Carolina Moon

plow a field, or a woman, I do it right.” His eyes glinted as his smile spread. “Just ask your sister.”
    Cade’s hand was out of his pocket and yanking Billy to his toes by the collar before either of them was prepared for it. “Just one thing,” Cade said softly. “You want to remember who holds the deed on that house you’re living in. You want to remember that, Billy. And you want to stay clear of my sister.”
    “You wave your money around fast enough, but you haven’t got the balls to try your fists like a man.”
    “Stay clear of my sister,” Cade repeated, “or you’ll find out just what I’ve got the balls for.”
    Cade released him, picked up the rest of his purchases, and strode out. He drove out of the lot, and to the first stop sign. There he simply sat, eyes closed, until the red wash of fury dulled.
    He wasn’t sure which was worse, all but coming to blows with Clampett while the two of them were surrounded by posies, or having the seed rooting in his mind that his sister had let scum like Clampett put his hands on her.
    Shoving the truck into first, he turned and headed over to Market. He found a spot half a block from Tory’s shop, just behind Dwight’s truck. Doing his best to smother his temper, he hauled the pots out, carried them down to set them outside the door.
    He could hear the high whine of a skill saw before he walked inside.
    The base of the counters was in place, and the first line of shelves set. She’d gone with pine, and had them clear-varnished. A smart choice, Cade thought. Simple and clean, they’d show off her wares instead of distracting from them. The floor was covered with tarp and tools, and the air smelled of sawdust and sweat.
    “Hey, Cade.” Dwight walked over, skirting tools.
    Cade gave Dwight’s blue and gold striped tie a tap. “Now, aren’t you pretty?”
    “Had a meeting. Bunch of bankers.” As if just remembering it was over, Dwight reached up and loosened the knot in the tie. “Just came by to check on the job before I go into the office.”
    “You’re making progress.”
    “The client has definite ideas about what she wants and when she wants it.” Dwight rolled his eyes. “We’re here to accommodate, and let me tell you, she don’t give you an inch of wiggle room. That skinny little girl grew up to be one hardheaded businesswoman.”
    “Where is she?”
    “In the back.” Dwight nodded toward the closed door. “Stays out of the way, I’ll give her that. Stays out once she gets her way is more like it.”
    Cade took another moment to scan the work-in-progress. “Her way looks good,” he decided.
    “Gotta admit, it does. Listen, Cade …” Dwight shifted his feet. “Lissy’s got this friend.”
    “No.”
    “Well, Jesus, just hear me out.”
    “I don’t have to. She’s got a friend, a single female friend who’d be just perfect for me. Why don’t I give this single female friend a call, or come on by and have dinner with this single female friend and y’all at the house, or meet for drinks?”
    “Well, why don’t you? Lissy’s going to be on my back until you do.”
    “Your wife, your back, your problem. Tell Lissy you just found out I’m gay or something.”
    “Oh yeah, that’ll work.” The idea amused Dwight so much his laughter rolled up from the gut. “That’ll work just fine. Way things are, she’ll just start lining up men for you.”
    “God almighty.” It wasn’t, Cade realized, out of the realm of possibility. “Then tell her I’m having a blazing, backstreet affair with someone.”
    “Who?”
    “Pick somebody,” Cade said, waving it off, and heading for the back-room door. “Just tell her no.” He knocked, then shoved inside without waiting for an answer.
    Tory stood on a stepladder, replacing a fluorescent tube in the overhead light fixture.
    “Here, let me do that.”
    “I’ve got it. This is a tenant’s obligation, not the landlord’s.” It still grated, just a little, to realize he owned the building.
    “I see they got the glass replaced on the front door.”
    “Yes. Thank you.”
    “Feels like they fixed the air-conditioning.”
    “That’s right.”
    “If you need to be pissed off at me today, you’re going to have to get in line. There’s quite a wait.”
    He turned away, hands in pockets. She’d gone for metal shelves in here, he noted. Gray, ugly, sturdy, and practical. They were already jammed with cardboard boxes, and the boxes meticulously labeled by stock