Page 48 of The Fixer

Hello, standing right here witnessing this intimately cringy moment, you guys.

Noah rubbed his nose against Hailey’s and whispered something about showing her “a few things” in his office later. Twenty-to-one whatever he wanted to show her was in his pants.

“I’ll just go and ah, find, ah …” Joy snatched two soft rolls and left the room. The lovebirds had no idea she existed in that moment anyway, so why bother coming up with words she didn’t have? Especially with the rolls demanding to be eatennowwhile they were warm.

Out in the shop, with every available seat piled high with debris, Joy plopped onto the dirty floor, sending a puff of dust into the air. What the heck? She was already covered in grime, her nail was broken, and the only shoes she had that were suited for cleaning out her mother’s shop looked like hell and smelled like beer. Concern about her appearance was an unnecessary luxury at the moment.

“Brought you beer. It’s in the fridge,” Noah announced as he headed for the front door.

Trailing after him, Hailey waggled her eyebrows. “You know the way to a girl’s heart, barkeep. I love you.”

“As you should.” He sent her a wink before letting himself out.

Joy didn’t drink beer—not even the expensive craft stuff—but when Hailey twisted a cap off a frosty cold bottle and handed it to her, she took a sip. “Oh, this is good.”

“Refreshing when you’re doing hot, dusty work.” Hailey tipped her own bottle back, and they ambled toward the spread on the kitchen table.

“That was really thoughtful of Noah to feed us.” These Hunnicutts weren’t half bad. She’d met Reece a few nights before—the other handsome brother—and he’d used kind, soothing words about her mother. It hadn’t been necessary, but he’d tried to bring her comfort, and she appreciated the gesture.

Hailey chortled. “He did it out of self-preservation. I get hangry when I go too long without being fed.”

“You guys are too damn cute.”

“I know. Disgusting, isn’t it?” Hailey chuckled, no apology in her tone whatsoever.

Joy had no personal experience with boundless love, but she recognized it when she saw it and could write the hell out of it. These two definitely shared that special bond. Noah was especially overt in showinghis affection for Hailey. It was in his eyes every time he looked at her. The guy had it bad.

Where could Joy find a man who adored her like that?

The powers that be didn’t make one for someone as difficult as you, dear.

Thanks, Mom.

“No. It’s kind of reassuring, actually,” Joy sighed.

These moments weren’t meant for her—but she could rejoice a little knowing that they did exist in the world.

Chapter 13

Snake in the Grass

“I don’t think wehave any more room to stack stuff in here until we clear some of those piles out,” Joy announced. They’d polished off lunch hours ago, and she was wrung out.

“There’s a women’s shelter that serves the counties on the Western Slope. Why don’t I take the household items and clothes there? That’ll clear some room.”

“I’d love that. And I don’t just mean freeing up space but giving it to people who really need it.” She’d never considered donating her clothes back in Chicago. She had merely tossed them or handed them off to the cleaning lady for her daughter as soon as the next fashion came along and made her outfits obsolete.

Joy’s nail snagged on a piece of lace curtain. “By the way, do you know where I could get a manicure around here?”

“You’re askingme?” Hailey held up her hands for Joy to inspect.

All right, so Hailey wasn’t the expert Joy needed. “Well, yeah.”

“I think Luanne does them in her home. Do you want me to ask?” When Joy gave her a puzzled look, Hailey added, “Luanne is one of Noah’sservers. She was on shift the other night but wasn’t working in your section, so you probably didn’t notice her. She’s a hardworking lady with lots of side hustles so she can support herself and her teenage son.”

Would this woman have the knowledge—and the equipment—to do gels? As Joy eyed the heap of sad clothing, she had to ask herself if, in the grand scheme of things, her nails really mattered when some women didn’t even have clothes to call their own.

“Yes, please ask her.” What the hell? Maybe Joy could contribute to the woman’s livelihood, gels or no gels.

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