Page 5 of Now You See Him
Then why was the basement door swinging open periodically? Tina was about to explain that he had to be mistaken when the woman behind the counter approached the register with a broom and a plastic bag filled with what looked like two sandwiches.
“Here you go, honey,” she said, her tone kind and hurried. “This one is on the house. A welcome gift to town.”
“Oh no, you don’t have to do that,” Tina argued even as she reached for her phone.
The woman waved a hand in her direction. “Nonsense,” she said. “It’s my family business. We are happy to welcome new blood to town.”
Tina looked at Derrick, who shrugged, then back at the woman. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”
She waved a hand and began mopping up the glass shards. “Derrick, your crew’s order is almost done, too.”
“Thanks, Colleen,” Derrick said. He nodded in Tina’s direction, his mouth set in a polite smile. “It was nice meeting you. And please call me if you need me. Seriously.”
There was something in his tone that had her pausing. “Oh, ah. Okay. Thanks.” Then she pushed the door open and stepped out into the parking lot again.
The door had new hinges. She’d have to go check for herself.
Chapter
Three
“Ihave to go back to New York,” Logan said. He barged into Tina’s office with a distracted and irritated expression. “I know going on a business trip so soon after we moved isn’t ideal, but I can’t help it.”
“I’ve asked you this before, but I really need you to knock when I’m working,” Tina said with a sigh. She pulled out her earbuds, grateful that her call had just ended.
Logan gave her an exasperated look. “This is important. I have to go back to New York. It’s only a couple hours of a drive so I’m going to leave today, and I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, be safe,” Tina said. She began putting the earbuds back in, when she heard Logan’s scoff.
Good lord.
“Did you need something else?”
Logan crossed his arms over his chest. “You know, I remember a time when you’d pack my bag for me.”
Tina snorted. “Logan, I’ve never packed your bag for you.”
He rolled his eyes, then smiled at her as if he was trying to be charming. “Well, I have to wrap up a few calls. I could use your help now.”
She pointed to her computer screen. “I’m sorry but I have calls, too. And you know the closet better than I do. You’re the one who wanted to put in that organization system.”
He crossed the room to her, then in a rare show of affection, stood behind her chair and began massaging her shoulders. She tensed under the familiar touch.
“You know,” he said softly as he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “You don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
“Well, considering this house is under my name and I’m currently paying the mortgage, I am going to have to work.”
“If we move back to New York, we can stay in my condo that’s just sitting empty now and focus on building a family. Kids. You wouldn’t have to do anything but become a lady who lunches or whatever.”
Tina had a hard time holding in her laugh at the ridiculous image he painted. “You’d rather raise kids in one of the most expensive cities in the world on a single income, than kids in the country on a dual income? Logan.”
Logan’s hands slipped off her shoulders. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, bye,” Tina said. She didn’t know why he was so frustrated with her. If she’d interrupted his work the same way, then he’d lose it.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from a team member, and she immediately answered. Thankfully work could keep her busy in the meantime.
It wasfour hours later before she surfaced. Her back and knees were stiff, and the light outside her window was beginning to fade. She gasped when she looked at the time. How was italready seven thirty? Tina got to her feet, and after a little bit of light stretching, she made her way to her bedroom.
