Page 45 of Pistols and Plush Toys

Elliot was tense at first at the touch, but he settled quickly. Even giving Nikolai a small smile, nervous and trying not to be.

He really was such a brave man. Brave and beautiful.

Nikolai cleared his throat. “Ready?”

“Mmhm. Is there anything I should be doing?” Elliot asked as they walked up to the front door.

“No,” Nikolai said, pulling the keys for the new space out of his pocket. “Is my job. You are my company.”

Nikolai unlocked the doors and let them in. The inspector wasn’t there yet, though he’d likely be arriving any minute. For now, Nikolai once again surveyed the space.

The street was a good one, busy with foot traffic. It was an area they’d looked at before, but hadn’t moved on because of the hassle of moving a shop. It would be a great location for the new Lucky Clover, with additional space that the old store had badly needed.

“Oh wow,” Elliot said, taking in the large, open area, empty but for a checkout counter. “It’s so big!”

“Old store was clothing boutique,” Nikolai said. “Needed space for many racks of clothes. We’re needing to have many counters built in for our jewelry displays, but bones of the building are good.”

As Elliot nodded, the inspector knocked on the door behind them so Nikolai went to let him in. After the man went to work, Nikolai walked the space with Elliot.

“Gerard already picked this location, so I’m know it’s good,” Nikolai explained. “But is my job to say to contractors where to build what.”

Their steps echoed in the empty building. “Really?” Elliot asked. “I didn’t realize you had a personal hand in the building.”

“Yes,” Nikolai said proudly. “I’m make sure is done right.”

They were near the long wall opposite the cash register. He gestured at the space. “This is where jewelry cases will go, and I’m will say what kind of counters we need. Heavy duty ones. Vitale will not hurt us again, but is good to be extra safe anyway.”

They walked down the long stretch toward the back room. It had been the stockroom when the space had been a clothing store. “This room will be for vaults and place for gemologists to work,” Nikolai said.

“Will you be making jewelry in the store?” Elliot asked.

It was kind of nice how interested he seemed.

Normally the only people Nikolai had to talk about his business were Meredith and Gerard, and they were both old hands at it already and had been for many years now.

It was fun to explain this to someone new.

“No, our artists work in different place, not retail,” Nikolai told him. “But here gemologists will appraise and buy jewelry. Also do re-sizing and cleaning.”

“Oh,” Elliot said, clearly thinking this over. “So you sell both new and used jewelry?”

“New jewelry and estate jewelry, yes,” Nikolai said.

“Is good to have both. Gerard and I started with antique things, now we have good mix.” They strolled further toward the back where there was a bathroom and hallway that led to the door on the back of the building where stock would come in. Everything looked good.

When they headed back into the main part of the building, there was a knock at the front door. Nikolai went and let the contractor in.

He’d worked with the man before, and Meredith had already sent him a rough draft of the plans, so it wasn’t a long interaction.

This store would have a similar set up to the last store, but with a few more counters because the space was bigger, and a couple additions Lucky Clover’s manager had mentioned might improve customer experience.

Nikolai went through them all, walking around the space, and then left the contractor to do final measurements and markings.

Elliot didn’t seem bored through that all either, which Nikolai was glad for. He stayed close, obviously paying attention as they discussed what went where, following along.

When everything was done, Nikolai signed off on the proposed plan, then thanked both the contractor and the inspector and let them out. Both would be sending all finalized documents to Meredith, and in some meeting later this week all three of them would approve the work and fixes being done.

And hopefully, not too long after that, Lucky Clover would be back in business.

Nikolai locked up behind them as they left, guiding Elliot out to the curb. Alex was there waiting for them, ready to take them to their lunch reservation.

“There’s a lot that goes into a jewelry store,” Elliot said as they got into the car.

“Sorry if was boring,” Nikolai said, scratching his cheek.

“No, no,” Elliot shook his head. “It was really interesting to see behind the scenes. I’ve never thought about what goes into making a store.”

“Many headaches,” Nikolai grumbled.

That got a soft laugh out of Elliot.

“Is okay I tell Meredith and Gerard about the work?” Nikolai asked, holding up his phone.

“Of course,” Elliot said. “Please do.”

Nikolai gave him a smile and then bent his head over his screen.

When he was finished he glanced Elliot’s way and caught sight of Blue Snake’s menu open on his phone. He was smiling softly.

Excited?

Nikolai hoped so.

