He would walk into his workshop, stare at several of the projects that needed doing, then head back out into the store as if he expected to see Beryl there, which was foolish. He chalked it up to first date jitters and the fact that he couldn’t remember if he’d even been on a date. How crazy was that?
Frederick reminded him that one of the projects would need to be shipped out in two days. “If it’s possible,” Frederick said. “I’d love to send that out early, if you think you have the wherewithal to finish it today. Thoughts?”
Jake mentally slumped, holding his hands up in surrender. “Fine. Yes. I’ll finish it today. In fact, I’ll go do it right now,” he said, sounding sullen even to himself as he trudged back to his workshop—a place where he usually spent the majority of his time with glee.
Today, he was distracted.
His procrastinating at an end, Jake finished the project in no time and took it out to Frederick a few minutes before his manager left for lunch. The retail shop had been busy with walk-ins and Frederick ended up leaving a half-hour late for his lunch.
“Please don’t worry, Jake,” Frederick said as he grabbed his jacket from behind the counter. “I promise to be back in plenty of time for your special date with Beryl.”
“Thank you, Frederick.”
Business picked up for the next forty minutes or so, keeping Jake busy and not looking at the clock every minute like he would have if it had been slow.
Luckily, the time went by quickly. In fifteen more minutes, Frederick would return and he’d be ready and able to race out of the shop for his picnic date in the park with Beryl Ashcraft. He couldn’t wait. And he didn’t want to be late.
Once the last customer of the rush left, Jake parked himself on the stool behind the counter, leaned on his forearms and daydreamed about the coming date. After only a few minutes, a man came into the shop. He was alone. He glanced in Jake’s direction and smiled as if expecting Jake to…what? Recognize him? Well, he didn’t. He braced himself to explain yet again about The Incident and why he didn’t know this man.
It was always odd when it happened. People knowing Jake or seeming to know him when he had no earthly idea who they were. Or even if heshouldknow them.Maddening.
The man closed the door and gave Jake a more pointed stare filled with…what? Expectation, maybe.Hadthey known each other before The Incident?
Well, Jake had bad news for this newcomer. He didn’t remember him. He didn’t remember anyone he’d met before his hospital stay. He especially hated meeting strangers who acted like they knew him when he didn’t have a clue, even as they tried to drop hints, as if that would help. It didn’t.
Moreover, he had quickly tired of explaining his circumstances to…well, pretty much everyone he met.
Jake decided to take a different approach. This time, he wasn’t explaining anything.
“Welcome to Dark Matter Metal & Leather. I’m the owner, Jake Jones. Let me know if you have any questions or need help finding anything. All our new products are along the front wall.” He pointed to the area with the sign, declaring, “New items to Explore.” And, as he always did, Jake tried to sound sincere and welcoming to all who entered his place.
The look of recognition quickly dissipated from the stranger’s face and he nodded once. “Thank you.” He sauntered through the store, glancing here and there at various offerings until he made his way to the counter.
“Great shop,” the man said, placing his palms down on the flat surface. “How long have you been here?”
Jake’s gut roiled with mistrust. Had he known this man? Why did he feel like that question was a test? Jake couldn’t figure it out because the guy, although big, was rather nonthreatening.
He wore his dark hair longer than might currently be fashionable, but it was neatly trimmed and he was cleanshaven. His eyes were green, not unlike Beryl’s. Did everyone have Beryl’s eye color or was he just besotted? Probably the latter.
He was tall and well built, but he wasn’t threatening in any way. Quite the opposite, in fact. His furtive—Beryl-tinted—gaze missed nothing, which was at odds with the rather unassuming way he carried himself.
“Oh, I’ve been here about six months or so. Have you been in before? I bought the place from Dutch Corley. Maybe you knewhim?” Jake asked, watching the man’s reaction carefully. He wasn’t disappointed.
The man’s gaze darted to Jake’s face before he seemed to catch himself and visibly relax. He shook his head. “No. I haven’t been in here before, but I have heard the name Dutch Corley and that he used to be the owner.”
Jake’s gut refused to settle down, even as he tried to tamp down his irrational anxiety. This man was not a threat. He was just a guy.
“Can I help you with something special? If you have a leather or metal item in mind that you don’t see on the shelves, I usually can craft unique things.”
The man’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Oh. Right. Excellent. Yes. Good to know.” He paused, his gaze darting around the store as if suddenly self-conscious. So weird.
“Honestly, I’m not looking for anything specific. I liked the name of this store. That’s really what led me here.” Hesmiled and Jake was taken aback. Again, this man reminded him of Beryl.
Wait a minute!
Jake’s brain did an all-stop. Did Beryl have a brother? He didn’t know. If so, was this man her brother or possibly related to her? Was he here checking up on his sister’s date? Jake relaxed a notch, finding that notion both troubling and encouraging at the same time.
If itwasher brother—or some relative—and he was checking up on Jake, he wanted to make a good impression.
