Page 2 of Ten Kisses

"No."

"Thousand? Five thousand dollars?"

"I mean, that's on the high side, but yes. You could easily spend five. This piece has glass and everything. Is that what you're showing here?"

"Yes."

"You'd have to hire someone to make a custom glass piece."

"I mean, doesn't that mean you just cut a piece of glass to whatever size? I didn't think that part would be a… never mind. I don't even have to have glass on it, anyway. This is sort of just my dream unit. But I can't even afford to do the minimum of what you're saying. I was hoping to spend three or four."

"Hundred dollars?" he asked. He shook his head thoughtfully. "I'm sorry, but even just supplies would—"

"You don't have to explain," I said, waving him off. I knew what he was going to say. I took the plans from him.

I intended to set them back on the table, face down. But he took them back from me. "Let me look at them," he said.

"No, I don't have that kind of money. And I'm embarrassed about what you said about using my living room. I have to start somewhere, Salem." I tried to tug on the papers, but he held onto them.

"I can't help but think these people don't want you opening a retail store back here, Molly. This is an upscale neighborhood."

"It's scheduled pickups. Two customers at a time. That's totally different than a storefront. I want a storefront eventually, and I'll get one. But I'm not going to be able to spend that much on a counter right now. I'll have to check out pre-fab furniture hacks. Thanks anyway. Thanks for coming over." I lunged, trying to get the papers again, but he stretched to the side, holding them away from me.

I leaned over him, reaching.

"Stop. You don't have to be like that. I'm just talking to you about it. You don't have to be embarrassed. You'd have to make something portable that could be moved out of here when you go to leave."

"I know," I said reaching.

"Stop trying to take them," he said.

"I want them back. It's hard to know what moves are right when you're starting a small business. I thought about this so much, and I don't want you to come in here and make me doubt."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you doubt yourself."

"No, I'm… I'm sorry for asking you to come here like I could seriously pay you to build this."

"I'm working full-time, and I'm building my house."

"I know. You were talking about that at Jenny's wedding. I should have thought about your house. I know you're busy. I seriously thought I could pay you for your time. I don't think I realized how much you guys charge for stuff. How much was that tunnel you built for my parents? Tens of thousands?"

"Yes," he said, without hesitation.

I thought about my parents' property and the tunnel Salem and his brother, Phillip, had built in the woods. They were out there for weeks, working on it. They were specialty carpenters—craftsmen who obviously charged a ton of money for their services. I felt silly for asking him to come over for this.

Under the cover of night, Salem and I shared attraction for each other, and I regretted asking him this for fear that he would see me differently next time we were together under those circumstances.

I knew he already saw me as being 'John-Michael's little sister'. I cringed at myself for thinking I could afford to pay him for a custom piece.

"I need advice on my house," he said. "I like your style, and I’m at the point where I need to start picking colors, fixtures, all that stuff. Sadie helps me out, but she's got Ethan and she's been having morning sickness.

"I know. My brother said she's been sick every day this week." I had been leaning toward him to reach the papers, but I sat up. He still had my drawings, and he held onto them.

"I'm going to take these and look at them," he said. "I'm going to try to help you out. I'll let you know if I can't, but I'll see what I can work out. It might take me a few weeks to chip away at it.

"Really, Salem? I can maybe do the low end of what you were saying, if you let me do a payment plan."

"Let's not talk about money right now. Maybe you can help me with my house and I can try to make you something in your budget."

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