Page 102 of The Fixer

“Maybe, but there are times when he does or says things when he thinks no one’s looking that lead me to believe otherwise.”

“So they’ve never dated?”

“Nope. Reece doesn’t date anyone. Noah and I are convinced he’s a thirty-one-year-old virgin.” He paused to chuckle. “Okay. Maybe he’s done it once. But why he doesn’t go after Neve is a mystery to everyone but Reece, and we’ve never been able to shake the answer out of him.” He slipped out of his shoe and came back with some aggressive foot action of his own. “Enough about them. I’d rather talk about what we’re going to do after dinner tonight.”

Joy gave him a coy smile. “I have a few ideas.”

“So do I. Wanna know what they are?”

Her eyes were full of tantalizing mischief. “Do they involveyouon your back atmymercy? Or maybe you’re standing up, and I’m on my knees?”

He’d been partway through a sip of his cocktail and nearly choked on it. After a few lung-clearing coughs, he croaked, “Sorry. The visuals short-circuited my brain.” Another cough. “No. I like yours a lot, but mine are a little different.”

“Ooh, tell me.” Now her second foot joined the action.

The waiter interrupted to ask for their orders. Charlie raised his index finger. “Not quite ready. Give us a few minutes?”I’ve got to get myself back under control.

After the server left, Charlie lowered his voice. “I need to derail this conversation before I have no choice but to haul you into a dark closet for a quickie.”

She threw her head back and laughed, exposing the long column of her neck. “All right. Let’s talk some more about this depot project.”

And they did. He laid out all his ideas, all his hopes and dreams for the place. When he was done, she canted her head and appraised him. “That is very ambitious. And very forward-thinking.”

“You think it’s good?”

“I think it’s excellent. You are full of surprises, Charlie Hunnicutt.”

His chest puffed a little more. Soon he’d be popping buttons.

They finally put in their orders while the server deposited a basket of bread and topped off their waters.

Charlie plucked out a roll and slathered butter on it. “So tell me what other mountains super-achiever Joy Holiday is planning to scale.”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” she gusted out. “What’s left when you’ve achieved everything you ever thought you wanted? What if the milestones don’t mean what you thought they would? I know this sounds conceited, and I don’t mean for it to, but growing my bank account or buying another performance car doesn’t light my fire.”

“You own one of those?” How did he not know this about her? He had so much yet to discover about Joy Holiday—and so little time to do it in.

“Several. You should come see me in Chicago sometime so I can show you.”

He held up his hand. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you in Chicago, but I’ll skip the high-speed ride. Don’t want to embarrass myself.” It had beenmeant to sound breezy, but it thudded between them. She gave him an obligatory chuckle that held no joy, and he couldn’t help but wonder if the same thought streaking through his mind might be traveling through hers. She would be gone soon. Imagining her in Chicago and him here carved out a hollow spot in his chest.

She stared out the window.

“You’re thinking really hard over there, princess. What’s buzzing through your brain now? Your next storyline?”

She turned back toward him, all the playfulness missing from her tone. “I think I’m having an existential crisis.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Because …?”

“I was thinking about work and my goals, which turned to how different life in Chicago is from Fall River. I’ve only spent a few weeks here, but it’s been an eye-opener watching how folks treat one another. It’s not dog-eat-dog. It’s people who genuinely care and want to help. That’s so different from what I’m accustomed to.”

His heart executed a tiny leap of hope. Was it possible she’d consider moving? No, this waswaytoo soon for that. “Small town versus big city.”

“Maybe. But sometimes I wonder … have I become one-dimensional? Without my work and the objectives that have always fueled me, what’s filling my well?”

“What about your writing? That’s got to fill a need.” He could have made a crack about her needing to create her own juicy sex scenes, but they had slipped back into a more serious mood.

“No, it’s simply a creative outlet, a hobby, a way to kill time, like when I’m sitting at a bar alone and I’m not feeling social.” She flapped a hand and attempted a weak smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sorry. We’re having such a lovely time, and here I go again, getting all maudlin. I swear, this isn’t usually my typical conversation on a date, not that I’m out on that many dates. I’m probably just feeling unmoored after being away from home for so long.”

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