AJ smiles. “Family discount?”
“Nope.” I grin at Desi. “Make him pay full price for this.”
Desi chuckles and digs out his wallet as AJ laughs and rings him up. Ten minutes later, I’ve installed the new lock on the office door. Desi has a key, and so do I. He hands me a personal credit card. “Please, charge that for the blinds. Full price.”
I relent a little. “Maybe you can get the family discount for those.”
He smiles and brushes a kiss across my lips. “I don’t mind paying full price. I like the store’s owner. He’s a hottie.”
Warmth fills me, a familiar sensation I’ve gone too long without. He’s lucky Jasiri and a couple of others are up here in their offices or we’d be stretched out across the conference table. “Lucky for you, the store’s owner has a soft spot for you.”
“You won’t let me pay rent, will you?”
“Maybe in a few months. Humor me, please? It’s not costing me anything. Write up a month-to-month office lease to make it official and we’ll both sign it. You can exchange legal services for rent or something.”
He grins and leans in close, dropping his voice to a whisper. “How about sexual favors?”
I clamp down on my explosive laugh. “Yeah, I think we can arrange something there, too, mister.”
I’m about to follow that up with a raunchy comment, but Desi’s phone rings. It’s Kurt calling to let him know his tire’s fixed and the Range Rover’s ready to pick up. A few minutes later, we head out in my truck.
“That went better than I thought it would,” I admit. “With everyone at the store.”
Des wears a wry smirk. “How many of them offered to feed me to a woodchipper for you?”
“Only a few. Mostly, it was offers to take you hunting.”
He chuckles. “I deserve it.” He reaches over and lays his hand on my thigh, and I cover it with my hand, squeezing.
It’s finally starting to feel like life is returning to normal.
And it sure feels pretty danged good.
* * * *
I hang around the garage until Desi’s paid his tab and ready to leave. “Got your phones?”
He smiles, holding them up. “Yep.”
“Chargers?”
“Yes.”
“Wallet?”
He snickers, but only because he knows there have been several times he had to call me to come pay for something, or bring him his wallet from where he forgot it at home. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
“I’ve missed you, too. Oh, maybe stop by and say hi to Kelly Ayers once you’ve finished your errands.”
“Kelly? Down the block?”
“Yeah. Here’s something else you can do to help earn your way back into my good graces.” I tell him what’s been going on and his expression darkens.
“I’ll make sure I stop by and see her. Do you have her phone number?”
I find it in my phone and text it to him. Seconds later, his phone buzzes with the message and he quickly saves it to his contacts. “I might not be able to do too much until after I’m moved, but I’ll get started on it.”
“Forfree,” I clarify.
