7. Ty
CHAPTER 7
TY
Kara is spiraling, but I won't let her drown.
The moment she finally falls asleep, her face still damp from tears, I ease away from her and pull my phone out. She'd probably be pissed if she knew what I was about to do, but that doesn't matter. I need to fix this. Before she breaks apart completely, I need to give her something solid to hold onto.
I step out of the bedroom, keeping the door cracked just in case she wakes up. My fingers hover over Ruby's number before I finally press call.
She picks up on the first ring. "Ty, you aren’t one for social calls. Is everything okay?"
"Need your help." My voice is rough with exhaustion and frustration. "Kara's losing the bookstore."
Silence stretches between us before Ruby sighs. "I heard. It's all over town. The landlord sold the building to some big-shot developer, and they're pushing her out."
My jaw tightens. "You got any leads on another place?"
"Not much left in town that's available, especially at what she was paying. But..." She pauses, and I hear the faint clink of her stirring a spoon in her coffee mug. "There is one place that might work. Bigger than her current shop, right across the street, but it needs some fixing up."
"I'll handle that."
Ruby chuckles. "I thought you might say that. Listen, I'll make some calls. The building owner is an old friend of mine, and I might be able to swing a deal on the rent."
"That'd mean everything to her and me."
"I know, sweetheart." Her voice softens. "I'll call you as soon as I know something."
Hanging up, I immediately fire off a text to Levi. He works in construction and is wanting to own his own construction company one day, so I know he'll take any side jobs he can get. Plus, he's my friend and so he will be willing to help.
Me: Got a project. Need your help.
Levi: You know I'm in. Can't wait to hear about it.
With that done, I slip back into Kara's room. She's curled into a ball, clutching the pillow like it's the only thing keeping her grounded. I settle beside her, careful not to wake her, and pull her close.
"We're going to fix this, Bookworm," I whisper against her hair. "I swear it."
The next morning, we head into town together. Kara looks exhausted with dark circles under her eyes, but there's a quiet determination there too. She's already thinking of ways to save her dream. I can see it.
I walk her to the bookstore door and we both pause.
"Want me to go in with you? I can help or just keep you company," I tell her, not ready to leave her yet.
"I think I will be okay. I have a lot of things to do. But I promise to call if I need you," she says with a forced smile.
It feels wrong walking away, but I do, and I head down to the tattoo shop. Stepping inside, I find Priest leaning against the front counter arms crossed. "Heard about the eviction."
I nod. "Yeah. It came out of nowhere."
He tilts his head toward the café across the street. "The old landlord was in there yesterday talking about the whole thing. Apparently the developer started to strong arm him. He kept saying he wasn’t ready to sell, but they kept upping the price. The developer paid twice what the value of the building was worth. The guy took it and said he was planning to retire in a few years anyway," Priest's lips curl in disgust.
"I don't think he realizes that those guys aren't in it to help Mustang Mountain," I say, while hoping there is a good side to it all.
“Nope, Apparently, it's the same developer that bought the Hot Springs, tried to buy Shane’s ranch, and sent that card to Atlas about it being the Riders last Christmas in Mustang Mountain,” Priest says.
Before I can reply, the bell over the door rings and we both turn to see who it is, assuming it's my first appointment.
My eyes go wide when I see Ruby walking through the door.
"Priest, I never thought I'd see the day I get to tattoo the mayor's wife," I say with a huge smile.
Ruby swats me playfully. "Hush, you. Ty, come talk to me."
She pulls me toward the back of the shop and lowers her voice. "I talked to my friend about the building. He's willing to let Kara move in and he’ll charge her the rent at the price she is paying now, but there's a catch."
There always is. "What's the catch?"
"The apartments upstairs need work. He wants to rent them out, but they need renovations. If you and your buddies can fix them up, he'll give Kara the space at a discount.”
"Who is this friend, Ruby?" I want to know because it all sounds too good to be true.
"Someone who wishes to remain under the radar and help a business he believes in. You have my word he is a good person, a local, and someone you can trust," she says.
I have faith in Ruby, and if she trusts this person, then I'm okay with it.
"What kind of work do the apartments need?" I ask.
"There are two of them. One was converted to an office and needs to be changed back. The kitchen and bath remain. But other than that, both have not been touched in over ten years. Paint, flooring, and updating, mostly," she says.
I don't even hesitate. "Done."
Ruby grins and hands me a set of keys. "Then you should be the one to tell her. Have her come by the Merc later to sign the paperwork."
Taking the keys, I grip them tight, and watch as Ruby walks away.
Without any hesitation, I pick up my phone and call Levi.
"Hey, I was just getting ready to call you. What is this project?" he asks.
"Renovating two apartments over one of the downtown stores. They haven't had any work done in a decade or more and the owner wants to rent them out. You in?"
"You know I am. When do we start?"
"After we move Kara's bookstore into the shop below the apartments," I say.
The line is quiet for a moment.
"I'm going to need just a bit more context," he says.
So, I fill him in on seeing the notice yesterday all the way to my talk with Ruby just now.
"I guess everything went well after you went after Kara?" he asks, and I can hear the smile on his face.
"Shit. I forgot to tell you, but yeah, it did." I can't help but grin big.
"Good. You can tell all about it while we work on moving books. I’ve got to go, but let me know when and where," he says before we hang up.
I check my watch. I've got twenty minutes before my first appointment.
"Hey Priest, I'll be right back."
He gives me a questioning look, but nods. Walking down the road, I get my first look at the store that will be the new bookshop. It's right across the street from where Kara is now. Not only is it bigger, but it has better parking and the historical charm that she loves.
Going around to the back, I climb up the stairs and peek into the apartments above. These look to be easy fixes. The weight that has been crushing me since we saw that eviction note finally lifts.
This is all going to work out, and I can't wait to tell Kara. But first I have a few appointments to get through.