Page 13 of Rules to Love By

“I… think so?”

“You’re not sure?”

“Honestly, I’ve never done this before. I’m not sure I’m charging the right amount.”

Eli huffed. “Well, I will tell you that my father is scrupulously honest, so I would lay money he’s already done some research into how much something like this should cost.”

“Makes sense.”

“So he won’t let you drastically overcharge. And he won’t underpay you either.”

“That’s very decent of him.”

“He’s a very decent man. In fact, he’s honest to his own pain sometimes.”

Marcus held out the little pile of papers. “Maybe you should look it over, and then we can go talk to him.”

“I’m sure it’s fine. And really—” He glanced at his watch again, eyes narrowing. “—I have a few things to do before I have to go back into the city.”

“You’re not talking to your dad with me?”

“You can handle that part. I’m just there to pick up a few pointers on how to build stuff that doesn’t threaten the well-being of his clients, remember? Once he’s hired you, which he will, you can get in touch and we’ll work out when.”

The sudden change in Eli’s demeanour made Marcus’s head spin and did nothing for that trapped butterfly Eli still held captive.

“Maybe I should run this past Ozzy first. Make sure I haven’t missed anything. Double-check my pricing is realistic.”

Eli shrugged. “You should if you think it’s best. You don’t need me to tell you how to do this part.”

Except he sort of did need someone’s advice. “I’ll talk to Ozzy, then, I guess.”

“Good deal.” Eli picked up Marcus’s tool belt and handed it to him. “After you.”

Marcus wasn’t sure what he’d expected. He was on the cusp of getting a potentially very good contract, and Eli had been clear with his father that he didn’t care to be part of the project.

Eli’s life wasn’t even in Griffon’s Elbow, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he was eager to get back to it.

So why the hollow feeling in his gut?

No.He’d left all those unhealthy hook-up habits behind. He didn’t need Eli’s interest in him to paint a wall or fix a few shelves.

He paused at the bottom of the stairs, between the door that led back into the shop and the long, narrow hall that ended in a door to the street. Eli paused too, hand on the knob to the shop door. “Should I tell Dad you’ve gone to run your numbers past Ozzy?”

“Sure. I guess.”

“He’ll appreciate the diligence.”

“Okay, then.”

“Okay.” Eli’s eyelids flickered. His gaze dropped to Marcus’s mouth, then shot back up to bore into him. “See you around, I guess.”

“I guess.”

Eli twisted the door handle. For an instant, nothing happened. He jiggled it and the knob complained, but turned. The door stuck once when he tried to push through, then opened and he was gone, kicking it shut behind him.

“See you around, then,” Marcus muttered. He turned for the door to the street and trudged down the dim hallway.

The only light came from a series of narrow windows cut into the wall, too high to see out of, presumably placed to bring in light from above the neighbouring building’s roof. It did make him wonder what they did at night, though.

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