damn good too.”
“If you do say so yourself.” Patrick plugged the saw into an extension cord.
“Other people will say so too. You can ask them.”
“Maybe I will.”
Gini couldn’t help imagining the calendar shot she’d use for Patrick once she got him to agree. He’d have to pose with Saber. That cat would totally soften those sharp firefighter edges, and his furry tail draped across that muscled chest she was sure Patrick was hiding from her would be a nice contrast in texture. She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about positioning cat and man on her swing. It’d be perfect.
“What are you doing?” Patrick’s voice made her suck in a breath.
“Huh? Nothing.”
“You looked like you were thinking really hard.”
“Sometimes I do think really hard.”
“About what?”
Dangerous territory. Not going there. Gini shook her head. “Lots of stuff.” She stuffed earplugs into her ears, pulled the trigger on the saw, and it revved to life. Conversation impossible.
Gini attacked the nearest marked wall and made an opening in the drywall. Soon they were both ripping off the wall board in bits and pieces. Mason and Raina, back from their food organization, took turns carting the trash out to the pile in the driveway. Somewhere else in the house, the metallic screech of Jonah’s saw sounded as he cut through nails. He was already onto removing studs. She’d be that far along too if she hadn’t wasted time inspecting Patrick.
But she wasn’t used to guys like him. So quiet. So serious. She’d spent her entire life around firefighters, most of which had been loud jokesters either teasing her or flirting with her. Patrick’s stoic observation, however, left her in uncharted territory. She wasn’t sure how to handle him or even if she should.
Damn, she wanted to though.
With the last of the drywall peeled away from their section, Gini picked up the saw again and hacked at the studs. Patrick gripped the loose wood and twisted until each stud came free of its ceiling mount. They had a tall pile of two-by-fours in no time.
“Where are those trash collectors?” Patrick gestured to the stack.
“Probably making out somewhere,” Gini said.
Patrick laughed, and Gini let the sound wash over her. She had a feeling he didn’t laugh easily so when he did, it felt as if she’d accomplish something. She found a piece of chalk on the window ledge and made a tally mark on a piece of drywall. Gini propped the drywall up against the window.
“What’s that?” Patrick shook sawdust from his shirt.
“I’m keeping count.”
“Of what?”
“How many times I make you laugh today.” Gini drew a smiley face next to her tally. She shaded in around the mouth to make a beard, which made Patrick laugh again. He took the chalk from her hand, his fingers hesitating for a moment around hers, and added another mark to her tally.
“You’re off to a good start.” He hoisted up three of the discarded two-by-fours, balanced them over his left shoulder, and headed for the garage. The way his legs strode powerfully across the disgusting linoleum floor made Gini feverish. His ass filled out those jeans as if someone had poured him into a denim mold.
Maybe she didn’t have to worry so much about setting things on fire around Patrick. Maybe she had to be concerned about being set on fire instead.
Chapter Ten
By the time lunch rolled around, Patrick counted sixteen marks on Gini’s tally board. He hadn’t ever laughed that much in so short a time. He wasn’t sure how she was managing it. She revealed some fun childhood stories about Jonah. Talked about her parents. Shared a few interesting photography tales. She weaved humor and wit into every topic. He had no choice but to laugh. Had to be magic or something.
Even Raina stopped in her debris hauling with Mason to furrow her brows at Patrick.
“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” she whispered as she tugged him aside.
Patrick
“If you do say so yourself.” Patrick plugged the saw into an extension cord.
“Other people will say so too. You can ask them.”
“Maybe I will.”
Gini couldn’t help imagining the calendar shot she’d use for Patrick once she got him to agree. He’d have to pose with Saber. That cat would totally soften those sharp firefighter edges, and his furry tail draped across that muscled chest she was sure Patrick was hiding from her would be a nice contrast in texture. She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about positioning cat and man on her swing. It’d be perfect.
“What are you doing?” Patrick’s voice made her suck in a breath.
“Huh? Nothing.”
“You looked like you were thinking really hard.”
“Sometimes I do think really hard.”
“About what?”
Dangerous territory. Not going there. Gini shook her head. “Lots of stuff.” She stuffed earplugs into her ears, pulled the trigger on the saw, and it revved to life. Conversation impossible.
Gini attacked the nearest marked wall and made an opening in the drywall. Soon they were both ripping off the wall board in bits and pieces. Mason and Raina, back from their food organization, took turns carting the trash out to the pile in the driveway. Somewhere else in the house, the metallic screech of Jonah’s saw sounded as he cut through nails. He was already onto removing studs. She’d be that far along too if she hadn’t wasted time inspecting Patrick.
But she wasn’t used to guys like him. So quiet. So serious. She’d spent her entire life around firefighters, most of which had been loud jokesters either teasing her or flirting with her. Patrick’s stoic observation, however, left her in uncharted territory. She wasn’t sure how to handle him or even if she should.
Damn, she wanted to though.
With the last of the drywall peeled away from their section, Gini picked up the saw again and hacked at the studs. Patrick gripped the loose wood and twisted until each stud came free of its ceiling mount. They had a tall pile of two-by-fours in no time.
“Where are those trash collectors?” Patrick gestured to the stack.
“Probably making out somewhere,” Gini said.
Patrick laughed, and Gini let the sound wash over her. She had a feeling he didn’t laugh easily so when he did, it felt as if she’d accomplish something. She found a piece of chalk on the window ledge and made a tally mark on a piece of drywall. Gini propped the drywall up against the window.
“What’s that?” Patrick shook sawdust from his shirt.
“I’m keeping count.”
“Of what?”
“How many times I make you laugh today.” Gini drew a smiley face next to her tally. She shaded in around the mouth to make a beard, which made Patrick laugh again. He took the chalk from her hand, his fingers hesitating for a moment around hers, and added another mark to her tally.
“You’re off to a good start.” He hoisted up three of the discarded two-by-fours, balanced them over his left shoulder, and headed for the garage. The way his legs strode powerfully across the disgusting linoleum floor made Gini feverish. His ass filled out those jeans as if someone had poured him into a denim mold.
Maybe she didn’t have to worry so much about setting things on fire around Patrick. Maybe she had to be concerned about being set on fire instead.
Chapter Ten
By the time lunch rolled around, Patrick counted sixteen marks on Gini’s tally board. He hadn’t ever laughed that much in so short a time. He wasn’t sure how she was managing it. She revealed some fun childhood stories about Jonah. Talked about her parents. Shared a few interesting photography tales. She weaved humor and wit into every topic. He had no choice but to laugh. Had to be magic or something.
Even Raina stopped in her debris hauling with Mason to furrow her brows at Patrick.
“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” she whispered as she tugged him aside.
Patrick
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