“I got a surprise for you. Get your ass out of bed.”
She glared even harder. I didn’t know that was possible, but she managed.
“What surprise?”
“Won’t be a surprise if I tell you. So get your pretty ass out of bed and come downstairs. I’ll make some coffee.”
She grunted and threw a pillow at me. I laughed, caught it, and tossed it on the ground.
I left her to wake up and followed through on my part of the bargain. I got the coffee going then made myself breakfast. I heard the shower run and she came down ten minutes later wearing jeans and a torn old Star Wars t-shirt she probably got off eBay.
“Why did you wake me up? I was having a great dream.” She poured coffee into the biggest mug I owned and drank it black.
“Yeah? Did it involve you and me on a hammock next to the ocean at sunset?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “Not even close.”
“Right. Sorry. More like you locked in my basement sex dungeon getting your body—”
“Not a sex dream.” She sighed and closed her eyes like she was tired of my shit already. And she probably was. Couldn’t blame her. I was relentless. And funny as hell.
“I got something better than a good dream.”
“I don’t know. I was flying in this one.”
“Well I can’t make you fly, but come on, drink your coffee and get in a better mood. We’re leaving in five.”
“Leaving for where?”
“Your surprise. Stop trying to get me to ruin it.” I headed into the other room and gave her a few minutes. She ate a yogurt and grudgingly followed me out to the car.
I didn’t talk on the way over. I let her stew a little bit. She leaned back in the passenger seat and a shaft of sunlight played on her face. I kept glancing at her, at the way the light made her skin glow and reflected off her pink lips. She was beautiful in the sort of way that snuck up on you—anyone could see it, if they went looking, but sooner or later it appeared whether you wanted to find it or not. She was the decoration on top of a wedding cake, the tile backsplash mosaic in a Roman villa. Gorgeous, functional, delicious.
She realized where we were going when I turned onto South Street. She didn’t say anything though, only sat up straight and peered out the window with obvious excitement. I barely managed not to smile.
I pulled the car up out front of her shop. The big steel shutters were pulled down. She frowned a little, head cocked. “I don’t remember those.”
“I added a few things.”
“They look intense.”
“They are.” I got out of the car and walked over to them. She followed and watched as I entered a code into a number pad set in the wall. The shutters slowly rolled up, revealing the front door—and the refurbished place inside.
She took a sharp breath and shoved past me.
I grinned as she looked around. It was barren, but I got the bones in place. The floors were all brand new, but I didn’t skimp on the materials. I had custom shelves built that matched her old shelves, except the wood matched the floor. Her washing machine counter got burned to shit during the fire and had to be tossed, but I had a new version built out of old vintage ovens in teal and green and orange.
I had to admit, it looked fucking awesome in there.
“I can’t believe this.” Her voice was soft as she turned and stared at me. “I didn’t think it’d be done this fast.”
“I put more guys on it.”
“But why? I mean, why rush? You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to. We need a place for you to work, right?”
“Yeah, but—”
“You’re not going to miss Sander, are you?”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Not at all. Well, okay, maybe a little.”
“We’ll bring him along if you want.”
“No, that’s okay.” She turned and walked to the counter, running her hand over it.
I had to admit, it felt good to see her like that. I didn’t expect to get such a rush of joy from seeing her smile, but god damn did it feel good to make her feel good. It wasn’t something I was used to.
I was the kind of man who took. I lived my life like that, taking what I needed, and I only gave back when it benefitted me the most. I paid my guys well and spread the loot around, but mostly because I wanted to keep them happy and loyal, not out of the kindness of my heart.
This was different. I didn’t need to finish this place so fast, and I didn’t need to make it look so good. I did it because I wanted to make her happy and for no other reason.
Fuck, maybe I was going soft.
“Thank you.” She grinned at me, shaking her head. “Seriously, Owain. Thank you.”
“You have some work to do still. Got to get furniture and start stocking the walls again. But, yeah, you’re welcome.”
“When can I start?”
“Soon. You’ll have to keep going to the bodega, but you can start ordering whatever you need.”
She paused, fingers sliding along the counter. “I don’t have money.”
“I’ll give you an advance on what you’ll earn from the pills. Does that work?”
She was quiet for a long moment. I thought she might snap at me, but then she looked up and I saw a strange, probing look in her eyes.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Lots of reasons. Mostly it’s my fault this place got fucked to begin with.”
“That’s very true.”
“So I’m making it right, at least.”
She chewed her lip and nodded. “Yeah, you are. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How does half a million sound? That enough to get you going?”
She almost choked on her words. “Half a million?”
“I can do more, if—”
“No, no, god no. That’s more than plenty. I got started on way less last time.”
“Good.” I
