Page 72 of The Fixer

“Should I turn around and drive us back to Fall River?”

“Oh God, no! I mean, we’re only ten minutes away, and I’ll be fine. Promise.” He offered her a wan smile, hoping the promise he’d just made was one he could keep.

“Well, maybe this will make you feel a little better.” He managed an encouraging nod. If she talked, he didn’t have to. “I told you about Bruno Keating’s verbal offer?”

“Are you trying to make me sicker?”

“No, just listen. He followed it up with the LOI.” Charlie raised an eyebrow. “The LOI expired yesterday.”

“You didn’t sign?”

“Of course not! Not only was it a lousy deal, but I would have had to check with my partner, and I’m guessing he wouldn’t have gone for it.”

Charlie barked a mirthless laugh. “Good guess, princess.” That tiny bit of news did take some of the queasy out of his stomach.

Mercifully, she took it easy the rest of the way to Doro, and by the time they rolled into town, he’d mostly ridded himself of the urge to throw up. A cold beer would take care of the rest.

“This is Doro?” Her voice was filled with doubt.

“Yep. One more block, and you’ll have seen the entire town.”

He directed her a few streets off the main highway to the Silver Lode. When they pulled up, he groaned inside. It was more ramshackle than he remembered, like something left over from a Western movie set that had been neglected for decades. Probably because it was. Joy parked out front and craned her head to look through the windshield. “You sure this is it? I don’t see a sign.”

Because it fell off three years ago.“This is it.” He put as much cheer into his voice as he could.

As he was second-guessing himself for the thousandth time and on the verge of offering for them to turn back—he was even willing to suffer the bendy roads—she broke out in a dazzling smile.

“This looks … very western Colorado. Rustic. Fun. Let’s go.” She popped open her door and took a step outside. A handful of guys sucking on beer bottles in front of the bar had been watching the car pull up and fixed their eyes onherrather than the sleek machine.

Charlie tumbled out and rounded the hood as quickly as his wobbly legs would carry him, cuffing her upper arm when he reached her. He was laying claim. Not because hewantedher, but because he needed to protect her from these clowns who were eyeing her like she was dessert and they were skipping the main course.

Then those clowns fastened onhim.“Hunnicutt!” a guy yelled and held out his hand for a shake. “Are you and your brothers performing tonight?”

Oh shit!He recognized these musicians. He took the man’s hand and greeted the others. “No, I’m strictly a spectator, Virgil. You guys sitting in?”

“We sure are. You should join us.”

“Some other time.” With his fingers in the small of Joy’s back, he propelled her inside.

Virgil called after him. “We’ll see if we can change that!”

He leaned down to Joy’s ear and pulled in a fresh floral fragrance. Suddenly, he was immersed in wildflowers on a sultry summer night. Hecleared his sticky throat. “Sorry I didn’t introduce you back there. I didn’t like the way they were check—”

“Charlie!” voices called out. Charlie was transported from the wildflowers to the bar’s grungy interior and the patrons crowding it. This had been a truly bad idea after all. He should whisk Joy off somewhere where they could enjoy a quiet dinner for two. Except she was driving …

She glanced up at him through her lush lashes and smirked. “You’re a celebrity here too?”

“No, not really.” He returned the greetings. “Hey, everybody. Long time no see.”

Two women broke off from the cluster and approached, each grabbing an arm—even the one he was using to guide Joy.Well, shit.

“Where have you been, lover?” one of them cooed.

“Hey, Clarisse. Hi, Delta.” He pulled away from their grasps. “Good to see you ladies. I’d like to introduce you.” Wrapping his hand around Joy’s upper arm once more, he dragged her over and tucked her beside him as he introduced the two women and their boyfriends, all members of one of the other bands playing in tonight’s “festival.” It occurred to him that instead of shielding Joy, he was using her ashisshield.

As if she knew exactly what he was playing at, she rested a hand possessively on his chest. Damn, that felt good. Too bad it wasn’t real.

After a few minutes of nonsensical chitchat, Clarisse and Delta looked bored and returned to their group.

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