Brad lowered his voice. “I don’t think the house is the only thing he’s interested in touching up.”
“Brad,”she hissed, gesturing toward the customers. “And wipe that smirk off your face.”
Unfazed, Brad plowed ahead. “Are you really going to deny it? I know you said the two of you went way back, but that guy is harboring a serious schoolboy crush.”
Lucy joined them at the register. “Crush?” Quiet as she was, Lucy was still a teen with big ears. The bell jangled over the door as Luke came in. “Oh. Your miracle worker.”
“Not you, too.”
“You have to admit, he’s textbook leading man material,” Brad whispered. “And we are standing by the romance section.”
This only delighted Lucy, who whisked a copy of Emily Henry’sFunny Storyfrom the display.
“You’re both insufferable.” Leah did not stick around to watch them fist-bump.
She hadneverthought of him like that, not then or now. And he’d certainly given her no sense of any lingering interest since he’d started working with her. But as she followed him back to the parlor room to take measurements, she couldn’t deny the obvious. Perhaps hewastextbook handsome, or whatever it was Brad had said.
When she closed the door behind the last customer, it was just after six o’clock. Besides Brad and Lucy, Luke was the only one still there. “Do you need me for anything else?” Lucy asked.
It was Friday night. Leah supposed she had friends and weekend plans waiting for her. “You came in early today,” Leah said appreciatively. “Get out of here and go have some fun.”
Clearly she’d misunderstood, because Lucy’s expression fell. “There are still some boxes of new inventory I didn’t unpack yet,” Lucy said.
For some reason, Lucy did not want to go home. Leah made a mental note of it, but she could barely afford payroll as it was. Besides, she wanted to wrap up and go home. It had been an exhausting first week.
“Thanks, but we can tackle those tomorrow,” Leah told her.
Leah watched her gather her things and head out. She wasgrowing fond of Lucy, and also a little concerned. It felt strange that she didn’t know that much more about her now than she did the day she’d hired her. Unlike Brad, who was vocal about everything from admiring a pair of shoes a woman wore the other day to lamenting their favorite apricot chicken salad being taken off the menu at Chatham Perk, Lucy rarely spoke unless spoken to.
She found Brad and Luke in the parlor room, measuring the walls in preparation for new craft storage. “Brad, feel free to get out of here,” she said.
Unlike Lucy, he looked delighted to hear this. “Good, I’ve got a date.”
Luke glanced over his shoulder but kept working. Leah, however, was not going to pass this opportunity up, even with Luke standing there. “Really?” She sidled up closer to Brad. “Anyone I might know?”
“Remember the guy who came in the other day with the navy and red lobster sweater?”
Leah did remember. The man was probably in his thirties, preppy in that predictable Cape vacationer manner, and handsome. “Yes, you admired his sweater.”
“I lied. It was hideous.” Brad broke into a wistful smile. “But he wasn’t.”
“How did it turn into a date?”
“There was small talk about Ina Garten’s new memoir. Which led to an inquiry about local restaurants. I recommended the Impudent Oyster. He asked if I would join him.”
“Brad!” Leah punched him playfully in the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m telling you now. Anyway, I have to go home and get ready. We’re meeting at eight.”
Leah did not bring up his grandmother, and neither did Brad. Instead she said, “Have a great time on your date.”
“Hotdate,” he said, as he hurried out, leaving her alone with Luke.
Leah wandered around the room as Luke finished his measurements, picturing how she’d arrange the space. Outside the windows, the light was shifting from gold to pink.
“So, no hot date foryoutonight?” The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself. “I’m just joking,” she rushed to add.
Luke looked up from where he was kneeling on the floor marking points along the wall with a pencil, then back down at his work. “No.” Then, “That would be tomorrow night.”
