Page 8 of The Deal Maker

There’s a medium-sized planter next to my store and I hurry to duck behind it, hoping he just walks on by.

I’m not sure if I’m just breathing too loudly or he walked away, but I can’t hear anything. Did he just stop walking altogether?

“Are you hiding from me?” he says, from way closer than I thought he’d be.

Instead of being able to dissolve into the mist, I jump, hitting my head against the rock on the outside of the building.

“No,” I say, trying to come up with an excuse why I had to hide and then injure myself.

“I’m pretty sure you saw me and then darted for the tree. Op,” he says, looking up at my forehead. The sun has mostly set and I can’t see him clearly, but his smile drops to a frown. The guy is attractive. But I won’t entertain any thoughts of that. I’m just on some sappy dose of wishing I had romance because of Hope’s proposal this morning. That’s all it is.

And of all people to think that about? Duke is not the one I’d pick.

Zander had a similar salesman-type personality and was a different person at work and then when we went out. I’ve been through enough drama to know I need to steer clear of anyone who reminds me of him.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I think you’re bleeding.”

Panic seizes my stomach. I don’t do well with blood. We are definitely not simpático. I saw someone’s bloody nose and practically fainted when I was in high school, which produced my own injured nose. It takes everything in me to survive Aunt Flow.

I search my small purse for the package of tissues I usually carry with me. Nothing.

“Here,” he says, handing me a handkerchief that’s real and monogrammed. DKJ.

“I don’t want to ruin it,” I say, pushing his hand away.

He shakes his head. “You won’t. I know how to get blood out of it.”

I don’t know if I should ask the story behind why he’s had to get blood out of his handkerchief before or how he learned. And why he carries one when most people just have a paper ones that can be thrown away. I’m slightly impressed with both. But not… because, sales guy..

After taking a deep breath, I press the handkerchief to my forehead. “So, are you sixty years old, trapped in a younger man’s body?” Humor is my coping mechanism.

He chuckles and says, “No, just an old habit I picked up as a kid.”

I smile, remembering Duke when he was younger. He’d been short and awkward. Too bad he couldn’t have stayed that way. The guy before me is a lot more handsome than I’ve noticed in the couple of months since I moved here. Has he always looked that good in a t-shirt?

Then I remember he’s the one selling timeshares. It’s hard, but I do my best to make my voice void of any kind of laughter and say, “Well, I’ve got to get home. I’ll get this back to you,” I say, gesturing to the handkerchief.

“Are you sure you know how to clean it?” I can’t read his expression well, but there’s some worry along with the teasing.

“What’s the internet for if I don’t have to look up random cleaning tips? I don’t think I’ll have to worry about it shrinking after drying, either.”

He chuckles and says, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. An ice cube works. Just hold it on there for a bit and then wash it like normal.”

Nodding, I say, “I’ll give that a try. Good night.”

As I walk away, I try to puzzle out my feelings. It’s really hard to figure out how I should feel about this guy. Ishouldthink he’s the ultimate enemy because he’s cheating people out of money, but I’m holding his handkerchief. Like, what guy in this century carries around one of those?

I shouldn’t think it’s cute. I should just work to get home and on with my nighttime skin routine. Because that’s the only action I’ll be getting these days.

FOUR

DUKE

I don’t know if I should think teasing Maggie is as much fun as it is. Sure, old habits die hard with the handkerchief. For a while back in college, I was the nerd carrying around a pocket watch, but with how active I am, that’s not practical. It was cool while it lasted, though.

The fact that she hid from me brings up mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s hilarious that she’s trying to avoid me. But learning about her ice cream theory has me wanting to be near her more, just so I can understand more of her quirks.

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