“So, the water heater…”
Half an hour later, Flynn still hadn’t joined them, but Smith had learned it was only a matter of time before the water heater crapped out.
Brody shook his head. “This thing has gone beyond its prime, if you ask me. It’s a good piece of gear, but one of these days it’s going to break, and then you’ll be out of luck and taking cold showers.” Brody wrote down a few names. “Check on these. I recommend the top two as your best bang for your buck. But it’s your call.”
“Tilly’s call,” he said as he read the brand names. “And you guys will install it? How much?”
Brody rattled off some figures. “Let us know what you want to do. Once you know what you want, we’ll order it for you and schedule to install it. Won’t take long to come in. Should be anywhere from 2-4 hours to install, but we’ll allot extra time in case something goes wrong. We’ll remove the old heater, which means disconnecting the power and water supply, then remove the tank. We put in the new heater, a tank if she’s not going tankless, then we have to fit the thing. Then reconnect it. It’s not a huge project unless we find issues when we remove your tank.”
“Okay. I’ll let Tilly know.”
“Depending on her homeowner’s insurance, she might be covered for some of it.”
They walked back to Brad’s apartment and found it locked.
Brody frowned. “Did he leave without me?”
Freakin’ Tilly. “Come on.” Smith led them to Tilly’s apartment and banged on the door.
“Hold your horses,” he heard her yell.
“You think she has my brother tied to a chair? Forcing him to do unnatural things?” Brody whispered.
“With Tilly? Probably.” He smirked at the wary look on the guy’s face.
Tilly finally answered the door, a flush on her cheeks, wearing a huge grin. They found Flynn at her kitchen table munching on some of Erin’s cookies.
“Dude,” Flynn said to Brody. “You have got to try these. They’re insane.”
Brody took one and agreed.
Tilly beamed, glanced at Smith, and said nothing.
Smith knew it would come out eventually, so he said, “My girlfriend made them.” He refused to look at Tilly’s smug expression, though he unfortunately heard her loud, “I knew it!”
“You should marry her,” Flynn said as he inhaled another one. “Okay, Tilly. I really do have to go.” He stood and patted his flat stomach. Tilly, the lecher, watched his movements like a hawk.
“You fixed Brad’s shower problem. Have a few more.”
“I’ll grab them,” Brody said with a wide grin.
Tilly gave him a flirty smile, and Smith wanted to gouge his own eyes out.
“I gave Smith the details, Tilly,” Brody said with a napkin full of apricot rugelach. “You decide what you want installed and when and call us.” He glanced at Flynn and said with a sly smile, “And thank Pat for recommending us. She’s a sweetheart, isn’t she, Flynn?”
Flynn gave Brody the same look that Smith had used earlier on Cash. Maybe it was a brother thing.
“Oh, yes. Please thank her.” Flynn turned to Smith. “Call if you have any questions.” Then he shook Tilly’s hand, his smile sincere. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Tilly. Thanks so much for the cookies.” Flynn slapped Brody on the back, hard enough to make him stumble. Then he grabbed his toolbox and yanked his brother with him out the door, closing it behind them.
Tilly stared after them with a sigh. “My word. What a day.” She turned back to Smith and smirked. “Now spill it, boy. What’s going on with you and that girl? She’s been dreamy-eyed all damn morning.”
“Tilly.”
“Don’t Tilly, me, ass-munch. Talk.”
“Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?”
Erin had delvedinto her magazine edits. Not only did she work on articles concerning harvesting nuts like walnuts and pistachios, she’d just received two early December articles. One on pruning and the other on winter sanitation in the orchards for navel orange worm. She wanted to thank whoever knocked on her door to give her a break.
