Page 132 of Durango

“What?” I ask, not expecting her to be so direct.

She nods to me. “I mention I live close and you look like you’ve sucked on a lemon.”

I paddle as the wind takes me, and it turns me away from her. “It’s not dislike,” I say.

“But it’s something.”

I glance at her, and she’s grinning. Why is she grinning?

“Look, I’m sorry for whatever I said that offended you. I didn’t figure a former military man to have such a thin skin.”

I open my mouth to protest.

“Anyway, I’m hoping you might consider putting our differences aside. Your sister said you work in protection, and I think I need some.”

Wait, she insulted me and is now asking for help? I’m about to say no, but her eyes stop me. Eyes don’t lie, and Savvy is scared.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

My sister will have my ass if I don’t at least consider this. Although I’m lying to myself, I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Savvy after she asked for help.

“I am showing a commercial building later today, and I don’t have a good feeling about it. Would you be willing to come with me? I’ll buy you lunch.”

“Why do you have a bad feeling?” I ask. “Is the client a dick or something?”

She stares at the shore. “He’s been nice to me, but he’s not so nice to others. I just don’t want to get caught up in some feud he may have.”

She’s being vague. I’ll probably have a better chance of getting more information from her at lunch.

“What time?”

Her eyes light up as she smiles. “I’ll pick you up at eleven thirty. Thank you so much!”

She turns and paddles toward her cabin before I can rethink anything.

I check the time and realize I need to get back in order to shower and get ready in time.

At eleven thirty on the dot, there’s a knock on the door. I open it and find Savvy smiling.

“Ready to go?”

I grab my phone and wallet. “Ready.”

Once we are on the road, I glance over at her. “Explain what you mean by not having a good feeling. I need to know what I’m looking for.”

She takes a deep breath and lets it out. “As I said, the man I’m showing the space to has angered a few people, including the current owner of the building. The owner told me he won’t sell to this guy, but he insisted I bring him in for a showing today. I’m worried the owner is going to confront the man.”

I stare at Savvy, really taking her in. From the moment I met her, she came across as tough, but in this moment, she doesn’t seem so tough.

“Do you often get nervous showing properties to strangers?” I ask. “Or scared?”

She glances over at me. “I never get scared.”

And the wall she usually has goes back up. Then she slumps down a little. “That’s a lie. I do. Today is one of those days. But I can’t not show it, or I wouldn’t be a good real estate agent.”

“Maybe you don’t have to show it, but can’t you avoid putting yourself in situations where you feel uncomfortable?”

She laughs. “You mean stop showing houses to people who make me nervous? I’d lose half my business.” She parks. “We’re here.”

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