Page 94 of Hollywood

I shook my head. I didn’t want to take advantage of the spirit of an employee discount. It wasn’t designed to accommodate large orders that would go to another business. It was tantamount to stealing. As much as I wanted to help Dad out, I just couldn’t do it. This job was too important. I respected Ken. Liked him, even. I could see myself working here for a long time.

“It’s fine, Ken. I was just thinking about that garden and getting a little ahead of myself.”

He chuckled. “All right, then. The fifteen percent offer stands, so long as you don’t order the whole store.”

I laughed with him. “Thanks.”

“Helena is leaving early tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? What time?”

He rubbed at his jaw. “Tex, I hope you don’t mind, but she really doesn’t want to work past nine anymore. She says there’s not enough work for two people. If you disagree…”

Damn. Therewasenough work. More than enough. But Helena didn’t do her share even when she was here.

“I can handle it.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “She ducked out early last night too. It’s fine.”

Ken frowned. “Well, she didn’t tell me that.”

“I don’t mean to cause any problems, Ken. If she doesn’t want to be here, she’s not going to be helpful, anyway.” I met his gaze squarely, and he seemed to understand what I was saying.

“All right, Tex. But at this rate, I’m going to have to promote you soon.”

I smiled. “As long as I can stay on nights.”

“Why would you want to stay on nights? Not that I’m complaining. It’s tough to find someone who wants a shift like this.”

“I watch Ruby during the day. Her dad works at the barbershop.”

“Oh, no kidding? That young guy they call Hollywood?”

“That’s the one,” I said, stomach flipping. It hadn’t occurred to me that Ken would know Holly. I sometimes forgot how small Riverton was. Would he realize that Hollywood wasn’t straight and that maybe I wasn’t either? Unease slithered through me. Was I really still worried about this bullshit?

“He’s a nice fella. Real friendly.” Ken ran a hand through his thick head of silver hair. “Clint does my cuts, though. Before that, his daddy did them. River Town Barber is a family business too. Until now, anyway.” He sighed. “Kidsthese days. They want to go out and do their own thing. They don’t seem to care about what we’ve built.”

“Does Clint have kids?”

“Er, no. But my son and daughter wanted nothing to do with the greenhouse.” He clapped my arm. “Good thing we have folks like you and Hollywood.”

“Ex-cons to the rescue,” I said.

Ken had himself a good laugh over that, then excused himself to head home to Caroline’s pork ribs. Maybe I should ask for a few recipes. My stovetop pastas and stir-fries were already getting a little boring.

Once the store was locked down, I went through my usual routines of checking on plant health, trimming and deadheading, and returning misplaced inventory. Customers were the worst about picking up things, carrying them around, then setting them down somewhere they didn’t belong.

Helena took off the second the clock hit nine.

Just after ten, my phone buzzed with a text from my dad.

Dad:

Pulling up in the truck in five minutes. Meet me at the loading dock.

Shit. I told him I’d ask about the discount, not that it was a done deal!