Blue Snake was downtown near the new Lucky Clover, so the drive didn’t take long. Once again Nikolai got out first, opening Elliot’s door and sliding a cautious arm around him, keeping his hand there as they went in, and then as the host led them to their table.

Nikolai didn’t miss the excited bounce to Elliot’s step as they were led to their seats and brought waters. His eyes glowed attentively as he listened to their waitress tell them about the restaurant and their specials of the day.

Neither of them wanted a drink, so the waitress left them to have a few minutes to look over the menu.

Elliot, Nikolai noticed, took barely any time at all before he set the menu down again. Nikolai wondered how many times he’d looked at the menu already since the decision this morning. He smiled to himself behind his own.

When the waitress returned, they were ready. Elliot put in an order for the Caesar salad as his appetizer and, on Elliot’s recommendation, Nikolai ordered the leek soup.

“So, um,” Elliot started when she’d left again. “How did you start in the jewelry business? Meredith said you’ve all been in business together for like twenty years.”

“Yes, is long time now,” Nikolai said. “How it began is… complicated.”

“Complicated?” Elliot asked, leaning forward with interest.

Nikolai sighed. Complicated and not altogether pleasant.

But Elliot was asking.

“I’m saying before how I left my father and Russia at eighteen, yes?” At Elliot’s nod, he continued. “Is half true. I’m leaving, but is not so easy to leave business. He say okay, I’m can come to America, but only if I manage some of his things here.”

“Manage things here?” Elliot asked. He glanced from side to side and briefly touched the high collar of his sweater. “Like…?”

Nikolai nodded. “Yes. Like that. He’s wanting me to be seen. Make everything run smooth. Remind people that there is Tkachenko in charge. Is not what I’m wanting, but is best thing I could have.”

“Oh,” Elliot said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

Nikolai waved a hand, as if to wave away the situation. He hated talking about it. Hated thinking about it. But his father was aging now, certainly not the man he once was. There would come a day when Nikolai truly no longer had to handle his businesses.

But today was not that day. Not if he wanted to keep his peaceful life here.

“One business was… importing gemstones,” Nikolai said carefully, lowering his voice.

The restaurant wasn’t that busy and they were at more of an isolated table, but it never hurt to be cautious.

“I was checking shipment, and someone tries to steal from me. Gerard was there—he’s gemologist, did you know? ”

Wordlessly, Elliot shook his head.

“Yes, gemologist. He’s check the stones for me that day. And so, when this man tries to steal from me, before I could fight—” Elliot was hanging on to his every word, and it was a heady feeling to hold his attention so well, “—Gerard, he’s stab the thief.”

Elliot had been about to reach for his glass of water and he froze, eyes wide. “He–? Oh my god. ”

“I know!” Nikolai said. “Is very surprising. But I’m liking his loyalty. And we get to talking, then become friends. And so, eventually Gerard, he’s saying, ‘maybe we could do more than just gemstone imports.’ A real business. Jewelry business.”

He grinned. This part of the story Nikolai actually liked.

“I am thinking, okay, is good idea. Better than my father’s business.

Is real thing people want, jewelry. But I’m not big business man, I never run any store.

Then Gerard, he’s saying he’s have friend.

Most capable person he ever know, he’s saying.

So okay, is how I meet Meredith. Then she make plan, and I say yeah.

And now, twenty years later we are here. ”

Elliot blinked at him. “Wow.”

“Yes, see?” Nikolai said. “That is story.”

Suddenly Elliot let out a beautiful little peal of laughter. Nikolai had no idea why he was laughing, but he felt his own lips turn up, if only to see Elliot look so relaxed and happy and amused.

“Is funny story?” He asked, keeping his voice light so Elliot would know Nikolai wasn’t upset by his laughing. On the contrary, Nikolai would make Elliot laugh every day if he could.

“It’s just—” Elliot grinned at Nikolai. “Meredith told me yesterday how she and Gerard met.”

It took Nikolai a second. “Ah, yes,” Nikolai said, sharing the joke. “Yes, knives are his thing, he loves very much.”

That seemed to set Elliot off again, and he giggled behind his hand. “I really shouldn’t be laughing.”

“No,” Nikolai said at once. “No, is good you’re laughing. I’m glad I’m can say things that make you laugh.”

Elliot sucked in a breath, a blush rising to his cheeks. Nikolai was suddenly seized with the desire to trace the curves of Elliot’s face and kiss that wash of color.