Charm This! Read online

  Tom always said the three Ps in landing a gig as a contractor were preparation, preparation and preparation. Rachel hadn’t made it easy for him though. She didn’t even have a website for the store. He’d been forced to comb through back issues of the town paper and ask around to get a better feel for the place than he had from his occasional window-shopping.

  “Come look,” she said, stepping out from behind the counter and leading the way to a velvet curtain covering the wall between her original shop and the property she’d bought next door.

  Jack was surprised how hard it was to ignore the hypnotic click of her bracelets dancing on her wrist as she moved gracefully toward the curtain.

  One of his brothers had told Jack that Rachel put some kind of spell on her rings - that’s why the people she sold them to always stayed together. At the time he had laughed it off. The idea of Rachel putting a spell on someone was ludicrous.

  But after five minutes alone with her, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

  3

  Rachel

  Rachel pulled back the thick velvet curtain to reveal the wasteland beyond.

  Fucking Richard Crool had ripped out everything recognizable from the old barbershop and now the room looked like something out of a superhero movie - after the villain had set off the city-wide bomb. The only thing that remained was the black and white checkerboard floor, which Rachel was fairly certain was made of asbestos tiles.

  “Wow,” Jack said. His voice was so deep and rusty.

  Rachel remembered him as a hunky kid with wide shoulders that belied his age.

  Ease off, Rachel. You need a crush right now like you need a hole in your head.

  She already had a hole in her store.

  This kid might be her only hope at fixing it on a budget. Crool had taken fifty percent up front.

  “Yeah, Crool was just fooling around in there ripping everything to pieces,” Rachel said. “I need someone who can turn this into the other half of a jewelry store.”

  “I’m your man,” Jack said.

  His voice was so certain, she turned back to see if he was being sarcastic.

  But he wasn’t. He winked at her, then stepped past her into the cavernous space.

  “What did you plan to do with this side?” he asked as he paced around the space, checking everything out.

  “Store up front, inventory in back, same as the other side,” she said.

  “That’s a shame,” Jack said, leaning over the far wall. “You’ve got plumbing here from the barber shop.”

  “Nah,” she said, “get rid of it.” He wasn’t going to convince her to spend more money.

  “No need for that,” he said. “I’ll just cap it off and cover it over. It’ll be on the site drawing in case you ever do want plumbing or you sell the property to someone who does.”

  “Sure,” she said, “sounds good.”

  “You know Crool actually did a good job with the demo in here,” Jack said. “I’ve got a mostly blank slate.”

  “There’s an apartment above,” Rachel told him. “Crool was supposed to do the roof. He ripped it off, never replaced it.”

  “I saw the tarp,” Jack said. “Hopefully that will hold for a few days until I can get supplies in. I’ll check it before I go.”

  “A few days?” Rachel echoed him, horrified. “No. This job can’t start until January, maybe February.”

  Jack winced.

  “What?” she spat, already exasperated.

  “I don’t mean to upset you, Rachel,” he said. “But I wouldn’t trust that tarp to hold through a winter storm. The roofing should be done sooner rather than later.”

  She could sense that he was telling the truth. Damn.

  “Is it noisy work?” If it wasn’t noisy, maybe she could live through it.

  “Yeah,” he admitted. “It’s noisy.”

  “Can you do it at night?”

  “We kind of have to see while we’re up there,” he said. “Besides, it’s loud. Your neighbors wouldn’t like it.”

  Oh.

  “Let me give it some thought,” she said.

  He bit his lip and nodded.

  She found herself fantasizing about biting his lip, running her hands up over those big shoulders.

  He smiled at her and she almost jumped.

  “Sorry, just thinking about my calendar,” she said, and then pretended to be brushing some lint off her skirt.

  “Well, let me get an idea of what you want up here and I can get you prices,” Jack said.

  “I guess I’ll have to go with new flooring throughout the store to get it to match,” she began. “Is that asbestos?”

  “It’s not asbestos, those tiles are generally nine by nine, these are twelve by twelve,” he said. “And don’t be so sure I can’t match the other flooring. That looks like heart of pine out there. I have a shed full of it down at the farm. Ethan lets me salvage it if there’s a reno after a fire and the owner doesn’t want it. Might be able to save you a little if we do it that way.”

  The farm. Jack was one of those Harkness kids.

  Rachel had fond memories of taking Grandpa there for apple picking every year. It was such a wholesome place, sweeter and kinder than the rest of the world.

  “That’s nice,” Rachel conceded. “Anything I can do to save a little is appreciated. I’m already over budget.”

  Jack stepped over the debris from where Crool had leveled a built-in.

  She felt the heat of his big body from across the inches that divided them. She was suddenly aware of his scent, and the tattoo peeking out from under his shirt collar.

  “Rachel,” he said, her name on his tongue sending a shiver down her spine. “Look, I’m going to level with you. This would be my first job on my own. I need a chance to prove myself and you need great work done on budget. I think this could work out for both of us.”

  Rachel nodded, not trusting her voice just yet.

  “Here’s my card,” he said, sliding a hand into his back pocket and handing over the little rectangle of paper.

