little spicing up. Besides, think of the marketing possibilities.”
“Damn, Jesse.” She buried her face against his chest. “I don’t know about this. What if people react badly?”
“Not gonna happen. You’ve got some powerful friends in those gals you hang out with. They’ll take care of whatever comes up.”
“Are you mad at me for not telling you?”
He laughed. “Hell, no. I’m hoping you’ll make a whole slab of ribs just for me.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “Well, at least part of a chicken. Not that I think you need any help.”
“Nice to know.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Now get to work.”
“Wait, wait.” She stopped him as he turned to go back into the front of the store. “My friends think I should push up the opening of the store. I’m going to call Alfredo and see when I can get the first shipment of the rub and some of the sauce. The other merchandise will be here by the end of the week. I can pick up a couple of pieces of furniture for my coffee corner tomorrow or the next day. What I need is a certain date when you’ll be finished.”
He cupped one cheek, stroking his thumb over it. “For you, anything. I can put in some extra hours and have it ready by the end of the week. If you want to spend the weekend stocking the shelves, you can probably open Monday. I’ll bet Jinx would even get some flyers out for you. And the paper comes out again Friday.”
Open next Monday? Excitement coursed through her. Holy crap. It was really happening.
“Let’s do it. And thank you, Jesse. A million thank yous.”
His voice dropped and heat blazed in his eyes. “I’m sure I can find some interesting ways for you to thank me.”
The same heat consumed her as she prepared the chickens and put them in the oven to roast. She could think of a few ways too.
Jesse put down his hammer and stretched, working the kinks out of his back. Three long days of hard labor had really put a strain on his muscles, especially since he’d worked every night to meet the deadline. But it had been worth it. He looked around the front room of the store, pleased at what he saw. The counter and the shelves gleamed from the lacquer and the polish he’d used on them. Everything was made out of oak, and the spindles he’d carved and some other touches gave the place a real Texas feel.
Cyn had found some inexpensive framed prints to hang on the walls, some of them western scenes, others funny barbecue drawings. The back room was filled with stacks of cartons holding goods ready to be unpacked. Tomorrow, he’d put on the finishing touches and then give the place a good cleaning so Cyn could bring in the furniture for her cozy corner. And on Saturday, they were going to have a sticker-and-stock party. Her friends were coming to help her and Jesse planned to be here too.
All week, people had waited at the store for her samples to be passed out. He had finally taped butcher paper over the window to keep them from peering inside. It was for more than privacy. He wanted the finished look to be a surprise.
He checked his watch, surprised to realize it was nearly seven. He was ready to go home, shower and crack open a beer. Maybe he’d pick up a pizza on the way. Too bad Cyn couldn’t be here to share it with him. As soon as this store opened, he planned to make some changes in their arrangements. It would be time to move forward.
He had barely managed to put his tools away when he heard a knock at the back door. He frowned, wondering if Cyn had decided to surprise him and come back. But she was at the Lone Star Bar tonight with her friends.
When he opened the door, he was stunned to see Lisa standing there in the shortest shorts and tightest T-shirt he’d ever seen. In one hand, she held a paper sack, in the other, a six-pack of beer. Every muscle in his body tightened with dread.
“What’s up?”
She gave him a come-hither smile.
“A certain part of your anatomy, I hope.” She tried to push past
“Damn, Jesse.” She buried her face against his chest. “I don’t know about this. What if people react badly?”
“Not gonna happen. You’ve got some powerful friends in those gals you hang out with. They’ll take care of whatever comes up.”
“Are you mad at me for not telling you?”
He laughed. “Hell, no. I’m hoping you’ll make a whole slab of ribs just for me.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “Well, at least part of a chicken. Not that I think you need any help.”
“Nice to know.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Now get to work.”
“Wait, wait.” She stopped him as he turned to go back into the front of the store. “My friends think I should push up the opening of the store. I’m going to call Alfredo and see when I can get the first shipment of the rub and some of the sauce. The other merchandise will be here by the end of the week. I can pick up a couple of pieces of furniture for my coffee corner tomorrow or the next day. What I need is a certain date when you’ll be finished.”
He cupped one cheek, stroking his thumb over it. “For you, anything. I can put in some extra hours and have it ready by the end of the week. If you want to spend the weekend stocking the shelves, you can probably open Monday. I’ll bet Jinx would even get some flyers out for you. And the paper comes out again Friday.”
Open next Monday? Excitement coursed through her. Holy crap. It was really happening.
“Let’s do it. And thank you, Jesse. A million thank yous.”
His voice dropped and heat blazed in his eyes. “I’m sure I can find some interesting ways for you to thank me.”
The same heat consumed her as she prepared the chickens and put them in the oven to roast. She could think of a few ways too.
Jesse put down his hammer and stretched, working the kinks out of his back. Three long days of hard labor had really put a strain on his muscles, especially since he’d worked every night to meet the deadline. But it had been worth it. He looked around the front room of the store, pleased at what he saw. The counter and the shelves gleamed from the lacquer and the polish he’d used on them. Everything was made out of oak, and the spindles he’d carved and some other touches gave the place a real Texas feel.
Cyn had found some inexpensive framed prints to hang on the walls, some of them western scenes, others funny barbecue drawings. The back room was filled with stacks of cartons holding goods ready to be unpacked. Tomorrow, he’d put on the finishing touches and then give the place a good cleaning so Cyn could bring in the furniture for her cozy corner. And on Saturday, they were going to have a sticker-and-stock party. Her friends were coming to help her and Jesse planned to be here too.
All week, people had waited at the store for her samples to be passed out. He had finally taped butcher paper over the window to keep them from peering inside. It was for more than privacy. He wanted the finished look to be a surprise.
He checked his watch, surprised to realize it was nearly seven. He was ready to go home, shower and crack open a beer. Maybe he’d pick up a pizza on the way. Too bad Cyn couldn’t be here to share it with him. As soon as this store opened, he planned to make some changes in their arrangements. It would be time to move forward.
He had barely managed to put his tools away when he heard a knock at the back door. He frowned, wondering if Cyn had decided to surprise him and come back. But she was at the Lone Star Bar tonight with her friends.
When he opened the door, he was stunned to see Lisa standing there in the shortest shorts and tightest T-shirt he’d ever seen. In one hand, she held a paper sack, in the other, a six-pack of beer. Every muscle in his body tightened with dread.
“What’s up?”
She gave him a come-hither smile.
“A certain part of your anatomy, I hope.” She tried to push past
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