Page 14 of Wounded Fox
Surprisingly, I wasn't but I didn't argue. Not tonight anyway. Tomorrow I could go back to being the independent female who didn't need Aaron. Tonight I just wanted to be there for him and maybe lean on him, just a little.
I waited until we were locked safely inside before I spoke again. "Do you want to watch a movie or maybe put on a show? Something mindless?" I wasn't ready for bed and I didn't think Aaron was either.
His gaze was far away when he answered. "Yeah, sure."
"How about you pick what we watch while I quickly go change?"
Again when Aaron answered he seemed zoned out. "Okay."
I rushed through changing into pajama bottoms and a hoodie. I used the en suite bathroom to freshen up and brush my teeth before heading back downstairs where I found Aaron sitting on the couch. At least he had done as I suggested and put something on the TV. Although I doubted he did anything other than turn it on because it was tuned into the local news.
But I didn't argue or complain. Instead I sat down next to him and provided unwavering moral support until the two of us just drifted off to sleep right there on the couch.
The next dayI looked around my shop and puffed out my cheeks before slowly letting the air out. Maverick did a great job changing out the glass and cleaning up the shards on the floor,but when it came to my inventory, he didn't touch a thing, and for that, I would forever be grateful.
However, it only took one walkthrough for me to know there wasn't much on the shop floor that was salvageable. Not if I didn't want to run the risk of a small piece of glass being embedded in the fabric.
"What are you thinking?" Aaron asked from where he stood a foot away from me.
"I'm going to have to get rid of it all."
I didn't have to look over to know there was a good chance he was frowning. "You really think so?"
"It would only take one person trying on something and getting cut for my reputation to be ruined." Ruined was an exaggeration. The people of Willow Creek would understand but that didn't mean I wanted to take the chance of someone getting hurt. I cared too much about my fellow residents and my business to put either of them in jeopardy. "Thankfully yesterday was a restock day and I usually wait to do that until after I close for the day. So I didn't have my full inventory on the floor."
"And the insurance should cover the cost of your inventory, right?"
I puffed out my cheeks again and blew out a frustrated sigh. "Most but not all. They will definitely cover the windows. I just need you to give me the bill for it."
I didn't even want to know how much it cost to have a rush order to put in the new windows. I was trying not to think about all the money I was going to be spending for this little mishap. I was definitely going to be tapping into my savings for the new store in order to get this place back up to par.
"About that . . ."
I didn't like the sound of that one bit. "What now?"
"Maverick and I decided that after what happened, it was best to upgrade your storefront windows."
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Upgrade them to what?"
"Ballistic glass. It's better for high-caliber weapons like the one that was used yesterday."
I was right to be leery of where this conversation was going. "And just how expensive is this bulletproof glass?"
"Ballistic glass," Aaron corrected me. "Bulletproof glass is for small-caliber weapons like handguns. You normally see those used in banks and high-end stores. Normally I would recommend bulletproof, but considering what we’re facing, the ballistic glass is better."
"Fine, ballistic glass. How much is thisballistic glassgoing to cost me?"
"You? Nothing. Willow Creek Security is paying for it."
I once again grabbed the bridge of my nose and took a nice big deep breath. "Aaron." I said his name nice and slowly. "Your company isnotpaying for my new glass. Mainly because I can only imagine how expensive it is since you refuse to tell me a price."
"It's already done."
This had to be the single most frustrating conversation I ever had. "What do you mean it's already done?"
"The glass is already put in and the bill is paid. Maverick is efficient like that."
"Then I'll pay you back."
