Not So Easy (The NOT Series Book 4)

Chapter 13

“You work fast,”he said, checking out the walls. “The blue-gray was a good choice.”

“It’s dusty blue,” I corrected. Reminding myself to act cool, I finished the corner where I was working and slid the roller into the paint tray. “I like it.”

“I take it you got to the house and back okay?”

“Yeah. I left your keys on the table in the foyer.”

“I found them.” Calvin leaned against the door frame. “We got the foundation for the addition started.”

Cleaning up my mess, I nodded. “That’s good.” We had yet to make eye contact, and I was hoping he’d take the hint and leave me alone.

Of course, he didn’t.

“I heard you ran into someone today.”

His love life is none of my business.

“She was on her way in when I was leaving.” Our eyes met for a split second before I said, “I’m about done in here. Do you think it’ll need another coat?”

He surveyed my work. “Looks good to me, but I can check in the morning when the sun is coming straight in and let you know.”

“I appreciate that.” Lifting the pan with the paint and roller, I asked, “How do I wash this out since there’s no water?”

Calvin crossed to the table. “Don’t worry about it. Are you busy for dinner?”

Was he serious? I accidently meet his girlfriend and now he wants to take me to dinner? “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

He was going to make me say it. “Because you shouldn’t be having dinner with me when your girlfriend is at home.”

“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head. “Jasmine isn’t my girlfriend.”

“Jasmine?” I repeated. “That’s her name?”

“Yeah. Jasmine Riley. She moved to the block about three years ago. Her two-year-old twins have a lot of health issues so she can’t hold down a regular job outside the house. She does telemarketing from home, but a few of us in the neighborhood pay her to clean to make extra money.”

As much as I was dying to know all this, he owed me no explanations. He and I had a professional relationship, regardless of how much I’d pouted in my head all afternoon.

“You really don’t have to explain.” I bent to roll a drop cloth because I still couldn’t look him in the eye. My feelings were all over the place and the last thing I needed was for him to see exactly how much thinking he had a girlfriend had affected me.

“Clearly, I do.” He moved closer and said, “Donna, look at me.”

Eyes closed, I exhaled, telling myself that nothing had changed from this morning. Finally, I turned his way. “What?”

“I’d like to take you to dinner.”

“You don’t need to reward me for painting my own bedroom.”

“I’m not rewarding you.” His eyes stayed locked on mine. “Will you go to dinner with me?”

I could still see the expression on Jasmine’s face. That was the look of a woman who saw another sniffing around her territory.

“Does Jasmine know she isn’t your girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not the impression I got.”

Taking a deep breath, he ran both hands over his hair, then dropped them to his sides. “She’s made it clear that if I asked, she’d say yes. And I’ve let her know, I’m not asking.”

Did I believe that? She wouldn’t be the first woman to stake a claim where her flag wasn’t welcome, but I also wouldn’t be the first woman to fall for a lie and get herself hurt. Our history may have been filled with misunderstandings, but one thing Calvin had never been was a liar.

Relenting, I asked, “Are you buying?”

“That’s the plan,” he said, relaxing. “Or we can split it. Up to you.”

If we split the check, then I could tell myself this was just two friends having dinner. Which is what I should have done.

“All right, you can buy.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Now?” I looked down at my paint-covered clothes. “I’m not dressed to go out.”

He looked me over with a straight face. “You look fine.”

Had he been the one sniffing paint all afternoon? “I look like I’ve been painting all day and fell into the bucket.”

“Where we’re going that won’t matter.”

So he knew where he was taking me before he even asked. That was a big assumption.

“What if I’d said no?”

“No to what?”

“To going to dinner.”

Calvin offered one of his nonchalant shrugs, and I was starting to believe nothing bothered this man.

“I’d still go, but it’ll be better with you there.”

One of the most lackluster yet nicest compliments I’d ever received. How could I say no after that?

“Are you sure I won’t be embarrassed to go in looking like this?”

Showing a bit of impatience, he said, “I’ve taken the whole crew in looking way worse than that.”

I chose to see that as another compliment and decided to stop pushing my luck. “Then by all means. Let’s go eat.”

