Free Stuff (The Bristol Collection) by Josephine Myles Page B

the moment, yeah?”
    “Just about.”
    “So how’s about anything above that, I can take half of? That’ll be my wages.”
    “I don’t know.” Perry stared at Mas. The idea of just handing over the shop to someone else was terrifyingly seductive. “I barely know you. What’s to say you’re not going to just… I don’t know, be dipping your hand in the till when I’m not looking?”
    Mas shrugged expansively, leaving his hands palms up. “You can’t ever know that for sure. But I’m trustworthy. I’d never steal money from a friend.”
    “But you might from a boss?”
    Mas grinned then, and walked off, moving round the cabinets and rails smoothly, not even breaking his stride. “Look, this place has potential, and I’m at a loose end. I don’t want to get another job like the last one, working for a corporation who couldn’t give a shit about me. I like you. You like me. I think. I’m not reading that wrong, am I?”
    Perry’s mouth opened and closed a few times, before he managed to force out a “No.”
    “There, that wasn’t so hard, was it? So, we get along. We can both help each other out. And I’ll make Cabbages and Kinks Bristol’s go-to place for cool vintage stuff and bizarre steampunk artworks.” Mas began bouncing up and down, “We could get some of those swanky magazines to come and do an article on the place when it’s all spruced up. Then we’ll be drowning in trendy types wanting to see what all the fuss is about.”
    Trendy types? God help him. “I need time to think about this.”
    Mas looked like he was about to argue, then bit his lower lip. “No, you’re right. I’m rushing you. Sorry about that. I just get so enthusiastic about stuff, and this place? Well, it inspires me.”
    “I can tell.”
    Mas rolled his eyes. “I know, I know. I need to calm down and take a breath sometimes. Believe me, it’s not something I haven’t heard a million times before. And I know you have every right to think I’m all mouth and no trousers, but I’m a bloody hard worker when I’m into something. You would not believe the energy I have.”
    Perry probably could believe it, based on seeing just how fast Mas had recovered from losing his job and his home.
    But still, Mas was effectively asking for an informal partnership in the business. “I’ll need to think through your offer.”
    Mas’s face fell. “That’s a no, isn’t it. Shit. I knew I was coming on too strong. I just got too bloody excited.” He looked like he was about to burst into tears.
    “It’s not a no. Just…give me a couple of days. I’ll need to talk to people. My lawyer for a start. You can’t just set up something like this without some safeguards.” And he’d have to check that having help wouldn’t be violating the terms and conditions Aunt Betty had set out.
    Mas perked up. “Okay. How about I call by on Saturday? Think you might have had enough time by then?”
    “Ummm, I suppose…”
    “Brilliant! Well, cheerio, then. I’m going to have to love you and leave you now. Got to get a pie in the oven for two hungry men. Honestly, those two eat like horses. I don’t know how I’m going to keep my girlish figure living under their roof.”
    Mas blew Perry a kiss, and then he was gone, leaving Perry standing there, feeling like he’d just been whirled around the room by a demented dance instructor.

Chapter Nine
    “So, I met this bloke earlier in the week,” Mas began when both Lewis and Jasper had their mouths full of pie. “And I’m thinking of moving in with him.”
    Jasper coughed pastry all over the table. “What? But you’ve only just moved in here.”
    “Oi, watch the mess.” Mas dusted crumbs into his hand. “I’m the one who’s got to clean that up, so show a bit of consideration.” He looked up to find Lewis staring at him in that disconcerting way that he had. “Just so you know, that makes you look like a supervillain when you do that. That shit might turn Jasper on, but