Page 86 of The Fixer

His movements deliberate, Charlie stepped away from the couch and pulled himself to his full height, which, even from this angle, he could tell was superior to Sterling’s. As he rounded the armrest, he came face-to-face with the dickhead and confirmed that Sterling was, indeed, a few inches shorter. Charlie took full advantage of the difference, his entire being bent on intimidation.

Joy turned her glare on Charlie, and he wanted to say, “Why are you looking atmethat way? I didn’t start this.”

Her features softened, the ghost of a smile on her pretty pink lips. “Maybe we’d better call it a night? What time were you planning to start work tomorrow?” Her eyes did this weird narrowing and widening thing while simultaneously sliding Sterling’s way and back. If it was a signal, Charlie was missing it.

Confused, he looked at his watch. He normally didn’t work Sundays, but then her eye acrobatics clicked. “It’s Sunday, so eight? If you need me here earlier—”

“No, that’s perfect. I should be done taking care of business by then.” The word “business” came through her clenched teeth.

“You sure you don’t need me to stick around?”

She shook her head. “I’ll be all right. Do you want me to drive you home?”

“No. I could use the hike back.”

“I’ll walk you to the door.”

All of him wanted to stay. He hated leaving her with this guy, but it was her show, and he had no part to play in it.

As he was pivoting toward the store’s interior and the front door beyond, he glimpsed her bowing her head, her silky hair curtaining her face. He couldn’t see her expression, but her body language broadcast her distress and was all he needed to know. The other bits of confusion he’d sort later. What mattered now was that she had neither invited her pansy-ass partner to Fall River, nor had she expected him, and she was upset.

When they reached the door, he took her wrist in his hand and drew her outside. The cool night air felt good against his flushed skin. After being squeezed inside Joy’s place, his lungs could finally fill themselves.

Knuckle under her chin, he tipped her head up. “Hey. Let me stay. I don’t feel right about leaving you—”

“I’ll be fine.” She cast her eyes down for several beats before raising them back to his. Gone was the fire that had danced in them all evening, and it nearly gutted him. This wasn’t right.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For not having to drive me home?” He mustered a half-smile he didn’t feel.

“No, for tonight … last night. For listening and caring and for the music and the dancing. That’s the closest I’ve felt to anyone and the most fun I’ve had in a long, long time.”

“Anytime, princess. Now are you absolutely sure you don’t want me to stay?”

Her jaw firmed. “Yes. I have a pair of balls I need to shred, and it won’t be pretty. I’d rather you weren’t here to watch.”

He rubbed his nose against hers. “All right. You’re the boss. Now go get ’em.”

A flame came to life in her orbs, and his shoulders eased. “You know I will. I got this.”

Right. Joy Holiday is in control, folks. Get out of the way.

“If you need me, I’m here.” He kissed her lips softly, unsure if he should, unsure if he had a right, but she didn’t fight it.

Apparently, the asshat had followed them because Charlie could hear the guy’s voice just inside the door when Joy went back inside.

“What in God’s name are you wearing, Joy? A denimminiskirt? Cowboy boots? What are you, a cowgirl now, after just two weeks? And what happened to your nails? And your figure? You look like you’ve been piling on the pounds. Good thing I’m here to get you out of this one-horse town.”

Charlie’s blood rose to a rolling boil. He did not like this guy. He took one stalking step but stopped when he heard Joy snarl, “Shut up, Sterling.” The door slammed behind her.

As Charlie took reluctant steps away from the shop, he reassured himself Joy could handle herself against a douche canoe likeSterling. Just like with Cully, Charlie’s money was on her. She had this. She’d said so herself.

Right?

This had to be one of the weirdest, most fucking confusing evenings of Charlie’s life. It had also been one of the most stimulating. He had beensleepwalking for months, but tonight he had come to life. Energy had coursed through him like a river running with snow melt in June. Spending time with a woman he could talk to, who challenged him, had been one hell of a good time. And the fact that he could relate to her had been a revelation. Two short weeks ago, none of this was true. Life reallycouldturn on a dime.

Yeah, the night had been great except for the way it ended—cockblocked by dickwadSterling’s untimely appearance. What had been an enjoyable evening had been cut off at the knees long before Charlie had been ready. Had they ended up in bed, that would have been fine by him. If theyhadn’tended up in bed, that would’ve been fine too. He just liked being around her, listening to her, making her laugh, trying to figure out what leaps her mind would take next.

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