I Cross My Heart by Vicki Lewis Thompson

me see what tools I can find in the kitchen. Come on back.” She led Morgan through the dining room. Anything that would help save the house from the wrecking ball was worth the time. She was also impressed with Morgan’s determination, which was a good quality in a salesperson.
    Morgan smiled as they passed through the dining room. “Oh, I love this space.”
    “Thanks. Me, too.” After last night, it would never seem the same. This was where she’d kissed Nash, right before they’d made a beeline for her bedroom.
    “You’ve been here such a short time, but you’ve already put your stamp on the house with fresh flowers, candles and a nice tablecloth. I’ll bet none of that was here when you arrived.”
    “The tablecloth was, and the candlesticks.” Bethany continued on into the kitchen. Those items would always remind her of Nash Bledsoe, fantasy cowboy and lover extraordinaire. That meant she probably shouldn’t keep them. Opening the kitchen junk drawer, she rummaged around and came up with an X-Acto knife. “Aha!”
    “Perfect. Is it okay if I put my stuff on your kitchen table? I want both hands free so I can tear into that carpet.”
    “Go ahead.” Bethany couldn’t help smiling. “You really get into this, don’t you?”
    “I do.” She took the knife and marched back into the living room. “My parents and eight kids lived in a hippie van my entire childhood. My parents and some of my siblings loved it. I hated it. So every home, mine or someone else’s, is precious to me.”
    “I imagine it would be.” And the longer they talked about this house, the more Bethany acknowledged that she was more attached to it than she’d realized. Selling it wouldn’t be as easy as she’d first thought.
    Morgan knelt by the nearest wall and began to cut through the ancient carpet. It was so threadbare that the job didn’t take long. Caught up in Morgan’s excitement, Bethany sank down next to her.
    When Morgan had made a cut about a foot long and six inches on each side, she reached under the flap of carpeting and pulled. Dust flew, and they both coughed. Morgan waved the dust away, ripped through the flimsy padding and gave a shout of triumph.
    “Hardwood! Oak, it looks like.” She grinned at Bethany. “You have to tear this carpet out and get the floors polished. It would be criminal to put new carpeting in. I’d offer to help take out the old stuff, but my daughter Sarah’s second birthday is in a couple of weeks and it’s shaping up to be a frickin’ coronation, plus I’m nursing little Jonathan, who just turned three months, and...”
    “Don’t even think about helping,” Bethany said. “This is my week to settle everything at the Triple G, and if you can take care of the listing, I’ll do the rest.”
    “I can definitely take care of the listing. And your ace in the hole is Nash. He could have this carpet out of here in no time. He’s handy.”
    “Right.” She got to her feet and hoped Morgan wouldn’t notice that she was blushing. “Although I was planning to assign him to outside renovation first.” Sort of. Unless other, more personal activities took him away from that chore.
    “How you make use of his time is up to you, but this floor will be a major selling point so I’d suggest bringing Nash in here to help you.”
    “It’s a good idea.” Bethany was desperate to change the subject. “So, why don’t I pour some coffee while you crunch the numbers for me?”
    “Sounds like a plan.” Standing, Morgan dusted off her hands. “Someone put a lot of love into building this house. Was it your parents?”
    “No. They bought it already built. I don’t remember too much because I was so little, but I think the owners were an older couple who had to move to a warmer climate for the wife’s health.”
    “Well, they left behind a gem. Taking a diamond in the rough and polishing it is so much fun.”
    Bethany led the way back into the kitchen. “I’m not sure how much