head. “Just because you’re a klutz doesn’t mean you get to be an asshat.”
The only sound in the store was the chiding hum of the cash register. There was something very wrong about that word coming out of those straight-laced lips.
Gil coughed. “I’ll call Olivia and apologize. Meanwhile, Aud, mind if I get back to you on Snoozy’s gift?”
“Not at all, dear.” She headed for the door, then swiveled back to Seth. “Just out of curiosity, what did Ivy give you when you two got married?”
Seth shifted his weight as blood hauled ass into his cheeks. “A, uh, part for my truck. J-jumper cables,” he stuttered, and it was so obviously a lie, Gil hooted and Audrey’s expression graduated from curious to determined.
“It’s personal,” Seth growled.
Audrey nodded. “Uh-huh. Where is your wife now? Is she at home?”
Seth’s eyes went wide. “She won’t tell you.”
The old woman patted her purse. “Never underestimate the power of a summer sausage.”
Gil let loose a strangled laugh while Seth pulled out his phone and started texting.
“Discuss the subject of my wedding gift amongst yourselves, boys,” Audrey said. “And make sure you come up with something good, because this prime piece of meat is looking forward to a whole lot of tenderizing the weekend after next.”
Once the door shut behind her, Gil and Seth groaned in concert.
“If only we could unhear that.” Seth banged his palms against his ears. “Guess I should have listened when you said you weren’t into Olivia.”
“She’s not into me, either. She only agreed to the date as a favor to you.”
Red flashed back into Seth’s cheeks. “Maybe,” he muttered. “Okay. Fine. I’ll stay out of it. But you owe me one. Hubbard Ridge this weekend?”
Gil and his mountain bike both needed the workout, but he couldn’t pull an economic miracle out of his ass if he was sitting on it.
“Sorry, man. I need to be here. Rain check?”
“You’re not getting enough exercise, Coop. Last time we rode, you puked. Twice. You’re not careful, you’re gonna lose that manly figure.”
Gil wanted to ask what the hell that mattered, since no one would be seeing him naked, but that sounded too pathetic, even for him.
When he didn’t respond, Seth shrugged. “But Joe’s tomorrow night, right?” He read the answer on Gil’s face and sagged back against the counter. “Are you serious right now? You’re blowing off poker night, too?”
“Duty calls.”
“C’mon, bro. We’re already one man down. Harris didn’t say what he’s got going on, but it must be serious if the old man’s willing to miss meatball night. Can’t your shit wait?”
The truth about Gil’s “shit” was that he couldn’t afford to play because he couldn’t afford to lose. And he always lost. But if he fessed up, Seth would insist on staking him.
“Do me a solid, Walker, and let it go.”
Seth pushed upright. “Maybe that’s what you need to be thinking about doing.”
“Don’t even.”
Seth waved an arm at the paint cans and power tools, croquet sets and fishing rods surrounding them. “You’re killing yourself here. And for what?”
“Like you weren’t putting in eighteen-hour days when you were running the feed store and working at Ivy’s farm at the same time.”
“That was love, jackass. What’s your excuse? We both know you’d rather be anywhere else than here.”
“We both know that’s you, not me.”
Seth jerked his head back. “I don’t have anything against the store. It’s what you’re letting the place do to you, for no reason.”
“No reason?” Gil grabbed a straw broom off the rack behind him. He gave the floor a vicious sweep, enjoying the rattle as roofing nails scattered. He shot Seth a warning glance. “We’re not going there.”
“Apparently we’re not going anywhere.” Seth stalked out of the store, and moments later Castle Creek’s sole real estate agent sauntered in.
Gil clutched the broom tighter, momentarily tempted to brush her right back out again. This was shaping up to be one hell of a day and he hadn’t even knocked over his second cup of coffee yet.
Valerie Flick tossed her jet-black, corkscrew ponytail over her shoulder and glanced out the front window at Seth, who was slamming into his ancient pickup truck.
“Looks like you two might need couple’s counseling,” she said drily. She turned away from the window and scanned the store. With a delighted “Ooh,” she click-clacked over to the display of paperwhite growing kits. “One of these would look great on my desk.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Know what else would look great on my desk? A contract with your signature on it. Changed your mind about selling yet?”
Gil concentrated on long, steady strokes of the broom. “Go away, Val.”
“I came to sweeten the deal.”
“Yeah?” He didn’t look up. “How?”
“I’m trying to show you,” she said, voice edged with impatience.
He raised his head. She was leaning back against the counter, the spread of her elbows pulling her suit jacket open to reveal the lacy, dark pink cups of a barely-there bra. Damn, he hadn’t even realized she wasn’t wearing a shirt under there. She’d kicked off one high heel and was running the ball of her foot up and down the smooth expanse of her other leg.
He couldn’t deny she was a hot-looking woman. Yet his dick didn’t so much as wiggle.
Gil stacked his hands on the end of the broom and averted his gaze. When he didn’t speak, Val rolled one shoulder. “Nothing to say?”
“Only that it’s ridiculous to pretend you’re attracted to someone for the sake of a sale.”
“It’s more about the commission,” she said, and gave the hem of her jacket a yank. “Anyway, give me a break. Cooper’s has been circling the drain for years. Let me have the building. You won’t recognize it when I’m done.”
“Therein lies the problem.”
She huffed hard enough to blow her bangs out of alignment. “At least let me tell you what I have planned for the space.”
“This is not a space. It’s a piece of history, and I wouldn’t sell it to you if you planned to turn it into a free clinic for kids.” He hesitated. “You’re not planning to turn it into a free clinic for kids, are you?”
She
