Page 41 of The Fixer

She tore her eyes from the tat, raising them to his. “And that is?”

“Hailey. Her bookstore is bursting in that coffee shop, and she needs to expand, but she can’t afford more than the middling solution. While that might not work for most retailers, it could be ideal for her. She could keep running her business out of Mountain Coffee while she and Noah got this place the rest of the way finished. I know a few people who’d chip in toget them there too.” Joy had a feeling she was looking at one of those “few people.”

“I need some time to digest.”

His eyes widened, as though her answer surprised him, and quickly narrowed. “How long?”

Her stubborn streak pushed back. “I’ll give you an answer Saturday.”

“How about tomorrow?”

They were negotiating now? “I’m going to need more time. You’ve given me a lot to process. I can’t decide just like that.” She snapped her fingers.

“Isn’t that something you do every day at your big-city job?”

“No, it’s not. Besides, it’s not the same thing.”Because it’s not personal like this is.

He flipped the folder closed and stood. Sliding his keys from his front pocket, he tossed them in the air and caught them over and over as he contemplated her. Long gone was his cheerful, tail-wagging demeanor. He moved toward the door, his hand poised on the knob. Slowly, he turned to face her, calculations seeming to stream behind his eyes. The familiar grin began a lazy spread over his handsome face. Yes, Estelle was right—hewashandsome. Big deal. Didn’t mean anything.

“All right. I’ll give you the time you need to make the decision.” He stuck out his hand, and she took it, relishing the warm roughness of it engulfing hers. This was a working man’s hand, and the realization sent tingles rushing up her arm and cascading down her spine.

Whoa!

His eyes held hers captive, and his smile widened as if he was fully aware of the sensations his touch kindled inside her. Suddenly, she was filled with anticipation for their non-date at a dive bar in a nothing town she didn’t want to go to.

As she watched him walk through her door and close it behind him, she couldn’t hold off the tendrils of guilt twining inside her; she wasn’t easy to work with—nor could she ignore the melancholy simmering in her chest. She hadn’t felt so alone since her mother had left her on her aunt and uncle’s doorstep.

Chapter 11

Proposals

A case of theblues threatened to settle in after Charlie’s departure, and Joy needed to head them off. Inspecting them, analyzing the reasons why they were brewing inside her, was not an option. Besides, she’d soon have them corralled and stuffed back into the dark hole where they belonged.

She pulled out her notebook and re-read her words from the night before, already buoyed. What better way to banish melancholy than to immerse herself in the world she—or rather, Lacey Dewinter—had created, where families loved and supported one another and where modern-day knights in shining armor came to the rescue of their lady loves. Of course, none of it was real. How could it be? But it was just real enough that she could suspend belief as she spun her tales, and her readers could get lost in her writing for a while.

Lacey had been stuck in act two of her latest novel for weeks, and watching the characters at the Miners Tavern had sparked so many ideas and snippets of scenes that she hadn’t been able to jot them all down. Inreviewing her notes, she hoped to capture a few escapees and put them to paper, like trapping fireflies in a bottle.

She’d scarcely read two paragraphs when another knock came at her door—the front entrance this time. She could make out Hailey’s smile through the glass, and her spirits lifted as she unlocked the door. The pretty bartender-barista-bookshop owner raised her hand in a wave.

“Charlie said you were busy trying to get this place organized. Noah and I just got back into town, and I’m not scheduled for work until five, so I thought I’d stop in and see if I could lend a hand.”

Joy’s stun factor must have shown on her face because Hailey rushed to add, “I completely understand if you’d rather tackle this alone, and I won’t be offended if you tell me to go away.”

Joy opened the door wide and ushered Hailey in. “Of course I won’t tell you go to away! I’d love the company. I’m just not used to … The people I know back home wouldn’t go out of their way to help me, especially with something as big and tedious as cleaning out this junk store maze.” The thought that Hailey’s kindness was motivated by an ulterior motive struck, and Joy’s suspicious side warned her to be wary.

Hailey chuckled. “That’s small-town for you. You don’t have to ask for help because everyone knows what’s going on in your life, and they jump right in. It’s great. The only downside is … everyone knows what’s going on in your life.”

“I have to admit it’s way different than in Chicago.”

“Right? You can disappear in a big city.”

“And find any kind of food at any time of the day or night.” Joy gave an internal shake of her head at her sudden food focus before quickly adding, “Or stop at Neiman Marcus and buy the very latest Jimmy Choos.”

“True, but small town has its advantages too, and I wouldn’t trade it. And if I need a pair of heels, I can travel to Denver or order them online.” Hailey’s gaze moved around the interior. “I’ve only ever seen this place from the outside.”

“Would you like a tour?” Joy heard herself offer.

“Oh, I’d love one.”

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