“That’s no problem. We can get you trained in no time. It’s pretty easy, really.”

“I should tell you I’m recovering from an accident, so I might need to sit down every now and then.”

“Nothing serious, I hope.”

Oh, no, nothing serious, just the ruination of my entire life. “It shouldn’t keep me from pulling my weight.”

“Can you start tomorrow afternoon? We’re usually slow after two, so I could get you trained. We’ll discuss the issue of payment later.”

“I’ll be here.” Clare shook Bea’s hand. “I’ll look forward to it.”

Bea reached for the sign that Clare had just watched her tape to the window and pulled it down. “Me, too. Thanks, Clare. You’re saving my life.”

“My pleasure. See you tomorrow.”

The bells on the door jangled when Clare left the warmth of the bookstore behind. The blast of cold air was almost shocking—and invigorating. I have a job. I’m saving someone’s life!

By three thirty, Clare was convinced that Aidan O’Malley wasn’t coming and got out the yellow pages to find someone else. The doorbell startled her when it rang at three forty-five. She got up to answer it and encountered the broad back of a tall man talking on one cell phone while another one rang with insistence from its position next to a pager on his belt. Clare could almost taste the anticipation as she waited for the pager to go off, too. It didn’t disappoint. Without missing a beat in the heated discussion he was having on the first phone he checked the caller ID on the second one and the LCD on the pager.

He wore a beat-up red down vest over a red plaid flannel shirt with jeans and filthy work boots. A hint of a red bandanna poked through a hole in the back pocket of faded jeans—not that she was looking at the back of his jeans or anything. He just happened to be there on her front porch. Where else was she supposed to look? The cuffs of his flannel shirt were rolled up to reveal a long-sleeved white thermal undershirt. Dark brown hair curled around the edge of what might have been a Red Sox ball cap.

“I have to take another call,” he said. “Get over to the cabinet place before the end of the day and get the right order. You can be at the Millers’ by six in the morning to get them installed. They have to be in by this time tomorrow so the floor guys can start.” He paused to listen. “Just do it, for Christ’s sake.” He slapped the phone closed with a curse of aggravation that told her he didn’t realize he was being watched.