Bloodstone by Gwen Hunter

Author:Gwen Hunter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

11

Friday, 9 a.m.

Jane was snoring softly when I pulled the drapes closed to create an ambience of night and safety and went down to help open Bloodstone. I had watched over her for two hours, and though she didn’t move, or wake, she seemed to soften and loosen as she slept, her brow smoothed in true slumber.

As Jubal, Isaac and I opened the store safe and the locked cabinets, setting out the wares for display, I described Jane’s condition to them and told them I would be staying close today. I babbled an apology about the spring line, jabbered promises to do twice the work once Davie was found, and knew I sounded demented. They were silent, letting me talk. When I ran down, Jubal came over to me, took a display rack from my hands and pulled me into his arms.

“We’ll take care of the spring line and the store, honey-bunch. It’s under control. You just take care of your family.”

“You’re going to have to quit calling me that,” I said, and I burst into tears. He let me snivel into his shirt, leaning into him. He held me while I cried until my tears dried themselves. I rested against him and sighed with comfort.

“Better?”

“Yeah.” I stood away, hands on his shoulders, and met his true blue eyes. “Thanks. I know you guys will handle the spring-line designs. That won’t make me feel any less guilty, though. I’m going to get some things from the back and take them upstairs. I can do some work up there, which will make me feel better. When Evan comes, will you send him up?”

“Sure. If you want to work, take the polished bloodstone up and string some sets. A bit of advice?” Jubal didn’t wait to see if I listened. “If you don’t jump that cop’s bones soon, your head will explode.”

“Jubal’s right,” Noe said. I hadn’t seen her come in. She was bent over a display and stood upright, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “He has a nice ass. You should jump him and get it over with.”

I laughed shakily and squeezed Jubal’s shoulders. “You guys are shameless.” To Noe I said, “You say every man has a nice ass, and you’re all but married to the green-logger.”

“Smitten. Not married. Not dead. Do the guy and get it over with. You’ll feel better.”

I rolled my eyes and unlocked Bloodstone’s front door before going to the workroom. Some comments were not worth a reply, and some would only make me blush, so I retreated. Better part of valor, and all that.

In the back, I pulled boxes marked in Jubal’s strong block print, BLOODSTONE HEARTS, BLOODSTONE BEADS, and MISC. STONES—GREEN. I gathered a fourth box containing findings: clasps, various silver and gold spacers, leftover pearls and stones from other projects, things I would need. While I worked I heard the first customer come in, the bells over the door tinkling, and registered the sound of voices speaking, though I didn’t catch the words.

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