“I can’t handle any bad news right now,” she told him. “Ifyou tell me the roof has to be replaced I’ll probably start sobbing and that will frighten you.”
He inched away from her. “I’m not a fan of anyone crying. It’s not just women.”
“Regardless, you’ve been warned.”
“I want to talk about the bricks. I’m worried that us handling them will cause the markings to rub off, which would be a problem.”
“A big one.”
They walked toward the nearly two-story wall of bricks. He pointed to a blank one.
“If they used permanent marker or paint, it’s fine, but if it’s crayon like some of them, it’s an issue.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” she admitted. “Do we spray them with something?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to protect them. I can do a little research and figure out the best product, then have one of my guys apply it before we move the bricks. We don’t want anything permanent because at some point people may want to give up the diary space and you’ll want to use it for someone else.”
She nodded. “So a sealer that isn’t too much of a sealer. Does that exist?”
“I’ll find out and report back.”
Just then a fortysomething woman walked by and smiled. “Hi, Marcus.”
“Veronica, hi.”
His tone was absent and his attention was still on the brick wall but Jax noticed that Veronica was giving him the once-over before sauntering over to a set of shelves where she opened a book, but kept her attention on Marcus. Something Jax found mildly annoying.
“You know her?” she asked in a low voice.
“I did some work on her house a couple of years ago. A 1950s rambler that they were updating.”
“Did you, um, go out with her?”
He stared at her with a look of shock that nearly had her laughing.
“No,” he said quietly, careful not to look at Veronica. “No! She’s married.”
“But you were single and she seems... interested.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Cheryl said as she appeared from around one of the shelving units. She walked up to Veronica.
“Fifteen minutes,” she said flatly. “You have fifteen minutes to stand around ogling, then you have to buy something. We’re running a business here.”
Veronica blinked a couple of times then murmured, “I was just leaving.”
Marcus looked from Cheryl to her. “What was that?”
“We’ve had to establish some ground rules since you started working here,” Jax said with a grin. “You know, to keep the crowds under control.” She paused dramatically. “The crowds of women.”
“There’s no crowds.”
“Maybe not but we do have the ladies stopping by to stand and stare. We’re now telling them they get fifteen minutes free, but then they have to buy something. It’s an unexpected source of cash flow, so thanks for that.”
He looked away but not before she saw him blush. Wow, Marcus blushing? Be still her heart.
“You’re making all this up.”
“You know I’m not. Come on, you’re a good-looking guy who happens to be single and in good shape. Women like to look. I’m just taking advantage of the situation.”
