“Yes, but it still takes a few days.”
“It’s raining in here,” I stated again, in case he hadn’t noticed.
“I can get a tarp.”
“Not exactly going to keep the riffraff out.”
“That’s why stores have metal gates,” Luther pointed out, as if I were dense.
“That’s fine. But I have books in here that are worth up to five grand. If they get warped or damaged—”
“I’ll have my boys come down and put up some sheets of plywood!” Luther growled. “Happy?”
“I’ll be happy when I have a new window.”
I DIDN’Twant to spend the day cleaning up broken glass, wiping down and checking antiques that had gotten wet, and listening to the sexy voice of Frank Sinatra get drowned out by three of Luther’s construction guys nailing plywood over the empty window frame, but I did. And I wasn’t pleased about it. Leaving the shop for the night with suchbulletproofsecurity made me nervous.
Not that I could be blamed.
Explaining to Luther just how much my inventory was worth caused him to stay behind and personally oversee his workers.
I guess I should have been flattered.
But frankly, by the time I got home, kicked off my shoes, and dropped my coat on the floor while heading for the kitchen, I was tired. And cranky. I had a headache that was still in sync with the echo of hammers. I popped off the cap to a beer bottle and took a swig. I tugged a take-out menu free from under a fridge magnet, brought it closer to read, and took another sip.
I had gotten as far as sweet-and-sour chicken and was deciding over dumplings or fried rice as a too-greasy side dish when there was a knock at the door. I raised my head and listened. I heard a key push into the lock and the door get nudged open.
Thank Christ.
I stepped out of the kitchen. “Hey. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Calvin smiled as he shut and locked the door behind him. “Did you just get home?”
“Few minutes ago. I thought you couldn’t make it tonight?”
“Want me to go?” he countered.
“Don’t even try.”
Calvin tugged off his coat and hung it up. “How was your day?” he asked, walking across the room toward me. He took my face into his big hands, leaned down, and kissed my mouth.
“Better now,” I murmured, kissing him again. “Catch any bad guys?”
“Sure did.” Calvin threaded his fingers through my hair. “You okay?”
“Headache. I just listened to the Hammer Symphony in E Minor for the last hour.”
“Come again?”
“Someone broke one of my windows today.”
“You’re kidding.”
I shook my head. “Nope. Threw a brick through it. My landlord had some plywood put up. It’s really classy.”
Calvin moved his hands to squeeze my shoulders. “Sorry to hear that, baby.”
“It’s fine. Worse things have happened.” I tugged him down by his tie. “Come here. I’m not done with you yet.”
