done to come in. Don’t be late. OR early.”
She drops her phone on the desk.
“Should I go rough someone up for you?” I ask and gather her into my arms. She feels so amazing there. Her hair is damp and smells of my shampoo. How did I sleep through her shower and everything? The thought of Nova naked in my bath gives me a new life goal.
“I’m trying not to let anyone in on the fact that we’re about to start spying.”
“Lamonte seems to think the safe is broken.”
She buries her face in my chest. “He’s one of my best friends. But I don’t want to assume anything. I want to do this right.”
I slide my hand down her back, reveling in the feel of her. “I’m sure it’s not Lamonte.”
She pulls away and paces the tiny office. “Then who could it be? Kate? Eli? Arush? Connie or Charlotte? I know all these people so well. How could they steal from this deli?”
“We don’t know that it’s our own staff.”
“But Jace Pickle owns this building,” Nova argues. “It’s not like there are outside people who come in when we’re not here.”
She has a point, and I can see this problem has weighed on her since we figured out cash had gone missing.
“We’ll catch them,” I say.
“I hate knowing for a fact someone is stealing and letting them keep doing it. I want to change the combination. Make it stop.”
“But then we can’t catch them.”
“What do we do then? Call the police?”
“Probably,” he says. “You have to file a report. This has to be dealt with.”
She drops into her chair. “I don’t feel qualified for this.”
I kneel in front of her and take her hand. “I don’t think anyone ever does.”
There are three short raps on the door, then Lamonte barges in. When he sees me kneeling in front of Nova, her hand in mine, he stops short. “I knew it. I told Kate there was something going on.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Actually, she told me. I was blind as a bat. But we were right. You two have become a thing.”
Nova pushes out a great gust of air. “We’d appreciate it if you kept this quiet. It’s not been going on for long. Just a couple of days.”
“Whatever you say, Miss Sparkle Eyes. But the locksmith needs you for something.”
“I’m coming.”
Lamonte heads out. I’m about to walk out the door when Nova calls me back. “Jason?”
I turn around the doorway. “Yeah?”
“I did have fun last night. It was…” She trails off and our eyes lock for a long moment.
“I know exactly what you’re trying to say,” I tell her. “And I agree.”
We share a small smile. I think my confession will have to wait. For one, it’s April Fool’s Day. Nobody tells anyone anything important on a day like this.
Two, we need to catch a thief. I have to finish what I came here to do. Let work life settle down again for Nova. She’s got too much to bear right now.
As I survey the mixing table, and how far Lamonte has gotten on the bread, I head to Mr. Chill to pick up the next set of ingredients he’ll need.
And consider how much time I have left with Nova before I tell her the truth.
26
Nova
The stupid security man is late again.
I help Connie and Charlotte clean the deli, trying to push them through before he gets here.
I don’t suspect either of them in the stealing, I really don’t. But like I told Jason, I want to do this right. Assume nothing.
Connie gives Jason a broom, and the two of us sweep.
When he gets close to me, he asks, “When’s the guy coming?”
“Hell if I know. I’m about to fire him.”
He grins. “I’d like to see that.”
There’s a different feel to our conversations today. I know it’s about last night. I did sneak away, taking the fastest shower possible and using my phone to navigate the downtown streets until I made it to the deli.
It was a bit of a walk, a couple of miles, but it was good to clear my head.
Things have gotten intense so fast. I feel like I don’t know anything about him. His family. What he plans to do after his time in Austin. I’m privy to very little of his history, other than the fact he played football in high school.
Which I can’t bring up without admitting I stalked him.
What are we even doing?
As he holds a dustpan for me