Page 24 of Unexpected Love
“No.”
“How about we start there. Mommie’s Empanadas is atthe park today. Let’s go grab some food and see if that helps.”
She nods and falls into step beside me, but I don’t move my hand. Devastation and desperation are written all over her, and my protective instinct has taken over. I want to hold her hand, or maybe pull her into my arms. Slay her dragons, cut down whatever motherfucker put her in this catatonic state.
We pass by her empty storefront, her breath hitches, and it hits me.
Whatever’s wrong has to do with her coffee shop. For reasons beyond me, I want to know what it is. But I need to get her talking first. I go with the most mundane topic.
“So, Charlie basically ditched me as soon as we got to Nancy’s this morning. One of the twins came up and hugged her, and she toddled off without a backward glance,” I say, trying to distract her.
“Which one?” she asks, her voice still hollow, but she’s at least engaged.
“I’m not sure of their names. The one with the lock of long hair on one side.”
“That’s Rowan. River is the other twin. He’s got blond curls. Rowan’s is redder, with one little section that’s brown and grows three times as fast.”
Her chin isn’t quivering anymore, so I’m making progress. I lead us to a picnic table and leave her long enough to place a food order. I keep an eye on her while I wait, half expecting her to bolt.
We’ve not had the best start as neighbors. But she did help me out with Charlie, and it feels like there’s this unspoken truce happening.
I collect our food and join her.
“You know what I hate?” she asks, still subdued but at least there’s more color in her cheeks now.
“What’s that?”
“Mommie’s Empanadas is one of my favorite food trucks, and I can’t even get excited about them right now.” She frowns at the paper boats filled with fried goodness, but her voice is back to normal, and she doesn’t sound like she’s going to pass out on me anymore.
“Talk to me, Jules. Tell me what’s going on.”
She closes her eyes and rubs the spot between them like she’s rubbing away stress. On a huge sigh, she opens them and meets my gaze while telling me about her morning.
By the time she’s done dishing the details of how her contractor ghosted her, the empanadas are cool enough to eat, so I split them up and pass her a plate. The whole time she’s been talking, an idea has sparked. It’s not one I’m crazy about it, but it could solve two problems at once if she goes for it.
“What if I help you?”
She stares at me blankly and then scoffs. “What? You magically know a contractor who can finish my build-out in a matter of weeks? Because that’s how long I have before the next inspection.”
I frown, ready to jump in and tell her that yes, I actually do know someone, multiple someones, who can help. But she’s crestfallen again, picking at the empanada in front of her.
“I was already running on a tight timeline to get the shop open,” she continues. “There’s the big market day in a few weeks and tons of people will be in town. If I’m not open by then, it’s a missed opportunity to make a splash.”
This event is on our schedule at the station because we’ve got to have a truck on hand for a Touch-A-Truck PR.It’s a big deal because there will be a ton of foot traffic, It makes sense that she’s targeting that deadline to open.
Instead of immediately jumping back in and offering my idea of a solution, I take a bite and scald the shit out of my mouth.
A hint of sparkle lights her eyes as she watches me overexaggerate my mouth being on fire. I mean, it is, but I’m also playing it up because I want to see more of that twinkle. At least the tears are gone.
“Hear me out,” I say when I can speak again. “When I first left home, I had no education, but I was good with doing hard work. I met a guy, and he got me a job on his construction company. Spent a couple of years learning how to build homes while I got my shit together. The economy took a turn, and work slowed. Plus, I kinda hated it at that point. An ad for a rookie position at the fire department popped up and I jumped on the opportunity.”
I motion to the food in front of her and wait until she picks up an empanada and takes a bite.
“The way I figure, we’ve got an opportunity to help each other out. You need someone to finish your build and I happen to have that particular set of skills.”
She snorts and says, “Okay, Liam.”
Gotta admit. This sarcasm is attractive as hell. “I’m willing to use my skills to help you out.”
