Page 3 of Romancing the Rumrunner
Then again, she had no proof he was up to something. Maybe he was just inept and had forgotten. Better to be safe than sorry, though.
She smiled brightly and walked to the fish counter. “Our fish is always fresh, brought in first thing every morning. I’ve got a lovely fillet here, if it’s trout that you’re wanting. Shall I wrap it up for you?”
Tony’s brow furrowed in a slight frown but he quickly covered it with a smile. “That sounds great, thanks.”
Jessie weighed it, wrapped it and handed it across to him. “That’ll be thirty-two cents.”
Tony looked a bit surprised. Maybe he’d assumed she wouldn’t charge him for the fish since she hadn’t charged him for the chops. But since the most likely reason he’d asked about the fish was to find out when The Red Phoenix would be running, and since his reasons for that, being that he didn’t have the right pass code, were probably contrary to her business interests, well, he could pay for that big old fillet and be happy about it.
He slipped the money across to her with a smile that would have made a rabid dog roll over and purr like a kitten. “Your parents should have named you Rosie,” he said with a wink, gently running a finger down her flaming cheek. She jerked back, her mouth dropping open. He grinned again. “It was very nice to meet you, doll. Keep the change.”
“Likewise,” she managed to say, her unease at his bungled attempt to get information fading in the light of his unmitigated cheekiness and intoxicating smile.
She watched him walk out the door, leaning over the counter until she could no longer see him through the window. Staring at him was definitely better than a stick in the eye, but then her ex had been a looker too and all that had gotten her was brokenhearted and betrayed. No, if it was one thing her time with Mario had taught her, it was that the wrapping didn’t always match the package. She would never be so foolish again. Still, the handsome Mr. Solomon was up to something. So…she’d keep an eye on him, just in case. A dirty job, to be sure, but someone had to do it.
…
Tony left the butcher shop, irritation speeding his steps. Jameson waited impatiently for him in a small alleyway around the corner.
“Well, what did you find out?”
Tony tossed the wrapped fillet at him. “I found out that a fillet of trout will cost you thirty-two cents.”
Jameson tossed the fish to the ground. “Then you must have asked wrong.”
“I said exactly what you told me to say. It’s not my fault your information was incorrect.”
Jameson scowled and Tony turned to leave, his patience with his old colleague at an end.
“Solomon, wait. I might have another job for you.”
“I did what you asked me to, Jameson, and only as a professional courtesy. A one-time deal. We’re done here.”
He spun on his heel and rounded the corner. Jameson followed.
“Mr. Solomon!” Miss Harlan called out, hurrying toward him with his hat in her hand. Tony pulled up short and Jameson ducked back around the building. Jessica’s eyes flicked to the corner but came back to rest on him with no suspicion in her gaze as far as he could discern.
“Miss Harlan, what can I do for you?” he asked, taking her elbow and leading her away from the alleyway.
“You left your hat in my shop,” she said, holding it out for him.
“Ah, thank you.” He took it from her and placed it back on his head. “That was kind of you.”
She shrugged. “It will do more good on your head than on my countertop.”
He chuckled. They’d reached her shop door and he took her hand, kissing the back. “It was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Harlan.”
“Thank you, Mr. Solomon. Have a pleasant afternoon.”
He watched her disappear back into her shop and resisted the urge to follow her. If Jameson was interested in her, she was nothing but trouble. He should walk away and put her from his mind. But then, he’d never been able to resist trouble. He glanced back to see Jameson leaning against the building by the alleyway, watching him with a calculating smile. A hard knot of unease settled in Tony’s gut.
Jameson tipped his hat and disappeared back around the corner.
Chapter Two
When the bell over the shop tinkled just before closing time, Jessie looked up, half hoping the mouth-watering Mr. Solomon had decided to come back into her shop. Though she wasn’t sure what she’d do if itwashim. The man twisted her into knots and she didn’t even know him. And she was pretty sure he’d been having a nice little chat with her best pal Jameson in a not-at-all suspicious alleyway. Which meant Jamesonhadput him up to asking about the fish…which annoyed her to no end.
She needn’t have worried though. Instead of the handsome but confusing Mr. Solomon entering, it was the man who aggravated her much more.
