“He could do that reapingin private,” Fox replies.
I sigh, unable to totally disagree.
“Back to work,” he orders. “Emerson needs another beer, and Eris’ fries are in the window waiting for her.” His hand lands on my waist, then slides across the slice of stomach exposed by my cropped Blackwood Brew T-shirt as he passes me to go back to his end of the bar.
My brows furrow as a fluttering lets loose in my belly, an involuntary response to a large, seriously hot man touching me gently and casually as if he has every right to do so.
And me, letting him, as if confirming that right.
Ugh.
Bodies arestupid.
No time to deal withthat, though. Emerson really does need another beer, and his sister, Eris, really does need her food.
I move, jolting across the floor to grab the Wright siblings’ food and drink. I deliver it with a smile while doing my best to ignore the lingering effects Fox-induced butterflies have on my tingling nerves. “For my favorites!” I declare, dropping Eris’ fries in front of her, then replacing Emerson’s beer.
Emerson meets my smile with his own. “Thanks, Po.” His head tilts, and he glances at Fox. “You doing okay? Haven’t fallen off of any ladders lately, have you?”
I snort. “I’m dandy, Emmy. You know me. I’ve never seen a ladder I can’t best. Plus, have youseenthat tip jar? I’m going to be able to tipyouat this rate.”
His lips press together as he shakes his head. “You know we don’t take tips. Youalsoknow that we aren’t worried aboutmoney. You have an emergency. We’re fixing it. We can discuss cost—or lack of—later.”
I… know no such thing. How would I know that? Why would I know that?
“Aren’t worried about money?” I ask, skeptical. “Don’t you have a business to run?”
He shrugs. “Yeah, but we have a fund at the office specifically for situations like this. Helping when someone’s house burns down or a tree falls on a single mother’s home or a beloved member of the community tries to recreate a biblical flood in her dwelling. We’re community-oriented at Big Ron’s Contracting.” He smiles, coffee-brown eyes sparkling with kindness and warmth, and I think I fall just a little bit in love with him. Until I remember thatAlmondis in love with him, so actually, no, I am not.
Plus, he’shuge. At least four inches on Fox and even wider in the shoulders, he’s probably the tallest, largest, strongest man I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine he could hug a person without accidentally crushing them.
It’s a good thing Almond loves to be crushed.
“We all love you, Poem. We love having you in October. We love the light you bring to the bar and to the town. It’s nothing but our pleasure to be able to help you, and I’m more than happy to be in a position where that help is as stress-free as possible for you. You deserve it.”
What begins as a prickle of the eye turns quickly into something more like an outpouring of salty tears, and I worry that soon Fox will need my apparently useless tips to pay for his own post-flood reconstruction.
Mygoodness, the people in this town are angels.
“He’s right,” Eris says, soft blue hair tumbling over her shoulder as she tips her head in agreement. “We do love you. All of us.” Her deeper-than-her-hair-blue eyes narrow. “However, ifyou get tears on my fries, I will reach over this bartop, find a knife, andstabyou with it.”
I laugh, and Emerson does, too, though his chuckles are a lot less water-clogged than my own.
Eris does not laugh.
Eris, I know, doesnotplay about her potatoes.
Carefully, I take a step away from her plate, which she covers with her body as if my tears are going to fly out of my face to assault her food.
“I’ll keep my crying away from your fries,” I assure her. “Though, really, they might make it taste better. Extra salty.”
She sniffs. “I’ll not be finding out.”
Fair enough.
I crinkle salty eyes at her, then let them linger on her brother for one, two, three counts of gratitude. “I’m booking you for Almond’s longest service,” I decide. “Extended shampoo. Deep condition. Mini-facial. Anything and everything she’s got.” I consider the state of his hair. “Maybe a dye job…”
His brows rise. “No dye,” he says. “But I’ll accept the rest, if Almond is willing to take me on. Last time I talked to her, she seemed…” he trails off, face going distant as he searches for the word to use.
