Page 12 of A Perfect Match
He reaches for a piece of drywall and tugs at it, freeing it fully from the wall.After a few more punches to his side of the wall, he’s created a landlord-sized hole, through which he steps.Suddenly, he’s in the back of my shop, towering over me, his chestnut brown hair mussed and falling across his forehead, streaks of dirt on his arms.
“So…this door belongs to both of us,” he says, pointing to the heavy steel back door.
“The hell it does,” I spit.“There’s always been a wall here, and I’d like it to return, thankyouverymuch.”
He sniffs, propping his hands on his hips.He’s broad and muscular, filling out his black tee in a way that makes my core ache.“Can’t do that.Fire code requires an emergency egress point for both units."
I sigh, rubbing at my forehead.“How on earth can this be a problem when this wall has been here for probably thirty years?”
“Both units haven’t been used in a long time,” Kru says as he grabs the neckline of his shirt.He uses the collar to wipe at the sweat on his upper lip, which exposes a tantalizing glimpse of the flat planes of his lower belly, right above the belt that keeps his work jeans hugging his hips.Everything inside me cinches tight.My lips have been there.I study his face extra hard as I struggle to excise those thoughts.“So one condition for approval of my new restaurant is that I bring the building up to code.That’s what I’m doing.”
“And you didn’t think a little warning was called for?”My voice is nearing shriek level.“Look, I just tossed this whole tray of marshmallows.Ruined product.Not to mention the fact that I thought I was about to be attacked by some sort of wall-punching ghost.”
A smile flickers at his lips but then his gaze falls to my tray of marshmallows.“Shit.Sorry about that.I really didn’t think the wall would break that easily.I was testing it on my own, and I punched through, and you were there.Totally wasn’t my game plan.”
“Well…make sure it doesn’t happen again.”Then I remember Tammy out front, waiting on me.“I have to go.I have customers, shockingly, even though your construction noise has driven almost all of my regulars away these past two days.Hard to work remotely from someplace you can’t think.”
“Is it loud over here?”he asks.
“Unfathomably,” I tell him as I rustle in my cooler.When I have the small tray of wrapped brownies, I slam the cooler door shut and spin to face him.“How much longer is this nuisance going to last?It’s affecting my business, and I didn’t sign up for this.”
Kru rubs at the back of his neck.“There’s a lot left to do—”
“Oh good.”
“—but the inconvenience will be worth it in the long run,” he says with a pointed look.“The upgrades are necessary.”
“Yeah.Foryourhalf of the building, including your brand new apartment.”I flash him an extra-fake smile and head back to the front.Tammy has been waiting too long, and I’m so tired of the surprises from my lobster landlord.
My insides are drawn tight as I return to the counter, but I pop on a bright smile.“Sorry, just chatting with my new landlord.”
“Is he going to take care of all the noise?”she asks.
“He’s the one making it.”
Tammy frowns.“What’s going in over there?”
“Some sort of…questionable restaurant.”Truth is, I know nothing about what he’s planning to do, and I’m curious to find out.But I’ll take that secret to the grave.
Tammy murmurs her condolences for the noise, then escapes with her brownies and latte.I’m left festering in my own discontent, gazing out at an empty store.
But not for long.
A bright-eyed man strides into the shop a moment later.I recognize him as a member of Kru’s entourage.
“Welcome.Can I help you?”
The man breezes toward me.I can tell he’s not from here.There’s something a little too perfect about his face.His forehead is a little too plastic.“Hi, Piper.I’m Pat.It’s a pleasure to meet you.”He sticks out his hand, which I shake cautiously.
“Nice to meet you, Pat,” I say slowly.
“I’m the producer for the reality TV show that’s covering Kru’s build next door.”His smile widens slightly, and I can feel his hooks sink into me.“I’ve been meaning to come over here and chat with you.You have anadorableshop here, and I’m dying to see if you’d be interested in being featured on our show as well.”
It takes a few moments for his words to sink in.“With Kru?”
“Notwithhim, but you might be featured in the same episode.Our specialty is following start-ups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs in all stages of growth.Kru’s restaurant will definitely be a multi-episode affair, but your place is too cute to pass up.We don’t make this offer to just anyone, but since we’re in the plaza already, it’s the perfect opportunity.Our viewers willdiefor this concept!”Pat’s lilt tells me he comes from the West Coast somewhere, possibly LA.He reaches for my arm across the counter.“Honestly?This could be the number one confection shop in the entirecountry.People need to see this place.”
I’m not sure if Pat is recruiting me or selling me something.Whatever it is, he’s doing a good job.All I can see as he speaks is dollar signs.Lines of people.The exact opposite of whatever thisemptinessis.