“How didI not know about this place?”

I lived only minutes away. How had I missed it? Breathing deep, my mouth watered. If this wasn’t what heaven smelled like, I didn’t want to go.

“They’ve been open less than a year.” Calvin waved to someone behind the counter and unleashed a flurry of sound and excitement I did not see coming. A beautiful woman in a bright red apron charged toward us, arms outstretched and an infectious smile on her lips.

“Calvin, mi querido, you know I love to see your sweet, sweet face.” Cupping said face, she kissed him on both cheeks. “You always bring your friends.” Stepping back, she scanned me up and down before offering an approving grin. “Ah, muy bonito. It’s about time you got yourself a woman.”

Calvin blushed, which was adorable as hell, and I couldn’t help but tease him. “I’m not his woman. This is only our first date.”

“He must really like you to bring you to Rosalie’s Bodega.” Tapping her chest, she beamed with pride. “Best food in town is right here. You will bring all your friends, too. Si?”

“If it tastes as good as it smells, I’ll bring everyone I know.” I could already see the girls devouring this place. “Do you make Huevo Rancheros?”

Pudgy hands covered her mouth as she leaned back dramatically. “Ay, carina, I make the best Huevo Rancheros you will ever have in your life. You want to try? I make them for you right now.”

I didn’t want to put her out. “I’m sure those aren’t on your dinner menu. Don’t go out of your way for me.”

“Disparates. I make them now.” Shooing us toward the tables, Rosalie said, “Sit down and I’ll send Rodrigo. He’ll take good care of you.”

We did as told, crossing the blue and yellow checkered floor to take our seats at one of the high tables.

Settling onto a tall stool, I took in my surroundings. “This has to be the most colorful restaurant in town.” Primary colors covered every surface, from the yellow poles down the center of the space to the bright blue table legs. “I take it you’re a regular here?”

Calvin nodded. “Rosalie moved to the neighborhood about ten years ago. She started with a food truck, and was able to upgrade to this site late last year.”

The fact we were her only patrons concerned me. “How’s it going for her?”

He rubbed his hands together, tilting his head from side to side like he was trying to crack his neck. “Things started slow, like most places do, but it’s picking up.”

A man I assumed to be Rodrigo arrived with a basket of chips and salsa, which I could immediately tell were homemade. Not that I expected any less. What I didn’t expect was for Calvin to have a full conversation with the waiter in Spanish.

I caught enough to know that Calvin ordered himself tacos and confirmed my order of Huevo Rancheros. There were drinks in there somewhere, but the only word that sounded familiar was the one I thought meant water.

When Rodrigo walked away to pass on whatever he’d written on his little notepad, I stared at my date with raised brows.

Catching the silent question, he gave a nonchalant shrug. “I help a lot of small business owners. It made sense to learn the language.”

The man was full of surprises. “How long did it take to get fluent like that?”

“About seven years.” He scooped salsa onto a chip. “I ordered us Aguas Frescas. Rodrigo said they’re trying a new mango flavor. I hope that’s okay.”

So not water after all. “That’s fine.” I dug into the nachos. “What do you mean you help small business owners? Help them how?”

“I walk them through the process, depending on the type of business. Everything from the license to operate to opening a bank account.”

I’d done all of that, of course, many years ago. I could have used a little guidance as I was fresh out of college and had no idea what I was doing. Taking pictures was the easy part. Getting established was more complicated, even without a brick and mortar store to worry about.

“So you run the renovation business, and Hickamore House, and you help other business owners while learning Spanish. Is there a cape hiding under those overalls?”

He laughed. A sound I liked very much.

“I’m no hero. Just a guy who likes to help out. But since you’re keeping track, I’ve also picked up a bit of Polish and German along the way.”

Of course, he did.

“When do you sleep?” I asked, scooping up another chip. These were easily the best I’d ever had. “I feel bad taking up your time. Don’t you have three other places to be right now?”

Eyes meeting mine, he said, “I’m right where I need to be.”

Very smooth. And based on my spiking temperature, I was not immune. Time to change the subject.

“How did Hickamore House come about? Was the plan always to turn it into an event venue?”

Thankfully, he rolled with the change.

