Page 28

He is.

I have a million questions perched on the tip of my tongue, and they’re all related to him, including whether he’s seeing anyone.

A soft knock at the door spares me from asking him any personal questions. It’s probably for the best because we’ve crossed paths a few times now, and he hasn’t asked if I’m single. That speaks volumes to me.

“Hold on a second,” I say, placing my cup on the table next to the game before I walk back to the door.

Before I even open it, I spot Chuck through the door’s window with another delivery of board games. This bundle is courtesy of a collector based in California. I reached out to him after seeing a posting he made on a board game forum asking if anyone wanted a part of his collection that he was ready to let go of.

Every game in the box Chuck is currently holding was manufactured before I was born. I only recognized two of the games, but I’m guessing my future patrons will be excited to try them out once they’re on the shelves.

I dig in the front pocket of my jeans and slide out the five dollar bill I tucked in there earlier in anticipation of this delivery.

Chuck’s smile greets me as soon as I open the door. “Hi, Opal. Hey, William!”

I don’t have to glance over my shoulder to know William is right behind me. I can smell the scent of his cologne.

“Hi, Chuck,” I say. “You can put that on one of the tables.”

“I can take it,” William offers.

I’m not surprised to see a few bills in his hand. Chuck notices it, too, because his gaze sticks to that. Since I can’t compete with that, I discreetly slide my five dollars back into my pocket.

The box and money are exchanged, and before Chuck takes off, he clears his throat. “I was wondering if we could talk privately for a second, William. Maybe out by my truck?”

Intrigued, my gaze volleys between the two men, but neither gives anything away.

“Sure thing.” William nods. “Let me get this box situated for Opal, and I’ll be right out.”

16

William

I approach Chuck,who is standing near the large sliding door of his truck. He’s a few inches shorter than me, but I’d never challenge this guy to an arm wrestle. I give my arms some love at the gym each week, but Chuck has impressive muscle definition. I don’t know if it’s from carrying packages in and out of his truck all day, but whatever he’s doing, it’s working.

“What can I do for you, Chuck?” I ask, curious why he wanted to see me outside the bar.

I’m the type of man who thrives on figuring out puzzles, so my mind has already been contemplating what Chuck wants. So far, the only thing I’ve been able to come up with is that he’s interested in Opal and wants confirmation from me that she’s single.

“When you introduced yourself to me the other day, I didn’t put two and two together,” he says, glancing around as if we’re sharing covert information. “You’re that William Knight, aren’t you? You’re the love guy.”

I’ve never been described quite that way and wouldn’t add the phrase to my very expensive business cards, but since he’s in the ballpark range of how I earn a living, I nod. “I’m a personal advisor. I help men reach their full potential.”

“So women will marry them?” he asks, hope filling his brown eyes.

I notice shit like that because reading people’s minds and hearts is a vital part of my job.

“So women will see them at their best,” I clarify slightly. “It’s about laying a solid foundation and then working toward the future.”

He glances down at the sixty bucks I just handed him. “There’s this guy I deliver to. He lives on Park Avenue. About a year ago, we rode the elevator down together after I dropped off a package from Abdons. It was a watch.”

A very expensive one at that.I should know. I’m wearing one of the six watches I own that bear the watch brand’s logo.

“Anyways, he took a call during that elevator ride, and I heard him telling whoever was on the other end that William Knight had helped him land the woman of his dreams.”

The Park Avenue address tells me all I need to know about the guy with the watch. Chuck has to be talking about Brandon Parham. We met days after Brandon spotted a woman leaving a restaurant. A former client of mine sent Brandon my way.

All I could do for him at the time was help him devise a plan to identify the woman in question. He was able to do that after posting the picture of her that he had hastily taken with his phone. He added dozens of hashtags to the post, including the popular #missednycloveconnections.