She’d taken him by surprise. “I think I could do that.”
They talked about the particulars as Lucy had them place the counter at an angle in the corner. She had them lug it one way, then had them angle it so it faced the door a little more, then had them move it so two stools could fit behind it. Right about the time she’d walked behind it to get an idea of how the room felt from that point of view, Beck started to get a little irritated. Why do women do this?
Lucy trotted back out from behind it and pointed to the left. “Two more inches that way and it’ll be perfect. No, that way. Careful Beck, you’re gonna hurt yourself. Okay. No. Angle it out some. You okay, Beck? Your face is getting red.”
Patrick made eye contact and snickered.
“Naw, I’m just fine, Juicy Lucy. How’s that?”
“Perfect. Was that okay to bring up a nickname with Patrick Junior, I mean PJ, Patrick?” She giggled as she went to Patrick and stroked his chest. “See? That’s why I thought it might be a good idea. I could see with the two of us around your house more often that confusion was happening.”
Patrick stroked her upper arms and gave her a kiss and Beck couldn’t resist coming up behind her while the little man was occupied with his sandwich in the kitchen. Her scent was enticing and he pressed his lips to her shoulder. He tingled all over in response to her body heat.
“I think it’s fine. He seems to like it. And to be honest, I detested the way that Elizabeth was constantly calling him ‘Patrick Junior!’ whenever he’d wander off or get rambunctious, which was pretty much all the time. I think he’s just used to being called that.”
Beck nodded, thinking that taking one more step away from Elizabeth, in that manner, was probably healthy for both of them. “I like it. Short and sweet. Fits him. Although Pugsly or Cooter would’ve been fine with me, too,” he added with a chuckle as she giggled and playfully whapped his shoulder.
Patrick tilted her mouth up to his for a kiss and Beck moved just a little closer behind her, wanting to touch her, too. She shivered and let loose a sexy-sounding little sigh and relaxed. The front door of the shop suddenly opened, startling Lucy, judging by the way she jumped and slid from between them.
The man stopped in the entry, looking around as though he was startled, and then turned his squinty gaze on them. His eyes took in everything around him, including the two of them standing so close to her, and his bushy salt-and-pepper eyebrows came together in a solid, furry line.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m—We’re closed on Sundays.” She darted a quick glance at Beck and he could tell she was a little uncomfortable. He slid his arm around her shoulder.
“How can we help you, sir?” Patrick asked as he moved forward.
The stranger had an odd, shifty vibe and Beck hoped like hell that he wasn’t interested in a massage but was merely lost, as his demeanor indicated.
“Where’s Marvin Kramer?” Even his voice had a nervous, furtive quality to it.
“Oh,” Lucy said, looking relieved. “You mean Marvin’s Computer Service and Website Design?”
“Yeah. He’s got one of my computers. Supposed to be fixing it. Is he out of business and that’s why you’re here? I won’t take kindly to him skipping town with my stuff.”
Holding up a hand to stop him from settling into a tirade, Beck said, “He’s still around. He’s just moved down a few blocks to the north. Head out this way,” he said, pointing out the storefront window to the left. “And go about six blocks and you’ll see him on the left in a little building between Batson’s Grocery and Divine Auto Repair.”
“Well…all right.” He glanced around the interior of Lucy’s waiting room. “What’s this now? A dentist’s office?”
Lucy smiled. “I’m a licensed massage therapist and this is my massage therapy clinic, A Divine Retreat. Have you ever tried massage therapy?”
Beck wanted to cover her mouth with his hand. He didn’t want this creepy guy coming in later for a massage, although he couldn’t fault her for drumming up business whenever the opportunity presented itself.
The stranger shook his head without hesitation. “No. No. Not interested in none of that.” His piercing eyes darted between the three of them again and Beck didn’t like the way he looked at Lucy. “They give licenses to massage parlors nowadays?”
Before Beck or Patrick could bite off a reply to that innuendo, the man opened the door and walked out.
“Was he—” Lucy frowned as she watched the asshole walk out to his Mustang. “Did he think I was a licensed hooker?”