Page 10 of Enemy Kisses

“No problem. Would you like a drink?”

“Maybe after we’ve finished discussing business. You’re my last stop for the day, then I’m on my own time.”

I nod. “Sure thing. Follow me.” I step from behind the bar, leaving Blaze to manage on his own, and Nix follows me outside. I can’t see any movement next door, which is exactly what I wanted and why I made the appointment for later in the day. “I’d like to set up some motion sensor lights on that building.” I point to Harry’s café. “Particularly at the front and back entrances, along the side, and the lot out the back. Apparently, my customers like to linger there and leave a mess behind, and I think it’s because it’s so dark.”

“Yeah, that would make it an attractive place to linger.” He steps toward the building, and I follow him as he makes his inspection. “Any security?”

“Not sure. It’s not my building. I just want to deter people from hanging around after leaving my pub.”

He nods. “Sure. I think two lights out front, one on the back door, then two lighting up the back area, and two along the side should do the trick.”

“Sounds good. How much to supply and install?”

He rubs his chin. “Probably looking at two grand.”

I raise my eyebrows in surprise and whistle. “Shit.”

“Yeah, they’re not cheap, but in terms of low-end security, they’re a great idea and effective.”

I nod and rub my temple. “Fair enough. I get that. When would you be able to install them?”

“Let me check my calendar. I have the lights in stock, so it’s a matter of finding a time.” He digs his phone out of his back pocket. He frowns at the screen, shakes his head, then brings up his calendar. “I have next Thursday morning available or late Friday afternoon.”

“You’d need access to the inside of the building to wire them in, right?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, late Friday afternoon then. That way it won’t impact her business.”

“I’ll book it in. I’ll need half upfront to secure the job.”

“Send me an invoice, and I’ll sort it out.” We head back toward my bar. “The owner can’t know I organized the lights. I’ll need you to contact her and tell her a local philanthropist is helping small businesses with their security measures as part of a community safety project, and let her know when you’ll do the installation. Or something along those lines.”

Nix raises one eyebrow. “You’re asking me to lie?”

“Well, sort of.I’mbeing philanthropic.” I shrug as I open the door to the pub and nod for Nix to enter. “She’s pissed at me about my customers making a mess around her café and demanded I do something about it.”

His eyes narrow. “So, tell her you’re doing something about it. She’ll be happy.”

I step behind the bar, ready to make Nix’s drink. “What’ll you have?”

“I’ll have whiskey, thanks.” He moves to get his wallet out, but I wave him off.

“On the house.” I pour him a generous serve and slide the glass across the timber surface. “I don’t want her to know I’m trying to fix the problem. I like having her pissed at me.”

Nix barks out a laugh. “You’re fucking weird, man.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

CHAPTER7

–harriet–

“Harry, phone for you,”Judy calls as I finish serving our last customer for the day.

I smile and wave goodbye as they exit, then lock the door and flip the sign toclosed. When Judy hands the phone to me, I check the screen but don’t recognize the number. “Hello.”

“Hello. Is this the owner ofHarry’s House of Crêpes and Croissants?” the rich, masculine voice asks.

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