang. Ivan's name flashed on the screen.

“Tell me you have good news,” I answered.

“I wish.” Ivan's Ukrainian accent was thicker than usual, which meant he was agitated. “Memphis supplier, they are still giving me runaround. Three weeks now, Ford. Three weeks of promises and excuses.”

I rubbed my temples where a headache was building. “What's Archie saying now?”

“Same trash. 'Next week, Ivan. For sure next week.' But I am thinking he sold our cherry lumber to someone else.”

The cherry lumber we needed for the Knoxville job. It was a top-of-the-line luxury home project. We'd contracted for the wood six months ago at a specific price. Premium quarter-sawn cherry that Archie Morrison had promised would be ready when we needed it.

“You think he's selling it for higher prices?”

“What else? Cherry is up thirty percent since we made contract. He could make good money selling elsewhere.”

Rage built in my chest. Archie Morrison had grown up two streets over from us in Jasper Creek. We'd played Little League together, built tree forts in the woods behind his house. After high school, he'd moved to Memphis to work in his uncle's lumber business. When his uncle retired five years ago, Archie had taken over Morrison Lumber.

“I'm going to Memphis,” I said.

“Ford, you already been gone two weeks. Maybe I can handle⁠—”

“No. This needs to be face to face.”

I ended the call and immediately dialed information for Lionel Lumber in North Carolina. They answered on the second ring.

“This is Ford Larson with Larson Brothers Millwork in Tennessee. I need a quote on quarter-sawn cherry lumber. Twelve hundred board feet, premium grade.”

The price they quoted made me wince, but it was manageable. If Lionel could deliver within two weeks, we could still meet our deadlines.

“I'll get back to you first thing tomorrow morning,” I told them.

I crossed my fingers and called Les. “What’s the good word?”

“Customer did their walk thru. We’re good.”

“Hallelujah.”

“What? You tired of Nashville?” Les teased.

“Maybe a little,” I said with a laugh.

“The woman? Ruby?”

“She might have something to do with it. Now that you gave me the get-out-of-jail-free card, I’m packing up.”