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“No, Zoey.”
I nod. I can’t force people to accept my help. But there has to be a way, help find a place nearby. Or…I don’t know, I’ll need to think of something.
“It doesn’t have to be money.”
“Oh, my grandson should never let you go. You’re a keeper.”
And heat floods me. That isn’t what this is about. “At least think on it,” I say, sidestepping the whole comment.
“I won’t change my mind.”
“Thinking on things can help,” I say. I check my phone. I still need to visit the bank. “I need to go, but just think on it.”
“Fine. I’ll think on it.” I’m almost at the door when she says, “Zoey, just one more thing…”
Nerves nip at me as I hurry back through the rain from the bank. I have a meeting set up and the more I let my idea stew in my head, the more I’m convinced I can do this. It’s risky, but it’s my decision.
I go into the building through my apartment door because I want to dump my stuff and the little folder from the bank so Magnus doesn’t see it.
So I’m a little surprised when I come down the stairs and into the ground floor of the store that I don’t see Magnus. The sign is still set to open and I frown, sliding behind the counter to the little back room.
He’s at my desk, papers and bills in one hand and the other sliding down over the accounts.
For a moment, I can’t move as ice moves heavy through my veins. I grip the wall tight. “What are you doing?”
Magnus looks up and swallows, like a kid caught red-handed in a cookie jar.
Chapter Twenty-One
Magnus
“Zoey, I didn’t hear the bell.”
“I asked a question.”
Her big eyes are filled with something like betrayal and it hurts. Of course, I’m a bastard, a careless, stupid one who just figured I’d hear the bell and be able to put this stuff away.
I have options, and about half a second to decide my course of action. I’m going with something that slides close to the truth and is as far from it as it can be. “Looking at the books.”
“I can see that, Magnus.” Her voice is closed and tight and I want to smooth that way, but I just put the bills down and fold my hands on top of everything.
She’s in bad shape. It could be worse. But it could all be a hell of a lot better. There are about twenty ways right off the top of my head I can think of now that will get her place from her and into my hands.
None of them are good. Most of them will hurt her beyond what I want.
Funny. If I’d been asked that and seen all this before I’d walked into her store pretending to look for a job, I’d have done one of them without even a second thought.
I’m going to stick to the plan I have, though. It’s better for her.
She’ll still be hurt, but she won’t be destroyed.
“I asked a question.”
I sigh. “I don’t really have an excuse. Except I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help you. Fair’s fair. You offered to help me and…”
Shaking my head, I push my hand through my hair and slowly stand.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I say, keeping my voice low. “That I looked to see if you really could help me.”
