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“I…” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out a long breath. “Grandma, I’m not an accountant. I have my own business to run—an important client wants to view half a dozen properties this week. I don’t have time to do this.”
Georgia Neves has been so demanding I’ve barely had time for anything else. We’ve already viewed a bunch of properties, and her list of wants and needs is getting longer every time.
“Well, make time.” My grandmother’s face is set in a hard glare, then her shoulders soften. “You know I can’t see half as well as I used to, Rudy. I need your help.”
I swallow past a lump in my throat, my stomach writhing with nerves. The IRS scares the hell out of me for no reason other than I know they could demand back taxes from my grandmother and ruin her, if their records show something different from ours.
But she’s asking for help, and my grandmother is nothing if not proud. The fact that she even admitted her eyesight is getting worse only hammers home the fact that she really, desperately needs me to help with this audit.
“I’m going to have to bring in a bookkeeper or an accountant to help, Grandma,” I finally say. “But I’ll pay for it. You don’t have to worry about it at all.”
My grandmother lets out a huff, then pats my cheek. “I knew I could count on you, Rudy.”
The bell above the door dingles, and Dorothy comes through. She stands just inside and looks down her nose at the stack of books.
My grandmother freezes beside me and lets out a low growl. “What are you doing here?”
Dorothy flicks a piece of lint off her shoulder and shrugs. “Haven’t seen you in over a week. As nice as it’s been to have a respite from you, I’ve been meaning to tell you I enjoyed your little outburst after the champagne tower incident. A bit savage, but entertaining.”
My grandmother studies Dorothy for a moment, then straightens. She lets out a little harrumph and shuffles to the front of the bookstore. She’s pleased. She wouldn’t admit it, obviously, but Dorothy just paid her the highest kind of compliment—wrapped up in an insult, of course.
“Did you hear about Victoria Cole?” Dorothy says in a sharp change of subject, thumbing through the nearest book.
“What, the messy divorce?” My grandmother makes her way behind the counter and sits up on the cushioned chair behind the till.
“She just took her ex-husband to court and got full custody of the kids. I was going to send a gift basket.” Dorothy’s voice is casual. “I was thinking she might enjoy some books, too.”
“She does love to read, and her little ones never miss Rudy’s story time.” My grandmother arches a brow, straightening a stack of papers next to the till.
Turning my head to hide my smile, I push the door marked “Staff Only” to make my way to the back room. My grandmother and Dorothy have an interesting relationship. Sometimes I think they enjoy taking out their pent-up aggression on each other, but they secretly enjoy each other’s company.
Alone in the back room, I stare at the door across from me marked “Storeroom,” and with a sigh, I march across the tight space and turn the knob.
The door moves about six inches before hitting the leg of an old chair. A wafting smell of must and mold billows out of the room and I groan, dropping my chin to my chest. I have all of six days to get these records organized. I need help.
The first call I make is to the accountant I use for my real estate business. There’s no answer, until a message clicks on telling me that he’s away for a month for vacation. I hang up the phone, knowing of one other tax professional who could help me.
But do I want to call her?
Lily and I left things open after the auction, but we haven’t spoken. I want to see her again, obviously, but I just don’t know…
Something tells me she’s going to pull away if I push too hard. The thing is, though, I’m desperate to talk to her. I don’t want to take things slowly. I want to be by her side, going to doctor’s appointments, figuring out how to fight her cancer right there with her. This protectiveness is unfamiliar, but it blazes through me unabated. I want to be the man by her side. I want her to lean on me.
I haven’t wanted a second date with a woman in years—but I want more than that with Lily. It makes no sense. Since I broke up with Tracey, I’ve made a point to avoid relationships. They’re nothing but trouble and heartache. But now, the thought of going on without Lily by my side makes me want to put a fist through the wall.
But Lily was clear; she doesn’t want anything serious with me.
Still, my grandmother needs my help.
Lily answers on the second ring. “Rudy,” she says in my ear. “Weren’t you supposed to wait for me to call?” There’s a smile in her voice that makes me wonder if I should have picked up the phone days ago. Was she waiting for me to reach out to her?
“I’m calling you on behalf of my grandmother,” I say, lips curling despite myself.
“Uh-oh,” she says. “Do I need to skip town? Am I in danger?”
I chuckle. “No. She’s being audited by the IRS, and she conveniently forgot to tell me about it for months. The agent is coming next week.”
“A field audit,” she says, then whistles.
