Page 6 of The Fixer

“Well, that would be a good reason.” His expression shifted back into serious mode. “But you’ll need to turn them back on as soon as possible.”

“Because …?”

“Because I need electricity and running water so I can figure out what all goes into the scope of work.” He said it slowly, enunciating every word, like she was a dummy who didn’t understand plain English. Then he smiled again. The sunny smile was becoming downright grating. “I’ll do what I can right now, and then I’ll come back once everything’s on. How soon can you take care of that?”

“I don’t know,” she snapped. “How soon were you planning to get to work?” Regret told her to dial back her animosity a notch or two the instant the words left her mouth.

To his credit, he didn’t flinch. “Two days from now.”

“As in the day after tomorrow?” she yelped.

“Yes. After you and I talked, I moved some projects around and cleared time in my schedule. I knew you were in a hurry.”

Ha! Joy had way too much experience with the BSers of the world, and she could see right through this guy’s schtick. If he truly had “projects” to “move around,” what could they possibly be? Another visit to the tattoo parlor? A laser treatment to brighten those pearly whites? An eight-hour workout at the gym? Because this guy definitely spent at least eight hours a day in the gym, if his pecs were a testament.

Stop it!

“What if I’m not inthatbig of a hurry?” Of course, shehademphasized getting this done at supersonic speed when they’d spoken.

He didn’t call her on it, instead wagging his head back and forth. “Then you’ll have to wait at least three more months before I have another opening in the schedule. It’ll be October, and getting supplies up here is a little dicey because the weather can be brutal that time of year. Completion times slip real easy. It’s not unusual to have them double.”

Was it possible hewasn’tblowing smoke up her silk pants? She sure didn’t want to be dealing with this in October and beyond.

He eyed her curiously. Yeah, he probably noticed the bizarre stream of consciousness currently running roughshod over her brain.

“Look,” he offered, “why don’t I work on the living quarters first so you at least have a place to stay? That way you don’t have to shell out for a room at the Grand Majestic.”

“But Ilikethe Grand Majestic.”

“Have you checked in yet?”

Her defensive shields rose higher, as did her snot-o-meter. “No, but I’ve seen it online. It’s got Old World charm I find appealing.”Opposite from my mother’s. “Elegant but comfortable.” She was so full of it! Why was she sparring with a man who wasn’t sparring back anyway? She really needed to work with him. So why was she trying to antagonize him? Because it was in her nature to challenge absolutely everything and everyone.

His grin widened for some unfathomable reason that quickly became fathomable. “So you’re already familiar with some of Past Perfect’s work.”

Oh, she’d walked right into that one, hadn’t she? “You mean you—”

“Yep. Lobby and restaurant only, though.”

“Um …”

“It was just an idea. If you prefer the hotel, I get it. I just thought I’d throw that out there to, you know, save you a few bucks.”

“That was … thoughtful?”

“Don’t worry. I got you. I’ll get you fixed up.”

If only someonecouldfix me.

Surprisingly, the velvety confidence in his words uncoiled her nerves a fraction. She reminded herself he was trying to charm her because he wanted something from her, and she steeled her resolve.

This was Saturday, which meant government offices weren’t open. Mentally, she had just extended her stay because on Monday she was marching down to the building department and confirming that everything Charlie Hunnicutt had just fed her was bullshit.

Chapter 3

Mayberry of the Mountains

Joy sat in hermusty hotel room, FaceTiming with her PA.

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