Page 62 of The Fixer

“Got big plans for tonight?” she probed.

“A few. Nothing big, though.”

As she waited for him to elaborate, she found herself hoping his plans didn’t involve Germaine, Lauren, or any other members of his fan club.

Instead of filling her in, though, he turned the question on her. “How about you? What’s Joy Holiday’s idea of fun on a Friday night?”

She barked a laugh. “I’m not sure I know. I guess I’ll go to Miners and eat a burger while I observe the wildlife.”

He leaned a forearm against an outer wall, casual as you please. “Is that what you write in your notebook? Wildlife observations?” His eyes sparked with trouble, and her stomach flipped over.

“Something like that.”

“Huh. Maybe you’ll let me read your notes sometime. They sound … stimulating.” Now a corner of his mouth curled wickedly.

Damn it! Did he see what I wrote that night? Or is he just toying with me?“I assure you, they’re incredibly boring.” She faked a yawn. “Ho-hum.”

“I doubt anything about you is ho-hum.” He let himself out.

She watched his butt move in his jeans as he ambled toward his truck—outfitted with four new tires—and her insides danced a jig. She was in high school again, praying the captain of the football team would show up at the formal and ask her to take a spin with him on the dance floor.

Ha!That hadn’t happened then, nor was anything remotely like that going to happen tonight. But it didn’t stop her from donning her prettiest panties and dabbing on a little extra perfume.

Chapter 17

Your Biggest Fan

Agitated as a bagof feral cats, Joy arrived at the Miners Tavern early enough to grab her favorite barstool. A whole week without Adderall was definitely showing its effects, but she felt so much more vibrant without it. Where the drug dulled her mind so she could sort through the stimuli bombarding it, it blunted everything else too. Her appetite, her senses, her feeling of beingalive, her emotions, good and bad.

Noah waited on her this time, with Dixie as his co-bartender. Hailey worked a section in the dining room, and a gangly young man played host. With Dixie pulling bartender duty, would Charlie be a guest, or would he help out behind the bar? Would he even show up?

Joy took a healthy sip of her wine and opened her notebook. As she usually did, she scanned the room for inspiration. A couple sitting in sullen silence at a two-top, a foursome laughing too loud while two of them played footsie under the table—were they together, or were they each one half of the other couple?—and a redhead flirting with two guys who lookedlike they were tourists in college. Oh shit! It was that beer-pouring, Charlie-chasing Germaine!

Germaine spotted Joy at the same time Joy recognized her and narrowed her beady eyes. Then she flounced to the other end of the bar.

Good riddance!

If Lauren showed, the stage would be perfectly set for one hot contractor.

A familiar woman wearing glasses pushed her way inside with a younger woman in tow, nearly barreling over the poor host. The younger woman was either sunburned or embarrassed. The older of the two motioned toward the bar and dragged her companion behind her. They grabbed barstools three down from Joy, and she realized where she’d seen the older woman before: it was Bea from the building department.Oh no!She had spotted Joy, so Joy turned away and pretended to be fascinated by a wooden column at the end of the bar.

They were visible in the mirror, and Joy peeked, observing as they exchanged heated chatter. Not exactly fodder for her romances, but she always found it entertaining to invent stories about people she didn’t know.

Suddenly, both women turned toward the opening that led to the back hallway, and their faces morphed into saccharine smiles. Bea waved.

Joy turned her head. There stood Charlie Hunnicutt in all his glory. No Miners Tavern tee for him tonight. He was decked out in a dark green button-down that highlighted the color of his eyes. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off the tat and the bits of silver and leather jewelry. Black jeans and a pair of flip-flops completed the laid-back look. His hair was tousled, as if he’d just stepped out of the shower, and his close-cropped beard was neatly clipped to a four-day stubble. He looked … yummy. Which was so annoying. How was she supposed to continue warring with him when she wanted to jump him? Of course, she’d have to get in line, judging by the eyes undressing him, which sobered her right the hell up.

Yeah, she could resist. Who wanted to be lumped in as one more adoring face in the crowd anyway?

“Charlie!” Bea beckoned. “Come say hello to my niece, Becky!”

His expression had been blank when he’d first entered, but now his mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. Apparently, he had not beenexpectingthesefans tonight. Then his eyes landed on Joy, and he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his strong neck.

He held up a tentative hand. “Hey, Bea. Almost didn’t recognize you there.” He took slow, calculated steps toward them, sending Joy a pointed stare that she couldn’t decipher. Meanwhile, the younger woman’s ears had turned such a bright fuchsia, a hummingbird might have dive-bombed her thinking they held a treasure trove of nectar.

The situation was so damn awkward it hadJoysquirming on her stool.

His smile was subdued as he spoke to both women. Though Joy couldn’t hear what they were saying, she read the body language, and it went something like this: Bea was offering him her niece on a platter, the niece was telling him she loved him and wanted to bear him children, and he spluttered excuses in a panic as he searched for the nearest exit.

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