  It was still warm from the close contact with his body.

  When his fingertips brushed hers, she felt another shiver of awareness dancing along her skin.

  “Call me,” he said gently. “I’ll bring you numbers on everything else as soon as I can, but call me right away about the roof. I can get a crew over here in a day or two and we’ll knock it out before anything happens to your property.”

  She was already losing herself in his dreamy hazel eyes.

  He wants a job, Rachel, she told herself sternly. He’s just being charming. Don’t lose your cool over him.

  She wrenched her eyes away from his.

  “Give me numbers when you have them,” she said crisply. “But you won’t be starting work until January.”

  There was a furrow in his brow, but he nodded. “As you wish,” he said lightly.

  That’s more like it.

  4

  Rachel

  Rachel decided to stay open a bit late to take advantage of the holiday shoppers. She told herself she wasn’t just trying to stay busy to avoid thinking about Jack Harkness.

  But it was hard not to think about him a little.

  She decided to organize the box of new Love Charms, so that when the next customer came in she’d be ready.

  She’d just gotten all the charms spread out on the floor behind the counter when the bells on the door rang.

  “Rach,” a familiar voice called.

  “Back here, Belinda,” Rachel yelled back, relieved it wasn’t a customer coming in during the one moment when she couldn’t actually help.

  A moment later the blonde head of her best friend appeared over the counter top.

  “What are you doing down there?” Belinda demanded. “Lose something?”

  She looked so funny gazing down suspiciously at her that Rachel couldn’t help laughing.

  “No,” Rachel said. “I’m just organizing the new Love Charms.”

&nb
sp; “Um, why are you doing it back there?”

  “They’re in demand and easy to steal.” Rachel shrugged. “If I did it on the counter and someone came in and I got distracted I could lose my shirt.”

  “Always trying to steal your lucky charms, eh?” Belinda teased as she came around the counter to join her.

  She was and always had been Rachel’s polar opposite in looks.

  Where Rachel was pale and dark-haired with a fashion sense that could perhaps be described as goth librarian, Belinda looked every bit the former cheerleader she was. She had blonde hair cascading down her back, blue eyes, a perpetual tan, and she always looked like she’d just come from the gym - usually because she had just come from the gym. Belinda was into ballroom dance and always training for some competition or other.

  In spite of their different interests and divergent fashion sense, they had bonded from the very first day of middle school over a shared love of comic books. Belinda’s parents were a bit taken aback when Rachel came home with her the first time. She looked like a vampire compared to Belinda and the rest of the clean-cut Smythes, but they welcomed her like she was part of the family. And the two women were still fast friends.

  “How was your day?” Belinda asked.

  “I sold a shit ton of these things,” Rachel said.

  “You really don’t like them, do you?”

  “Not really,” Rachel admitted. “Do you?”

  Belinda didn’t answer - she just shrugged and caressed the tiny boxes.

  Rachel grinned.

  “Go ahead,” she said. “Pick one. It’s on the house.”

  “Seriously?” Belinda’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Yeah, of course,” Rachel said. “I know the owner. She’d be cool with it.”

  “Awesome, thanks, Rach,” Belinda said, and began to look through the boxes at the different charms.

  “Guess who I saw today?” Rachel asked.

  “Who?” Belinda couldn’t be bothered to look up from her task.

  “Jack Harkness,” Rachel said.

  “Whoa,” Belinda came up for air. “He was so cute.”

  “I know, you always said that,” Rachel laughed.

  “He had a big time crush on you,” Belinda added.

  “You always said that, too, but I don’t think it’s true,” Rachel said.

  “Where did you see him?”

  “Here,” Rachel said.

  “No,” Belinda’s face fell. “Who was he with?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, when a guy comes into a jewelry store…” Belinda trailed off.

  “No, no,” Rachel said. “He came here professionally. I’m interviewing contractors.”

  “Oh wow,” Belinda nodded. “I was starting to think you were going to sell that place.” Her eyes darted to the hole in the wall leading to the shop next door.

  “No way,” Rachel said firmly.

  “I don’t even understand why you bought it in the first place,” Belinda mused.

  “I needed more space for inventory,” Rachel shrugged.

  But that wasn’t the real reason. The real reason was that Dulcie Blanco at the real estate firm in town had told her someone was looking at it for a vacuum cleaner repair and sales shop, and Rachel couldn’t abide by that. She hated the sound of vacuum cleaners, always had, and this place was her haven.

  “I guess,” Belinda said doubtfully. “Seems like your inventory fits in here just fine though. And didn’t you have someone offer to buy that place privately?”

  “Ugh, yes,” Rachel said. “Didn’t I tell you what happened?”

  Belinda shook her head.

  “The guy wanted to open a vape shop,” Rachel shuddered. “He said we should leave the hole in the wall so we could refer customers back and forth. Wanted me to change the name of my store to Everybody Must Get Stoned.”

  “Ha,” Belinda laughed. “What did you tell him?”

  “Are you kidding me? I told him to get out. What else was I going to tell him?”

  “So when is Jack starting the work?”

