3
Faye stood on her tiptoes at the very top rung of the ladder and stretched as far as she could to reach the ceiling tile that needed replaced. She bit her lip in concentration knowing she was in a precarious position, her balance hovering on the edge. Someone has to do it. For the first time it struck her how much she really was on her own. Which is how she wanted it. Right? Today was a typical Monday…everything that could go wrong so far had done so.
It had started when she’d parked her bicycle by the back door. Someone had decided to spray paint profanities and graffiti all over the exterior wall. Hard to not take it personally. Then her beer distributor had made the delivery but had shorted her order…she wouldn’t make it through the week even if business was slow. At least they had promised to return the following day. From there she’d discovered that her freezer had conked out. A setback, but at least it hadn’t been stocked with food yet. Adding insult to injury, she’d hammered her thumb when she was nailing down a loose floorboard. It still throbbed.
“Hey sis, you’re going to break your neck!”
She turned and saw her brother Griffin standing in the doorway.
“Griffin!” Quickly climbing down the ladder, she ran over to give him a hug.
“How’s it going?”
She rolled her eyes, “It’s a disaster really. And I don’t want to hear any I told you so’s or so help me I’ll hammer your toes.”
Griffin grinned, then he noticed how tired his sister looked. “You look like shit sis.”
“Turns out owning a bar is more than just pouring drinks and making conversation—who’d have known?”
“Me, for one, and all your friends, oh and who can forget dear old Dad, and brother Kyle for starters…”
Laughing she held up her hand. “Stop! Message received. I’m just venting anyway. I’m actually enjoying it. Call me crazy.”
“That among many other things.”
Looking him up and down she said, “By your country club golf attire, I take it you didn’t come here to help out.”
He smirked, “Hardly. I just came to check on you.”
“You have to swear to keep things between us! No reports to big brother and especially not to Daddy! Do you hear me?”
“Yes, sis I hear you. My lips are sealed.” He pantomimed locking his lips and throwing away the key.
“Be serious! You have to promise.”
“Yes, I promise. Listen sis, hear me out, what I lack in mechanical skill I make up for in my hefty bank account. I’d like to donate to the cause.”
Faye straightened and put her hands on her hips challengingly, “I told you I’m not accepting any family money. I’m doing this all on my own…of course I’m not forgetting my trust fund was the seed money to begin with.”
His lips twisted, “Yes if you don’t remember that little gem, Daddy will be sure to remind you.”
“So far he’s staying completely out of it.”
“Only because his primary residence is now in Palm Springs.”
I don’t know Griff; I think he’s mellowing in his old age.”
“I’ll concede he’s better than he used to be…not by much though,” Griffin said.
They both turned when the front entrance door opened and there he was. Jesse. Faye’s face heated and her whole body tingled. She pressed a hand to her throat as he stood there flashing that killer smile…gleaming white teeth…he should have to wear a warning sign.
His eyes narrowed speculatively when he saw Griffin standing next to her.
“Hi Jess, come on in,” Faye called out. “This is…” she cleared her throat, “A friend of mine, Griffin Jones.” She gave her brother a warning look catching his attention before he could say otherwise. He recovered quickly, hiding his surprise and held out his hand. Jesse grasped it firmly and the two men sized each other up.
“Hey Jess, what’s up?” Griffin said.
Jesse nodded his head toward Faye, “Here for a consultation with Faye.”