Page 24 of Romancing the Rumrunner
Apparently, Tony was a better actor than Jessie gave him credit for, because by the time she came out of the dressing room, Mrs. Finch was flushed and pink as a schoolgirl, gazing up at Tony with a goofy grin that Jessie had never seen on the woman’s face.
He was laying a drab brown frock on the counter that looked like it belonged more around a pile of potatoes than on a woman, but Mrs. Finch was beaming with pride at the wonderfully sensible dress she’d found for Tony’s “sister.”
Tony thanked her again and bent to kiss her hand. Mrs. Finch flushed bright pink and hurried over to give Jessie a parting hug. “Now, my dear, you don’t be a stranger, you hear. I’ll be sure to drop in on you more frequently, make sure all is well.”
“Oh, Mrs. Finch, that’s very kind, but it isn’t necessary. I’m doing quite well, I assure you.”
“Oh tosh, it’ll be my pleasure. And it’s the least I can do.”
She hurried out with a wave at both of them.
Jessie turned to Tony, her eyebrow raised. But before she could say anything, Tony took the dress from her and beamed. “I’ll just go settle the bill.”
Jessie opened her mouth, but for the life of her couldn’t scrape together two words.
A moment later, Tony returned and held out his arm. “The valet is bringing the car around. Shall we?”
Jessie tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. “You’re a very accomplished actor, Mr. Solomon.”
He shrugged. “I can be, I suppose. If the occasion calls for it.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
He glanced at her, his brow slightly furrowed. But before he could answer, the valet pulled up in the car.
Tony opened the door for Jessie and she slid across the leather seats. She was grateful he’d been able to rescue her from Mrs. Finch. But no doubt about it, the man could spin a tale and had no qualms about doing it. She’d have to keep a very close eye on the multi-talented Mr. Solomon.
Chapter Nine
Jessie rushed into her office at The Red Phoenix, her arms so laden with boxes she could barely push aside the bookcase that hid her secret entrance into the club. A knock sounded on the door to her office just as she entered. She dumped the boxes on the floor, shoved the bookcase back into place, and went to answer the door.
Joe stood there, patiently waiting with his hat in his hand.
“Joe, I’m so sorry. Come in.”
Joe followed her in, sitting in the chair in front of her desk. Jessie slumped into her own chair and laid her head on the desk. Joe waited patiently until Jessie sat up, rubbing her eyes.
“You’re working too hard. You need to let me help you more and not just at the shop. I can do more here,” Joe said, his kind voice reminding her of her father. Though when she opened her eyes to look at him, the resemblance disappeared.
Her father had been tall, thin, and very bald. Joe on the other hand, still sported a full head of silver-tinged black hair, and was built like a Buddha idol Jessie had once seen. He wasn’t much taller than Jessie herself, but what he lacked in height, he more than made up for in girth.
“You do too much for me already.”
Joe shook his head. “It’s not right, you working yourself to the bone to pay off your daddy’s debt. Your daddy’s dead and gone. His debt should have gone with him.”
Jessie gave him a tired smile. “I agree. But Willie, unfortunately, does not.”
“That Willie is an evil man.”
“Again, I agree. But he loaned my father the money when he needed it and he certainly doesn’t care that he died. He wants his money. And since the shop still isn’t pulling in enough to keep it runningandpay the debt…well, let’s just be thankful I found the stash of gin so I could open this place,” she said.
“Don’t we have enough yet? Business has been good, here and at the shop.”
“It has been. Very good. But if we were to close The Red Phoenix now, I’m not sure the shop is stable enough to keep running just yet. Not in addition to paying off the rest of the debt.”
She didn’t add that she couldn’t bear the thought of having to let Joe go if she couldn’t keep their finances going. He’d come to work at the shop when Jessie had been about twelve or so, and when her dad had died Joe had stayed on to help Jessie run things. Without him, the shop would have gone under long ago and she couldn’t let him down now.
Joe frowned slightly. “You know you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be all right, even if you weren’t able to keep me on.”
