Page 62 of Crazy In Love
He snorts. “We sure do.”
The bookstore bell jingles above the front door, silencing the horde of old women—and one man—and announcing a newcomer. And since the horderemainssilent, I know whoever has arrived is not just another old bitty sliding in to join the gossip.
So I push away from the wall and wander toward the front.
“Sounds like you’ve gotta go,” Booker murmurs. “Also, if you ever install a doorbell here at our office, I may turn homicidal. You’ve been warned.”
“I’ve heard it approximately thirty-seven million times today already. I swear, I’m about to shove it straight up a cow’s bum.” I come to the end of the book stacks and step into view with my customer service smile firmly in place, but then I skid to a stop and tilt my head to the side, taking in the fighter who turns with a hat pressed over his chest.
He’safighter. But not one of the ones I know.
He dips his chin and half-bows. “Ma’am.”
“Woah,” Booker exclaims in my ear. “He sounds like anactualcowboy. Like, the real kind out in Texas.”
I study the guy’s wide-brimmed hat and the buckle on his belt. The tight denim jeans hugging thick thighs and theI know I’m handsomesmirk Iknowhe uses as often as he can. “I’ll talk to you later, Booker. Be good. Reschedule Rome.” Then, pulling the phone from my ear and ending the call, I slip the device into my back pocket. “I know you’re a fighter because you have broad shoulders and thick arms.”
Pleased, he looks down at himself. “Is that how you can tell?”
“That, and the Love & War tattoo, right there on your forearm.”
Humored, he brings his eyes up again. “Got me. My loyalty stands with that family, so putting them on my skin was a no-brainer. And you’re FoxTatum. I can tell ‘cos you’re new around here, and I saw you at Bitsy’s funeral last year.”
I study my arms, smirking as I search for my fighter muscle.Hint: I have none.“Is that how you can tell?”
“Plus, you got that fancy accent.” He takes a step forward, transferring his hat to his left hand, and offers the right. “I’m Cliff. I’m a fighter sometimes, though I’m not good enough to make a living or bring home a trophy.”
“Oh, well… that’s a shame.”
“Means I have a job, too. And that job includes renovations and fixin’ things. I was in the bakery just ten minutes ago and heard a rumor you needed some help down here.”
“Youheard?” I narrow my eyes until I feel that annoying wrinkle dig between my brows. “Shouldn’t Raya be in school by now?”
He holds on to my hand a moment longer, tugging me just a little closer, and flashes a devilish smile. “You say something in this town, someone else is gonna overhear and repeat it. Bill was in line behind you at the bakery, so I guess he went and told Gavin what he heard. Gavin told me.” He releases me and shrugs. “Here we are. It just so happens Ialsohave ties to the war room, andthisjust so happens to be a business owned by the same family trust, in a way. I’m happy to come and take a look at what you need done, and I’d bet Tommy would vouch for me in a New York minute.” His eyes brighten, dancing with humor. “See what I did there?”
“I see it.” Snickering, I wander to the other side of the counter and turn to lean against the hard edge, and because Cliff is simplydifferentfrom anyone else I know, I take a moment to study his milky brown eyes and the dark dirty-blond, shaggy hair that boasts a semi-permanent ridge where his hat sits.
“I guess I need a little tile work done,” I decide. “Replace the handrails and match the tiles to those already there… or re-do the whole bathroom. Either is fine. The shower stall is old, which leaves me with little hope that we’ll find a replacement door, so it may be necessary to put in a whole new shower, too.”
“I can take a peek for you and let you know your options. I’ll send the invoices to Tommy?”
“Oh, no.” I cough out a snigger and cover what I damn well know are my heating cheeks. “I’ll pay. I walked in to a perfectly functional bathroom, but now I want something fresh and new.”Sort of. “I started the demolition already and realized I should’ve thought ahead, so if you could help me out and keep it on the down-low, that’d be cool.”
“You’re gonna finance a renovation for a bathroom you don’t even get to keep?” He whistles and rocks back onto his heels. “Sheesh. Where do I get me one of those rich New York friends?”
“Leaving Plainview would be step one,” I tease right back. “Visit New York, probably. Stick to Manhattan; that’s where the money tends to gather.”
“Solid tips.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder and tilts his head toward the back. “You want me to take a look while I’m here? Give you a quick estimate on what I think you need, how long it’ll take, and how much it’ll cost you?”
“Quick?” I check the time and cast a look at the watchful ladies taking notes and preparing to gossip all over town. Then I spy the only other customeractuallylooking at buying a book. Finally, I bring my attention back to Cliff and nod. “I have about two minutes. Oh, and I don’t know if you heard, but we’re having a little party at the gym in a few weeks.” I dash around the counter and lead the way, since ‘abandoned her post and was way too distracted by personal business’ is bound to be a performance evaluation delivered to Alana by the watchful committee of Plainview enthusiasts.
I’m not afraid of being fired—ha! Alana wouldn’t dare—but I’d rather she didn’t receive anything less than stellar while she’s working through postpartum hormones. “Chris already knows about the party. I don’t think Tommy does yet.” I march up the stairs and push through the apartment door, stepping aside to let Cliff through. “I’m holding it at the gym. It would mean a lot if you came to celebrate Alana and the baby.”
“I’ll be there.” He swaggers—true cowboy style—into the bathroom and frowns as my ‘I started demo already’ lie frays at the seams. “What kind of gift does a man bring to one of those events?”
“Uh… you could probably bring her cookies.”
Curious, he inches back and eyes me across the room. “Cookies?”
