Page 38 of Silver Linings
“It’s so cute when you boss me around.” Holly winks before walking towards the boxes.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m saving myself for your wife.”
Apprehension settles over me like a fog when I think about Hendrix coming to the store tonight. Something about him offering to help me feels different. He doesn’thaveto do this, and honestly, he shouldn’t want to, considering he seems inclined to avoid me half the time.
Unless you ask Holly, who thinks he’s got a thing for me. She’s wrong. I can always get a read on a man, but Hendrix is a closed book. Sometimes, he’s relaxed and seems content, but then he almost realizes he’s let his guard down and throws up his walls again. It’s confusing.
I need to put it out of my mind before he gets here, focus on organizing our plan of attack on this reno. There is so much to do, and I’m a little nervous that once he arrives, he’s going to look around, see how much work he blindly agreed to, and hightail it out of here.
I’m paying some supply invoices when the door opens, and in walks Hendrix…early. As in, early enough that Holly is still here and I haven’t told her who my newfound contractor is, just that Phil no longer has the job. Which is going to make it seem like I was hiding it—which I wasn’t. I wasn’t.
“You’re early,”I say through clenched teeth.Very astute observation, Silver.
“What a friendly welcome,” he deadpans and then signals to the tray of coffees in his hands. “I was off already and just decided to head over. I thought it would take me longer to walk here.”
Holly, as if summoned by his voice and any chance to say I told you so, pops out from behind one of the standalone shelves with a downright delighted smile gracing her face.
“What are you doing here?” From her tone, Holly knows exactly why, but she wants one of us to admit it out loud.
“Coming in here is like a warm hug.” Sarcasm drips from his mouth. “I’m here to help with the renovations. I was a little early and stopped to grab coffee for everyone. I thought we might need it.”
Holly whips her head in my direction but addresses Hendrix. “You’re the new contractor?”
He scratches the back of his neck, clear confusion written across his handsome face. “Yes?”
“Interesting…” She draws the last syllable out.
“Holly, can I talk to you in the back?”
“About what?” She is enjoying this far too much.
“The migration pattern of monarch butterflies.” I grit my teeth, glaring at her with a look so harrowing, I hope it conveys,come to the back now before I karate chop you in the throat.
“Sounds fascinating.” She turns a beaming smile towards Hendrix. “We’ll be right back. Make yourself at home.”
I roll my eyes, turning to walk toward the stockroom—if you can even call it that, since it’s a glorified broom closet. Close on my heels, Holly follows me into the room and immediately starts a rapid-fire interrogation.
“Oh my God. Why didn’t you tell me about this? Did you ask him to help? Is he even qualified for this beyond his sumptuous biceps? You’retotallygoing to fall in love. This is basically kindling for a Hallmark rom-com!”
“Are you done?” I huff while leaning against a rickety metal shelving unit housing a lot of our stock. She nods, clearly eager for me to answer her questions.
“Okay one, I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react likethis. Two, he offered to help after overhearing my conversation with the original contractor. Three, yes, he is qualified, and no, I will not be commenting on hissumptuous bicepsand give you more ammo against me. And four, and most importantly,” I make sure I have her full attention for this next part, “do you really thinkIwould ever be in a story appropriate enough to air on the Hallmark Channel?”
“You’re TV-MA for sure. So what’s the deal then? He’s just helping you out of the kindness of his brooding heart?” She leans towards the doorway to spy him walking around the store, one hand holding the tray of coffees and the other holding a book reading the synopsis on the back. It isinfuriatinglysexy.
“The deal is, he helps me fix the store, and I help him build his portfolio for the business he’s wanting to start here,” she’s staring at me skeptically, so I quickly tack on, “and I’m paying him.”
“In blow jobs?”
“Well, if I thought he’d be into it…” I murmur.
“What was that?” She asks.
“Are you planning on staying now?” It wouldn’t be surprising if she decided to extend her shift to “help” just to be nosy and rile me up.
“As much as I want to witness what is no doubt going to be a painfully awkward night, I promised Sera I would help her with planning her course.”
“Small mercies.” Sardonic ire laces my tone as I motion for us to leave the stockroom.
