Chapter 18 #2
“Did you have a good day, dear?” Paul asked with a smile and eye roll.
“It was positively awesome.”
“Sorry you got hit with a pile of shit on your first official day. I’ve been avoiding the voice mail for a while now.”
“No, really?” Jenny said, grinning. “I never would’ve guessed that.”
“You were a very good sport, and I greatly appreciate it.”
“No problem. But you offer hazardous duty pay, right?”
“Does beer count as hazardous duty pay?”
“Tonight it does.”
“Stand by.” Paul went out to the greenhouse and returned with two cold bottles. He opened them and handed one to Jenny. “Here’s to shit days.”
“I’ll drink to that. So you’ve got a secret stash, huh?”
“Shhh, the college kids haven’t found it yet.” He walked her through the procedure for closing the store, accounting for the money and preparing for the next morning.
At six-thirty, Alex came in looking filthy and worn out and annoyed to find her alone in the store with his brother, or at least that was how it seemed to her.
“What’re you still doing here?” Alex asked her.
“Finishing a couple of things.”
“Let her go home, Paul. She’s got plans.”
“We’re almost done.”
“She’s done now.”
As the brothers engaged in a visual standoff, Jenny held up her hands, hoping to diffuse the tension. “Alex, go take a shower. Paul, finish your sentence, and then I’ll go home.”
“It’s okay,” Paul said. “He’s right. It’ll keep until the morning. Thanks again for everything today. You moved mountains, and I appreciate it.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be shocked if you show up.”
“I’ll be here just so I can shock you.”
Paul smiled and downed the rest of his beer. “I’ll look forward to that.”
To Alex, Jenny said, “I’ll be ready at seven.”
His face set in an angry-looking expression, he nodded but didn’t say anything. He kept his gaze fixed firmly on his brother.
As she drove out of the parking lot, thinking about the stormy way he’d looked at his brother, she hoped she hadn’t done more harm than good.
“What the hell was that all about?” Alex asked Paul the minute they were alone.
“What was what about?”
“You and Jenny and a cozy after-work beverage while you breathe down her neck.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? We were working! And if you’ll recall, it was your big idea for her to work here. Am I not allowed to talk to her because you’re banging her on the side?”
Alex saw red and moved before he took a moment to consider what he was about to do. He grabbed his brother by the T-shirt and jacked him up against the wall, smashing two vases in the process.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Paul asked as he twisted his way out of Alex’s grasp. The bastard was a lot stronger than he used to be.
“She is mine. You got me? Mine.”
“I never said otherwise! You’ve lost your mind if you think there was anything more to what you saw than two colleagues enjoying a beer after a particularly hideous day.”
“You were standing right next to her.”
“Because I was helping her with the fucking computer, you asshole.”
“That’s not how it looked to me.”
“Are you listening to how ridiculous you sound? I never laid a hand on her, and I wouldn’t, because I know you’re into her.” Paul ran both hands through his hair. “I don’t need this shit after the day I’ve had. You can take your accusations and go straight to hell.”
Oblivious to the mess they’d made with their brief altercation, Paul headed for the door.
“Wait,” Alex said.
Paul slowed, but he didn’t stop.
“Paul, wait.”
His brother stopped at the door but kept his back to Alex.
“I’m sorry. I was out of line. I saw you standing next to her, joking around and drinking beers, and I fucking lost it. I should’ve known you’d never do that to me.”
“You’re goddamned right I wouldn’t.”
“I’m really sorry,” Alex said again, hoping this time his brother would believe him.
Paul turned to face him. “So you’re in love with her, huh?”
Alex felt like his brother had gut-punched him. “No, it’s not that.”
“Isn’t it?”
Alex sagged against the counter. “I don’t know. It might be.”
Paul, that bastard, cracked up laughing. “You’re such a jackass, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know. I already said I was sorry. Twice.”
“For what it’s worth, I think she’s awesome. You should’ve seen what she got done around here in one day. It’s more than Sharon did in two months.”
“I’m not surprised.” Alex glanced at his watch. “I’m supposed to pick her up in like twenty minutes. Are you going to be home tonight? I should’ve checked with you before now.”
“Yeah, I’m home. No worries.”
“I owe you for all the time I’ve been spending with her.”
Paul waved him off. “No, you don’t. I’d never begrudge you the chance for some happiness in the midst of all the chaos. Just don’t forget we’ve got that meeting with Hope tomorrow at noon.”
“I haven’t forgotten. You’re meeting her boat?”
“Yeah.” Paul straightened out of the slouch he’d slipped into as he leaned against the door. “Oh my God, I almost forgot. The cops found Sharon and got the password. You’ll never guess what it was.”
“Do I want to hear this?”
Paul laughed—hard. “Probably not as much as I want to tell you. It’s AlexMartinezIsADick.”
Alex tossed his head back and laughed. “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”
“Nope, not kidding. I only wish I’d thought to try that. Should’ve been my first attempt.”
“You’re enjoying this a little too much.”
“I gotta get my jollies where I can.”
“Glad I was able to help.” Alex went behind the desk, grabbed a broom from the corner and started sweeping up the broken glass. He couldn’t believe the way he’d reacted to seeing Paul alone with Jenny.
“Hey, Al?”
“Yeah?”
“If you love this girl, don’t let her get away. She’s special.”
“I know.” While it pleased him that his brother could see that Jenny was special, it also infuriated him. However, he wisely kept that last part to himself. “Do you think it’s fair of me to be getting so involved with her?”
“What do you mean?”
“Mom and everything. It’s a lot to ask of anyone.”
“If she were the kind of person who couldn’t handle what you’ve got going on, you wouldn’t care about her as much as you do.”
“That’s true, but still…”