Page 61 of The Fixer

“Seems they had a little plumbing problem pop up. They rescheduled for the following weekend.” He gave her a regretful smile. “I’m sorry.”

“Well, at least you don’t have to worry about Becky showing up.”

“There is that, but it also means I can’t take you.”

“Youwantedto take me?”

He tossed back half his whiskey. “Why would I have asked you if I didn’t want to take you?”

Because Neve put you on the spot.“Well, if you still want to, I’ll be around.”

His eyes widened. “You’re staying through another week? I didn’t know. When did you decide this?”

Just now.“A day or two ago.” She shrugged, hoping it would mask how her lie had driven her pulse into a higher gear.

A lazy grin spread over his face. “Yeah, I still want to. Let’s do it.”

Positively giddy, she calmly raised her glass in a toast. “To the Doro music festival—twoSaturdays from now.”

He matched her toast with his beer. Soon he was bringing her up to date on the next phase of the electrical and plumbing upgrades.

Of course she had to challenge him. “Isn’t there a cheaper way to do this?”

Pleats formed between his dark brows. “You want to cut corners on electrical and watch this place burn down? Or on plumbing and—”

She held up her hand. “Okay, okay. You don’t need to get on your soapbox.”

He smirked. “Apparently, I do.”

“Look, I get it. You don’t like me, and I don’t like you, but between us, we have—”

“Who says I don’t like you? And why don’t you likeme?”

He liked her? Why this revelation buoyed her spirits, she wasn’t sure, except maybe she was getting her Estelle on and lusting after the hot guy.No, no, no!Business first. And it would never work.Couldnever work. Not in a million years.

When she didn’t answer his question, he continued. “You might be without services for a day here and there next week. Depending on when you’re going back to Chicago, we can time it so it happens after you leave.”

Joy chewed on a broken nail—her second one. “I don’t know when that’s going to be, but you can work around me in the meantime, or I’ll work around you. I can always work from Mountain Coffee or the Miners Tavern. I haven’t tried the Brothel yet.”

“You don’t want to work at the Brothel.”

“Hmm, probably not. Never know who might walk through the door. Besides, it’s illegal,” she quipped. Oh, she was turning into a regular jokester.

“I was talking about their internet,” he deadpanned. “It sucks.”

“A guy like you spending time at the Brothel? I’m surprised you find that necessary.” She pressed her lips together, ready to break out into a smile, but instead of his easy chuckle, he sported a puzzled look. “It’s a joke. Brothel? Get it?”

“Is this a new thing? You cracking jokes? And possibly paying me an ass-backward compliment?”

“Yeah, so get on board already.”

A grunt and a sardonic half-smile were his only comebacks.Joy Holiday strikes out at humor—again.She returned to chewing the nail while she lasered all her focus on what he was there to tell her.

They spent the next hour going over the plans for next week, and she tried her damnedest not to spar with him over every detail. Not always because she disagreed but because he had a stubborn streak too, and it drove her to butt heads with him. He rammed right back, and he rammed hard.

Maybe spending a whole evening with him in Doro wasn’t such a great idea after all. What the hell would they talk about during the drive there? The drive back? She couldn’t make him laugh, which should have been as easy as watching him work. They’d probably talk about the project—the only thing they had in common—which meant they’d spend the entire time squabbling. At least she no longer had to skulk to the consignment store. Surely she could get to Montrose beforehand.

When they were done, he stood and carried his shot glass to the dishpan where she collected dishes to be washed in the bathroom sink later.

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