“JoJo gets credit for that. Doing a simple flip wasn’t feasible with a house that size. We could have broken it up into apartments, but that would have cost us a lot of the original architectural elements. No way was a single family going to buy a house that size in our neighborhood, so we were about to pass on it. Then she suggested the wedding angle, and once we worked through the numbers and how to use that old carriage house in the back, it was a no-brainer.”

Not a no-brainer at all. Starting any business came with risks. They must have sunk a solid six figures into that renovation with no guarantee they’d make any of it back. After seeing the property, I recognized the potential to more than earn out, but there was still the challenge of location. Improving the neighborhood was one thing. Changing people’s perceptions of the neighborhood was another.

“I feel like you’re making it sound simpler than it was. That’s a huge project.”

Rodrigo arrived with our drinks, which were bright and orange and sporting cute little paper umbrellas. He also added small cups of queso and guacamole to the table.

“Rosalie says you must try these.”

Who was I to argue with Rosalie? “Happy to.”

The waiter walked away and instead of picking up where we left off, Calvin asked, “How are your parents? Have they come around on the house yet?”

He’d rolled with my topic change so it was only fair that I roll with his. “They’re fine, and not really. They think I should have bought a house over in Dormont by them.”

“Didn’t your dad grow up in the house?”

Did I want to reveal how my parents truly felt? Not only was it embarrassing that they were so short-sighted, but the truth was also insulting to the people who still lived there. People like Calvin.

Without elaborating, I gave a partial truth. “I think they’ll change their minds once they see what we do to it.”

“That reminds me,” he said, dunking a chip into the guac. “Not that I brought you here to talk shop, but I have a suggestion I want to run by you.”

“What is it?”

“What do you think about putting French doors on your studio?”

I tried to picture it. “Like as the entrance to the room?”

“Yeah.” He grabbed a napkin and whipped a pen out of his front pocket. “Clients will come up the stairs here,” he said, drawing a narrow rectangle on the rough paper. “Then make a left and step through the French doors into the studio. The space will feel bigger, you’ll get extra light from the window at the end of the hall, and if you need to bring in any props, you’ll have an expanded doorway to get them through.”

We didn’t even know yet if I could have a studio, but I liked the way he was thinking. The benefit of using my loft was the soaring ceilings and wide open space for a variety of backdrops and setups. Though we were putting nine foot ceilings in the addition, I’d still be restricted in what I could do.

With a double-sized entrance, maybe not as restricted.

“I like the idea. Do they fit with the current plans?”

Calvin wadded up the napkin. “I’ll have Sheilah make the change to the drawings based on the doors I’ve priced out.”

Getting a little ahead of himself, wasn’t he? “You already priced them out?”

“I wouldn’t bring the idea to you if I didn’t know it was possible. I’ve looked at four sets you can choose from that would all work and come in at the right price.”

That made sense. I’d be more annoyed if I got excited about the idea only to learn I couldn’t afford it. Picturing the possibilities, this really would make my life easier.

“Do you have any other ideas that I haven’t thought of yet?” Better to get everything in now than go back and make changes later. Once this construction was finished I doubted I’d ever want to do more. Even for small projects.

Before he could answer, Rosalie and Rodrigo delivered our food. When she set my plate on the table, I could only stare at the sight before me. Two perfectly cooked, sunny-side up eggs glistened on a bed of refried beans, all floating on perfectly toasted tortillas. Salsa and queso fresco added brightness, and the food smelled so good I nearly kissed her cheeks the same way she’d kissed Calvin’s.

“I have to get a picture of this.”

Not that I wouldn’t be seeing the dish in my dreams, but the girls needed to know what I’d discovered. Two clicks later, I put my phone away and lifted my fork. When I sliced the egg, bright yellow yoke flowed across the beans and I scooped up every ingredient into one bite.

Taking my first taste, I nearly moaned. They were better than I’d imagined. Turning to Rosalie with my mouth full of spicy goodness, I said, “Will you adopt me?”

She laughed and patted my cheek. “I have five at home. What is one more?”

To an only child, one more sounded like six too many.

