Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“How’d you end up working in an appliance store?”
“Is that judgment I hear in your voice? Did my mother send you?”
He lifts his hands in surrender. “I’m just trying to fit a woman like you into a place like this.”
I shrug. “Ned is one of the sweetest men I know, and he was looking for reliable help. And frankly, you’ve never met a woman like me before.”
He leans in. “I’ll admit, I am intrigued.”
“Yeah?” I sense myself edging closer to him, my voice dropping into a more playful lilt. “So am I.”
Garrett opens his mouth but falters, a wry smile curling his lips.
“Justine? You out there?” Ned calls from the direction of the office, making me jump. It severs our bubbling tension.
I step back and clear my voice. “Here! What’s up?”
“Boy, that Kirk Bodin likes to talk. He just called and said he spoke to you about finding a good plumber and electrician—oh!” Ned startles as he comes around the corner and sees Garrett. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were with a customer. How are you today, sir?”
Garrett abandons his leisurely stance, pulling himself up to his full height. “I’m fantastic. You must be the owner.”
“That’s me. Been puttering around these walls since I was six years old. Though, lately, I feel like Justine here might be running things.” Ned caps that off with a wink that tells me he’s teasing. “I’m sure she’s taking good care of you.”
“She is.” Garrett frowns. “But I’m interested in hearing about this electrician. I’m having some work done, and I may need one soon.”
“Well, we’ve been using Bobby Dunlop for years. I’ve known him since grade school! But Kirk said you told him not to call Bobby, Justine?” Ned’s face pinches with confusion. “Why’d you do that?”
“Bobby retired last fall,” I remind him gently.
“Oh, that’s right. Who is it that …” Ned’s brow wrinkles in thought. “Jimmy, his son, he’s taking over.”
“Yeah, except I heard from two reliable sources that Jimmy shows up high to all his job sites.” Those guys at the firehouse gossip worse than anyone I’ve ever met, but it’s good for intel.
“Oh dear. That’s not good.”
“No, and your old plumber, Richard, spends half the year in Florida.”
“So many changes around here.” Ned scratches his chin. “I guess we do need some new names to send people’s way, then. I’ll make some calls, have some conversations—”
“I’m on it, Ned. I’m gonna get a whole list together, not just of electricians and plumbers but people who do drywall and tiling, a general contractor or two. Some good locals you can trust.”
Ned waves a dismissive hand. “We don’t need all those people.”
“We do, trust me. Customers who are buying new appliances are also people looking to get the bathrooms renovated and their kitchens refreshed. Like Garrett here, who’s getting work done.” I gesture toward him. “You want him coming to us for that information instead of the other guys, right?”
Mention of our competitor seems to spark a small fire in Ned. “When you put it like that, I guess it can’t hurt. That’s a lot of work, though, Justine.”
“It’s nothing. Interrogating tradespeople is my jam. I could talk about copper pipes and Sheetrock all day long. You sit back and relax.”
“Okay, then.” Ned turns to Garrett. “See? What’d I tell you? Who’s the boss around here? So … can we help you decide on something today?”
“I’ve decided.” Garrett reaches out to tap the only fridge I showed him. “This one, as long as I can pick it up on Thursday.”
“Really?” I can’t hide the surprise in my voice. “You don’t want to see a few other options?” This is the cheapest, most basic one.
“I like the option in front of me.” A playful glint flashes in his eyes as they draw across my features, flickering to my mouth.
“Are we still talking about kitchen appliances?” I mock whisper, my pulse stirring with excitement. This guy couldn’t be any more obvious.
“I don’t know,” he whispers back. “But I need somewhere to put my leftover pizza and beer.”
I press my hands to my chest. “Be still, my beating heart! You keep checking off future husband boxes every time you open your mouth.”
“You young folk …” Ned turns and moves toward his office, chuckling. “I’ll be at the counter, getting your paperwork started. Come on over when Justine’s done asking for your hand in marriage.”
Garrett wears a secretive smile as he watches Ned disappear around the corner. “How do you know so much about copper pipes and Sheetrock?”
“I don’t. I just talk a big game. But I do know about hiring tradespeople. It’s what I did for years after college.”
His eyebrows arch in surprise.
“I needed a job, and my uncle needed someone who wasn’t an idiot.”
“You don’t say.” He regards me. “You here every day?”
“Every day that we’re open. It’s just me and Ned.”