Page 17 of Bond

Rochelle smiles and shakes her head at me, reaching for a box on the shelf. “Here, read the part number first before you open it,” she informs me before handing the box to me.

Reading the part number, I then open the box, wondering where this is going. “Fuck,” I mutter harshly. In the box is a part, but it was no good to me as it is not only scrap, but it is also a completely different part.

“Yup,” Rochelle responds. “We’re going to have to do a whole new stock take and open every box except for the order that came with me and you the other night.”

“How many have you found so far, and how did you know?” I ask, closing the box and setting it on an empty shelf.

Rochelle bites her lip and looks at me, “I’ve found twenty boxes so far. How did I know?

“I’ve been working with parts since I was ten years old,” she says. “I know when the weight of a box is off. That’s how I figured it out.”

“From the weight!” I’m gobsmacked. I’d never have even thought about the weight difference.

“Yeah,” she answers, looking slightly worried. “I can show you,” she continued as if I didn’t believe her.

“You’re amazing, do you know that?” I praise her. “I would never have known the difference just by the weight. Can you imagine how pissed off a customer would be to find he’d bought the wrong part or a second-hand one.

“I’m just sorry it’s going to make so much more work for you. Let me call the guys and have them come and give us a hand,” I tell her, knowing we were going to have to open every box and check each part.

“I don’t mind,” Rochelle assures me, her cheeks slightly pink from my praise.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I tug her towards me. “I know you don’t, baby,” I say, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth, “but we’re a family, and we work together through all the highs and the lows. The guys won’t mind. In fact, I have a feeling most will turn up, including the kids, so we’ll have to get some toys out of the cupboard for them.”

“You have toys?” she asks, eyes wide.

“Of course, the kids know they are always welcome in our shops. We all have shit for them to do. I keep it in the cupboard over there,” I state, nodding towards the door next to the office.

“You lot are something else,” she mutters, taking Daisy’s hand and pressing a kiss to the palm. “We got lucky, baby girl.”

My heart clenches at her words. That she thinks this is amazing makes me remember how shit my childhood was, and I’m glad that most of the Crow kids won’t know what that’s like. Admittedly, some do, but not since they became ours.

“I’m the lucky one, sweetheart. I was just coasting along until you and Daisy came into my life. You both make me richer for having you in it.”

“Ugh,” Roche mutters tearfully, wiping at a tear on her cheek, “you’ve gone and made me cry. You are way too sweet for the likes of me, Bond. But I’m not giving you back, so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

Chuckling, I reassure her, “I wouldn’t be stuck with anyone else, baby. You’re it for me; I’m never letting you go.”

We stood there grinning at each other and probably would have continued to grin stupidly if Daisy hadn’t let us know she was tired of waiting for attention.

Kissing the top of her head, I hand her to Rochelle, “Go to Mama, Princess. I’m going to get your uncles so we can get this sorted.

“I’ll be back soon, baby. Love you,” I comment offhandedly to Rochelle, ignoring her surprised, wide-eyed look as I hurried out of there. A smile breaks out on my lips when she shouts after me, “I love you too.”

I’m still smiling when I get to Cairo and Blaze and let them know about the stock situation.

“I thought you’d be pissed,” Cairo says in a puzzled tone.

“Oh, I am,” I state.

“Then why the manic smile?” Blaze asks.

“She told me she loves me,” I smirk, “well, she shouted it at me.”

“Ah,” Blaze claps me on the shoulder, “I’m happy for you, Bond.”

Cairo nods, “Me too, brother. Now come on, let’s let Bull and Rogue know and go and sort this out. I can’t believe she knew just from the weight of a part. That’s something all right.”

He’s not wrong. I’m just glad we found out before one of our customers bought something that wasn’t the correct part.

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