Page 19 of Fixed Up Ever After
“So I guess we can start here. I want a small coffee area for my patrons. Nothing too fancy, but a quiet place to read and enjoy their drinks,” Lola began, showing off the pitiful counter area. It wasn’t much to look at now, but in time it would be a cozy oasis for readers.
She then led Javi around. Once she started talking about Phoenix Books, she couldn’t stop. She wanted everyone to see the vision she had. She told him how she wanted custom-built bookcases, all complete with LED lights built in to add an extra layer of pizzazz. She did not care how extra it was and that it did not serve any other purpose besides pleasing her; she wanted it.
She also wanted to rip up the floors and put in sturdy wood panels. The current wood flooring was decent, but it was long overdue for a face-lift. Along with updating the various lights around the room. Was a chandelier necessary to have in the center of the store? Absolutely not and that made her want it all the more.
Then there were small electrical and water issues she wanted to make sure they addressed before opening. Lola did not want any surprises happening on reopening day.
By the time she finished showing him around, an hour had passed and her throat was dry from overuse. She desperately wished she didn’t forget her bejeweled tumbler on her kitchen table.
Once they arrived back at the makeshift cafe area, Lola finally turned to Javi who had remained silent throughout the journey, only speaking up to ask the occasional question or to clarify her vision.
“So,” Lola rocked on her heels, trying to hide her nervousness. She didn’t know if she could take more bad news. She didn't mind a long time for construction, she just didn’t like the waitlist she was put on or the flat-out refusal because she was too needy. “Do you think you can do it? What would the timeline be?”
Lola all but held her breath, watching Javi’s face with the eye of a detective on his final case. She noticed the way he scrunched his lips to the side while he was deep in thought and the way his eyes bounced across the room, taking every one of her demands in.
“Well…” he started and stopped.
That one word alone made Lola’s stomach drop. Javi was about to turn her down. She braced herself for the hurt and rejection that would surely follow.
CHAPTER12
Javi
When Lola spoke about her store, her entire demeanor changed. She exuded confidence and Javi easily sensed the budding small business owner within her. She would be a force to be reckoned with and Javi pitied the bastards who stood in her way.
He didn’t speak much during the tour. He was far too enamored with her to do much talking and any questions he had were usually answered with her next sentence. He understood why certain contractors would shy away from taking a job like this. It was time-consuming and relied heavily on attention to small details. There was a fair amount of electrical work to be done too, and finding an electrician with open availability was as easy as finding a unicorn in the wild.
Luckily for Lola, Javi was licensed and had a hardworking group he trusted to call upon when he needed the extra hands. Which he would. He couldn’t do the entire makeover by himself. There were many moving pieces involved and Javi wanted to give Lola what she wanted.
Except what she wanted would come at a price. A steep fucking price.
He didn’t want to let her down. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet like an excited child about to open their birthday present.
“Well…” he started and that single word wiped the smile off her face. He instantly wanted to take it back, but he didn’t want to lie to her either. “This is going to cost you a lot.”
The smallest glimmer shimmered in her eyes once again and she perked up at the news. “Okay, cost I can do. That’s not a problem.”
“It’s going to be a lot, Lola.”
“And like I said, Javi, that’s not going to be a problem.”
Damn. What was it like to be so confident in your financial well-being to not even blink when a contractor said a renovation is going to cost you? Good for her for living comfortably, but a small nasty part of him envied her nonchalance.
What did it feel like not having to wonder or stress about paying next month's bills? Or being able to afford new toys for his daughter without having to buy them secondhand? He knew they were lucky to have a sturdy roof over their head and hot meals on the table, but he often wished he could splurge just a little bit.
“I’m more curious about the timeline. How long do I have to wait for you to get started and how long will the reno take? Oh, I should probably also know if you're taking the job.” Lola bit her lip, preparing for his answer.
He wanted to suck her lip into his mouth and ease her worry. To pull her into his arms and feel the warmth of her curves against his body. He wanted a lot of things he couldn’t—and shouldn’t—have.
“A project like this will take me around four to six weeks with my full team. If you are willing to work with me on unusual hours, I can start as early as next week.” Seeing as how this job would be the first he took on independently, he would have to work around his crew’s hours until he could figure out the times that worked best for everyone. Yet, he could still start work on getting the ball rolling if she was willing to agree to later times.
Lola’s wide eyes and slightly agape mouth made him pause. She stared at him like she was seeing double. He had to look to his sides to make sure he didn’t spontaneously grow a third arm. Before he could ask her what was wrong, Lola threw herself at Javi, wrapping her arms around his torso and burying her head into his chest.
He swayed from the sudden impact but soon righted himself. His body acted on instinct as he wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her flush against his skin. He rested his head atop hers, taking in the sweet floral smell of her shampoo. It fit her.
The way he held on to her, the position of his chin atop her head, and the way that neither of them seemed ready to let go, was far from the professional demeanor he promised to have. But then he heard them talking about their night together and hearing how amazing it was for her, sent pangs of longing through his body. He felt the same way and it was good to know it hadn't been one-sided.
Javi knew he should let go. He had been holding on to her for too long, but it wasn’t as if she was in a hurry to pull back either. It was like she needed this hug as much as he did.
