Page 69 of The Fixer

“I need to see some changes in behavior from you if I’m going to keep you on the payroll.”

Charlie’s words didn’t seem to register at first, but then a dumbfounded expression overtook Cully’s features. Those then hardened. “Like what?”

“Like I need you to show up for workon time. That means 7:00 a.m., whether you’re working on this job or the other one. And when you do show up on time, you can’t be high on anything. I can’t afford the liability insurance, dude.”

“What about Felix?” Cully bit out.

“What about him? He shows up on time—early, as a matter of fact—he works late, and to my knowledge he’s stone-cold sober when he’s on site.”

“What, you think I’m highright now?”

Charlie pushed out an exasperated breath. “Iknowyou’re high right now. I’m going to have to start doing random drug testing if you don’t clean up your act.” God, he hated doing the drug tests.

“That’s bullshit!”

“It’s company policy. Look at the employment agreement you signed. I just haven’t been enforcing it because I didn’t see a need.”

“And now you see a need,” Cully spat.

Charlie nodded. “Sure do. You’re so wasted you can barely stand up straight. Why don’t you get a ride home and sleep it off and we’ll try again tomorrow? And one other thing.”

Cully raised an eyebrow. “Yes,boss?”

“This goes in your file, and it’s your last warning. You’ve had three strikes already, which is more than I usually allow my employees.”

“Thanks for the special favor,friend.”

Cully was a dumbass who didn’t understand boundaries. “Don’t make the mistake of playing the friendship card, Cully. We’re not friends. Whether you like it or not, I’m the man who signs your paycheck. Now if you don’t like that arrangement, we can end it right here and now.”

Cully’s head drooped. “No, I don’t want that. I need this job.”

“Then you know what you need to do.”

As Cully trundled across the Haven’s backyard, Charlie couldn’t help but wonder how much longer his foreman would be collecting that paycheck from him.

Later that night, after spending hours in his office, Charlie lounged with his pups and banished any thoughts that revolved around business. Well, any business that didn’t involve Joy Holiday—or more specifically, her spicy counterpart, Lacey Dewinter. Had Joy learned how to kiss from Lacey? If so, he owed that woman a huge thumbs-up.

He pulled up the Amazon app on his phone and downloaded all four of Lacey Dewinter’s steamy reads. Romance novels had never been a blip on his radar screen, but yeah, these—and oh man, that kiss—would no doubt make for some interesting additions to his “library.”

Chapter 19

The Vogue Vault

Joy sat on herbed, computer propped on her lap as she picked at some of the new nail polish Luanne had applied. A nervous habit, which was why she preferred the tougher gels, but Luanne hadn’t had the right equipment to do gels.

A first-world problem, but Joy needed to remind herself to leave her nails alone. They looked nice for now. Nice enough for Saturday anyway—not that her trip to Doro was the reason for her getting her nails done in the first place. Nope, this was about maintaining a professional appearance. Never mind that her profession wasn’t getting much of her appearance these days.

Luanne was a cheerful chatterbox, and Joy had surprised herself by getting lost in the conversation, learning more about Fall River’s quirky folk and the town’s past. Joy had also met her soft-spoken teenaged son, Cade—the young host at the Miners Tavern the Friday before—and found herself enchanted by his shy charm. As Joy was leaving, Luanne had apologized at the door for the “googly eyes” Cade had given her, whichJoy hadn’t noticed but had filed away as one of the nicest compliments she’d received in a long time.

What was happening to her? These weren’t her people, though she acted like they were. Did that make her a liar, a cheat? No, she wasn’t using them for her own gain. But the revelation did beg the question: whowereher people? The abusive client she’d spent the morning talking off a ledge? Sterling, acting snippy about her delayed return? Certainly not her aunt, uncle, cousins, or sister. What about Estelle, the woman who kept her life in order?

Estelle was the closest to “people” Joy had. In fact, Estelle was probably Joy’s best friend—her only friend—in Chicago, yet she treated her PA with glib dismissal. How sad was that? Was that how one behaved with one’s best friend? With her kindness and her infinite patience, Estelle would fit right into Fall River’s fabric.

Joy pushed out an extended exhale and re-read the letter of intent Bruno Keating had personally delivered to her door days ago. The signature line he’d promised was there, with an expiration date beside it. The bleached-blond Hulk-wannabe was brazen, she’d give him that. No way was she giving him anything else, like Crystal Harmony Haven for pennies on the dollar. Besides, the place would still have to be brought up to code, a crucial fact Mr. Keating chose to bypass.

Maybe she’d keep the LOI for a laugh sometime in the future, when she was back in her Chicago office and the estate was long wrapped up.

Tossing the letter aside, she popped up and peeked out the window at Cully and Charlie schlepping building materials. After whatever “talk” they’d had yesterday, Cully seemed to be walking a different walk. He’d shown up at seven this morning, ready to work. While she couldn’t attest to his sobriety, she saw no signs that he was under the influence of anything besides a caffeine jones and Mountain Coffee baked goods.

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