Page 109 of The Fixer

Eyes wide, she pulled back and looked into his face. “When?”

“When I left for that meeting. That’s what I was doing.”

“How did he take it?”

He shrugged. “Not too bad. I’m still in one piece.” He took another sip. “Wanna tell me what’s going on with Sterling?”

“Not really, but I will anyway. We have a problem client who insists on meeting me in person, and Sterling wants me to come back.”

“For the client or himself?” Charlie gave her a pointed look.

Joy rolled her eyes. “He suggested I go back for just a few days to take care of this issue with the client, then return here once that’s out of the way.”

“You gonna do it?”

“I was hoping not to, but it’s looking like I don’t have a choice.”

He took her hand in his, inspecting her delicate fingers one by one. “You always have a choice.”

“True, but some of the consequences are harder to live with.”

“So when do you think you’ll leave?” The words stuck in his throat.

She propped an elbow on the bar and dropped her forehead into her palm. “I don’t know. I need to talk to Estelle tomorrow. I’m not going to deal with it tonight.”

“Good plan. You have somemaking upto do.”

She smirked. “So I’m told.”

Dixie appeared beside Joy and slid a tray onto the bar top. Her blue-lidded eyes dropped to their joined hands, and a knowing grin spread over her face. “Glad to see you took my advice.”

“Took your advice?” Charlie parroted.

Dixie nodded. “Yes. You decided to play nice. And Missy here paid a visit to the Vogue Vault, didn’t you, hon?”

Joy looked astonished. “How did you know?”

“Oh, I tried that one myself, but the color was all wrong.”

Charlie placed a fist in front of his mouth to stifle a laugh. Joy was dressed in a cropped top that clung to her curves. No way could Dixie have pulled that over her head, much less her body.

Before he could stop her, Dixie reached over and swatted the back of his head.

“Ow! What did you do that for?”

She pointed at him. “I saw.”

“Go bother someone else,” he growled.

Noah ducked in, jabbing a thumb Charlie’s way as he asked Joy, “What’s eating him?”

“He’s in a bad mood. Just ignore him.” Joy gave Charlie a playful tap and laughed. He went for a stoic look, wanting to mask how much her smile lifted his own spirits. Maybe theycouldput today behind them.

Noah chimed in with, “I’ve been trying to ignore him my entire life,” and sent Joy a quick wink.

Soon it seemed the entire town crowded around them. The usual suspects were there—Micky, Amy, Neve, Shane, and even Reece stopped by for a quick visit. Charlie slid a little closer to Joy when Germaine sashayed in, followed by Lauren. The two began an eye-dagger-throwing contest with each other, which they turned on Joy when Charlie looped his arm around her shoulders. Thankfully, Joy was too busy talking cars with Micky to notice.

If folks thought it was weird that he and Joy were together, they didn’t let on. In fact, everyone acted as though they’d been an item for years—other than Germaine and Lauren, but they left early. Charlielikedsitting here with his arm around her, staking a claim, behaving like one half of a couple. Wait. Were they a couple? Not if she was going back to Chicago. He put aside the disturbing thought and tried to sink back into the fun.

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