“Thank you for making these. I can confirm they are the best I’ve ever had in my life.” Shoveling in another bite, I gave up and released a moan of delight. How was half the city not filling this place on the daily?

As if some higher power decided to answer my question, the doors swung open and one group after another filled the tables. Rosalie went off to greet her new arrivals.

“I take it they’re good?” Calvin said.

I was having such a life-changing experience I almost forgot he was there. “I can never repay you for bringing me here. If you ever need a kidney, I’m your girl.”

He took a bite of his taco, set it back in its red basket, then wiped his mouth. “You’d have found the place eventually.”

Did the man ever take credit for anything?

“Where did all of these people come from?” Nearly every table was full and diners were still coming in.

Calvin looked at his watch. “From work, probably. Rosalie’s is a regular spot for the locals.”

Lucky them. “The girls are going to love this place.”

“You’ll bring them here?” he asked, taco hovering halfway to his mouth.

“Heck, yeah. We have this weird thing for Mexican food. Anytime one of us finds a new place, we all have to check it out.”

“Huh,” he muttered before taking a bite.

I was going to need him to elaborate. “Huh, what?”

Crunching through the taco shell, he caught a falling piece of tomato before setting the whole thing back in the basket. Holding a napkin in front of his mouth he said, “They seem more like wine and cheese on the veranda types.”

“What’s wrong with wine and cheese?” This was our second favorite girls’ night fare.

“I didn’t say there’s anything wrong with it. Just that it isn’t tacos out of a basket, you know?”

He’d met three of them for less than an hour, and had yet to be in the same room with Becca. Implying they were too uppity for Rosalie’s Bodega ticked me off.

“You don’t know anything about my friends, so don’t make assumptions about them.”

Calvin went for another chip. “There’s no need to get mad.”

Maybe he didn’t defend his friends, but I did. “There is when you insult the people I care about. Or is it that anyone who’s friends with me must be too stuck up for this part of town? Ignoring the fact that one of them is ecstatic to be getting married practically on your street.”

After a silent pause, he shook his head. “You’re right. I shouldn’t make assumptions about people. But, uh, what did you tell Darnell when he suggested you hire me to renovate the house?”

“I told him no, and you know why. We talked about this already.”

“You didn’t just tell him no, though. You didn’t believe I was qualified to do the work.”

Darnell needed to learn to keep his mouth shut. “I didn’t know how much experience you had.”

Lips pursed, he tilted his head. “So you assumed that I didn’t have the know-how. Even after he told you I’d flipped other houses, including Hickamore House.”

Jaw tight, I said, “Yes.”

“Then it looks like we both need to stop making assumptions.” He went back to his tacos, clearly content that the conversation was over.

His calm logic only made me more annoyed. Who fought like this? All civilized and rational. It wasn’t normal.

“Do you ever get mad about anything?” I asked.

Unfazed by the question, he licked salsa off his thumb and I nearly lost focus. “Yeah, but only when I have a good reason.”

I had to know. “What’s a good reason?”

He wiped his hands on a napkin and looked off into the distance. “If someone threatens or harms the people I care about.”

I waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t. “That’s it?”

“That’s the only reason I can think of.”

“What about all the injustice in the world? Doesn’t it bother you?”

“Something bothering me and me getting mad about it are two different things. I’m not blind. I see the world for what it is, and I affect change the best way I know how. I work to improve my little corner of it, and to make things better for the people around me. That might not seem like much, but it’s the only way I know how to be.”

The man truly was rational to the core. Realistic, yet hopeful. Surrounded by struggle, yet still sweetly optimistic. How did anyone endure what he had and end up so…nice?

Returning my attention to the food, I shook my head. “You’re an enigma, my friend. A carpenter yogi wrapped in a pair of magical overalls. Someone should study you to get answers for the rest of us.”

Calvin chuckled. “There’s nothing special about me.”

On this, we could not agree. “Not true. I’d say you’re quite special.”

Sappiness entered my body and for once I didn’t push it away. When he met my gaze, soft smile curling his full lips, something slid into place. The feeling scared me, but instead of running out the door, which would have been standard operation for me in the past, I stayed put.

As he’d said earlier, I was right where I needed to be.