I nod my head, beating down that feeling inside of me that’s excited about the prospect of her helping me. Like she truly, genuinely cares about me and my business.
Maybe she does. Maybe there’s more to all of this than just a healthy friendship.
“How about I treat you two to dinner?” I ask, nodding to Rora. “She sure earned it.”
Birdie laughs, and I smile, feeling like a damn king for making this woman ever smile at me.
“Okay, so I know that budget-wise we need to be careful. But there are some things I’ve researched that will be next to nothing for Fowler Hardware store to get its customers’ attention.”
I stare at the woman across from me, listening and digesting every brilliant word she’s saying. It’s been a few days since I agreed to let her help out, and she wasn’t kidding about helping me. She asked if she could meet me for lunch somewhere in the middle of the week. I had suggested my apartment, thinking we could have a few quiet moments, and she could show me everything she found with a big enough space for us to work and eat.
I know she’s doing this on her off hours, not letting her boss know that she’s working with someone else. It has me sitting back and admiring her all over again, that she’staking what little free time she has to spend it working on something for me.
There are half-empty cartons of Chinese food spread around the table and a whole plethora of papers that she printed out—ideas for expanding my brand, as she put it. She also has her tablet front and center with an open notepad to type things in as we speak.
“There’s a candy registry for Halloween to let the public know what stores would have candy in them for the big day. Which is the Saturday before Halloween and, of course, Halloween night. I registered your store. I hope that’s all right.”
“Yeah, no, that’s amazing,” I reply, looking at her paperwork. “I knew there used to be one, but I had no idea it still existed.”
She nods and checks a box that’s next to a note on her tablet. “Yes, I contacted your street chairmen, which I had no idea was a thing.” She chuckles at that, and I smile just from her laugh. I am such a goner. “But he was very nice and said he knew your dad way back when and was happy to add you to the list.”
I nod my head, unsurprised that my dad knew this random person. I bet my dad, once upon a time, knew everyone in Denver. Now it’s too overpopulated for that.
“People have been stopping in this week, complimenting the decorations,” I tell her, watching her smile with pleasure.
“Aw, that’s so great!”
“Yup, told them I couldn’t have done it without the most beautiful woman I know helping me.”
A blush takes over her cheeks, and I laugh at the sight, wondering if her thoughts are anywhere near on the same track as mine were or if she was on a different train altogether.
“Well.” She clears her throat and tilts her head. “I don’t know about that.”
“I do,” I answer quickly, staring at her. I swallow and lean my forearms on the table. I need to ask her out. Properly. No babysitting, no decorating my store or farmers’ markets. A real, true date. “Birdie—”
“Oh.” Enzo comes to an abrupt stop as he opens the door to the apartment, Nora on his heels. I let out a deep sigh and rest my forehead against my palm. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were home.”
Nora spots Birdie and smiles wide. “Hi, Elizabeth! So good to see you again.”
“Oh, uh, hi. Nora, right?” Birdie stands, and they have a brief hug. Enzo nods at her, smiling politely, and thenglances at me quickly with a raised brow. I shake my head at him.
“What are you two up to?” Nora asks, looking at all the paperwork around us. “Looks busy.”
“Oh. I was just helping Derek with some ideas for the store.” Elizabeth looks at me, wondering maybe how much they know about my situation.
I stand and nod my head. “Yup. Trying to bring Fowler into the twenty-first century, finally.”
“Nice. Well, that’s great.” Enzo’s subtlety is… not, and I glance from each person in the room wondering who was going to crack first.
“Elizabeth,” Nora starts, looking at her with a kind smile. “This Friday we’re supposed to all go out as a group. Would you like to come? I know Quinn won’t be there, but we all had so much fun with you at game night. It’ll be fun!”
“Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to impose,” Elizabeth says, being her completely sincere and wonderful self.
“You should come.” Enzo smiles and nods at me. I give him a look that I’m sure he does not interpret the right way. “Derek here will be solo otherwise.”
“That’s not true,” I quip, thinking logically. “Molly and Garrett would both be solo.”
Too late. I glance back at Birdie and realize my mistake. “Except they may not be going,” I rush to say. “So, yes. I would be alone. By myself.”