  “Not until after the holidays,” Rachel said. “If I hire him. He hasn’t even given me a price yet.”

  “Whatever he tells you just agree to it,” Belinda advised. “He’s such a nice guy. He won’t screw you.”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted him to do?” Rachel teased, waggling her eyebrows.

  “Haha,” Belinda said mirthlessly. “Seriously though, you should give him a shot.”

  “At the job, or at me?”

  “Both, actually,” Belinda smiled.

  “Meh, he’s a Harkness,” Rachel said. “They’re all obsessed with family. I couldn’t get involved with a guy like that.”

  She didn’t say it out loud, but Belinda would know what she was thinking.

  Rachel couldn’t have children.

  She’d known since high school. The idea was heartbreaking enough that she didn’t like to think or talk about it. She preferred to tell herself she was avoiding relationships because she loved her work and her quiet time. Which wasn’t a total lie.

  “You know you have that backwards, right?” Belinda sounded incredulous. “Every one of those children is a foster kid. None of them are Kate’s biological children.”

  “All the more reason he’ll want kids of his own,” Rachel said.

  “They will be his own,” Belinda retorted. “Are you seriously telling me you don’t think of the Harkness kids as a real family?”

  “No,” Rachel said immediately. “God, no, that’s not what I meant. I just… I guess I’m just an asshole, and I don’t want to get involved with him - with anyone. I like my peace and quiet.”

  “You just want to spend all your time with me,” Belinda teased.

  “Guess so.” Rachel winked, but Belinda was already digging through the charms again.

  “Oh, yeah, this is it,” Belinda said to the little box in her hands.

  “Which one?”

  Belinda held it up triumphantly.

  Rachel leaned in. The little glass charm was shaped like a heart. Inside it was a tiny hammer.

  “It’s for you,” Belinda said, barely suppressing her laughter.

  “I guess the heart is because you love me, and the hammer signifies your incredible subtlety?” Rachel teased.

  “No, you moron,” Belinda said. “It’s you letting handyman Jack into your cold, glassy heart.”

  “Thank you,” Rachel said with great dignity, accepting the charm from Belinda. “That’s a very generous gift.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Belinda said, blinking with false modesty. “There’s plenty more where that came from, if you play your cards right.”

  “Seriously though, pick something for yourself and get out of here,” Rachel said. “I know Pete’s waiting for you.”

  Belinda’s face turned pink at the mention of her boyfriend. Rachel liked to take a little credit for Belinda’s interest in the landscaper who was a bad boy musician by night. Without Rachel’s punk influence Belinda might not have seen past his tough exterior to the teddy bear within. They were a great couple.

  “I can’t decide. I’ll come back tomorrow,” Belinda promised. “Need any help getting these put away?”

  “Nah, I’m good,” Rachel said. “Go on.”

  It wasn’t until the bells on the door stopped jingling and her friend was gone that Rachel realized she did feel just a bit lonely after all.

  A terrible thought occurred to her, and not for the first time.

  When she did expand into the place next door she’d be able to have more inventory on hand, and she’d probably need to hire an employee.

  And when that happened, there would be no more excuses for spending all her evenings and weekends at Sticks & Stones.

  5

  Rachel

  Rachel paced back and forth on the barn wood floor of Sticks & Stones, trying and failing to ignore Dale Evans and his endless stream of sympathy.

 
; The problem was, the elderly police officer was getting hard of hearing. Even if she’d been able to tune out his sentiments, there was no way she could tune out his shouting.

  “I can’t believe this happened to you, Rachel,” Dale bellowed for at least the fourth time as he gestured to the mess in the new space next door. “During the holidays too. And you without a man around.”

  Ouch. My building is broken. And now I’m a spinster, to boot.

  “I’d get in there myself to help, but my sciatica is flaring up something terrible,” Dale went on.

  “Oh, geez, no,” Rachel said. “This is what I have insurance for. No need for anyone to go in there and try to clean it up. I’ll be fine. I only called because I thought at first it might be a break in.”

  Of course it hadn’t been a break-in. The tarped roof of the adjoining property had collapsed under the snow. She noticed the chill when she arrived to open her shop. When she poked her head through the curtain and saw the drifts of snow on the checkerboard floor and more lazy flakes floating in she’d had a wild flashback to reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a child.

  Then she had called the police.

  It wasn’t until Dale arrived that her addled mind had put two and two together about what must have happened, and by then the Tarker’s Hollow Volunteer Fire Department was on the scene.

  A couple of firefighters came back through the curtain. Ethan Chambers had led them up as soon as they’d arrived. Belinda would die when she heard she’d missed this. Bel had a thing for firefighters.

  “Sorry, Miss DelGato,” one of them said. “The wind kicked up pretty good last night. One of the boards securing that tarp came loose. And then with the weight of the snow… I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s fine,” she said, inwardly cursing Richard Crool for his shoddy work. Somehow, he was still managing to screw things up, even after she’d fired him.

  “We’ve got it rigged up for now, but you’ll want to bring in someone who knows what they’re doing,” Ethan explained.