He’s been organising this outside of hours, and I’m hoping it encompasses all the things we’ve discussed that need updating.
“Let’s do a walk through and we’ll talk,” Mr Smedley says. “Mark and I have been going over about how to do things with minimal disruption. How that works in practice, well, I guess we’ll find out.”
I smile. This building has barely been updated in forty years, but it’s solid and doesn’t need much. The layout leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve been wanting to revamp the dated changing rooms since I started here, which is the big one on the list.
It doesn’t take long, and the changes all make sense. Restructuring the changing rooms so we have more cubicles as the current ones are huge. And enclosing the office space at the back as it’s currently quite open with a cash register in case the others are busy.
I wanted that change.
We never use that register and closing the whole area off makes it more secure.
Mr Smedley apparently agreed.
“I’ll leave you in Cassie’s capable hands,” Mr Smedley says.
“That sounds good to me.” Mark never drops eye contact. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable—I’m no expert, but I think he’s interested. And he’s such a good-looking man, I don’t mind.
When he’s gone, Mark turns to me. “I’ll get set up today if that works for you. I’d like to start with the changing rooms as that’s probably the biggest change and we can do one side at a time. Not that we’ll get the reno started today, but we need to put up signage and block off the actual construction.”
I nod. “That’d be good.”
Mark smiles. “Maybe you could work with me to decide where it goes?”
His dark eyes dance, and for the first time since Patrick, my heart does little pitter-patters. This guy is gorgeous—there’s no way he’d be interested in a woman with the baggage I have.
This is stupid.
I’m not going to be a sucker for a man again.
“Sure thing. Let’s get this out of the way.”
“Once it’s done, we’ll start moving gear in here so we can get started in the morning if that works.”
“Sounds fine.”
We move quickly, and before too long his guys set up a barrier to stop people from entering the work space. With the signage up, I’m confident that they can work in peace—as much as working in an open store will allow.
It’s not going to be fun, but it’s also not going to take too long.
They start shifting in gear, and I move on to other things around the store.
Before I know it, it’s nearly time to close.
One by one, the cash registers are totalled for the day and closed. Once the takings are all in the safe and the staff have gone, I turn off the lights and make my way to the door.
Maybe tonight I’ll grab some takeaways on the way home. We don’t have them often, but it’s been a long and fruitful day.
I lock the front door and take a step in the direction of my car.
“Cassie.”
I turn. Mark walks toward me, a cautious smile on his face.
“Is there something else you need? I’ve got to go and pick up my daughter, but I can spare a few minutes if I need to unlock.”
He shakes his head. “No. Nothing inside the store, anyway.”
Butterflies rise in my stomach. “So, how can I help you?”
