Page 44 of Not Looking
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. But thanks.”
“Let us know if something comes up,” Joey stated. “We’re here for you, even if we do have to deal with your lovesick scent.”
I chuckled. “You got it. Thanks, guys.”
Chapter 11 - Randy
~August~
Ilet out a long breath and stretched. My back let out several pops, and I hoped that the customer that had just left my booth didn’t hear.
“A pen and two trivets,” Kerry said. “Not bad.”
I nodded. “She was eyeing a charcuterie set as well. Hopefully, she decides to come back and get one.”
“Do you need a bathroom break?” he asked. “I can man the booth if you need to duck out.”
I turned to him and shook my head. “I’m good, thanks. What about you?”
“I could stretch my legs,” he replied with a chuckle. “And I don’t know how much longer I can smell that barbecue without trying some.”
“Pregnancy cravings?” I teased.
He blushed. “About that…”
“Really?” I asked edging closer. “I thought you said it had been too soon after your last heat, so you were still trying.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I must have taken the test too soon, or something. It was negative the first time, but I tested again since we’d been trying… and…” He chuckled. “Went to the doctor yesterday, and they’re guessing it happened when we mated after all.”
“Congrats!”
He looked down and rested his fingers on his still-flat stomach. “Kind of hard to believe after all these years.”
“Yeah.” I laughed. “But I know you want it. We’ll need to celebrate later, but for now, let’s get you fed. Take some money and get us both lunch.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He opened the cash box and grabbed several bills. “Be back soon.”
I rounded the table and flopped onto a folding chair—glad that I’d invested in a pop-up canopy for some shade several years prior.
Summer art markets were a decent sales channel, but a pain in the ass as well. Luckily, I could usually count on Kerry to help out if he was in town, and Jessie if he was on a work trip.
I watched people stroll past—the grass flattening with every footstep.
The booth across from me sported what appeared to be stationary featuring hand-drawn art. Next to it on one side was somebody selling soaps and lotions, while on the other side was a woman featuring hand-made pottery.
I made a mental note to talk to the woman selling pottery before the market closed. She seemed to be doing steady business, and if we were going to be at another market together, I’d add some wall-mounted mug racks to my offerings.
Hell… the mugs were nice. Maybe I could trade a mug tree for her display for a couple. I didn’t make them often, but they weren’t hard. Solid base, a few nice branches, hanger bolts, wingnut, washers, threaded inserts, and some finish. They just didn’t sell well because cheap mug trees were so common.
I pulled out my phone and tapped my thoughts into my notes app so that I wouldn’t forget.
I was trying to remember if I’d seen any other vendors I might want to network with when Kerry breezed back in carrying two plastic bags from the barbecue truck.
“Oh my god,” I said as I got a whiff. “That smells amazing.”
He laughed. “I’m surprised you couldn’t smell it before.”
I shook my head. “Nope, but you’re probably sensitive to food smells.”
