Restorations (Book One Oregon In Love) by Bonnie Blythe Page A

at her watch
showed it was after eight in the evening. Bone tired, Sara decided
to commence painting the following morning.
     
    ***
     
    “Brian!” Sara stood just inside the bedroom
door at the farmhouse the next day. She snapped her gaping mouth
shut and waited for him. He left the kitchen where he was measuring
for cabinets and approached her, his expression unreadable.
    “What’s this all about?” Sara motioned
toward the walls newly painted in the soft gray-green color she
chose the day before. An earlier inspection revealed the adjoining
bathroom had been freshly painted as well.
    Brian put his hands in his back pockets. “I
don’t know what you mean. It looks pretty good to me.”
    “It looks wonderful! When did you have time
to do this and…why?” Sara watched with interest as his face
darkened under his tan.
    “I did it after you left, and it was easy
since you did all the hard prep work. Besides, you already had all
the paint here.”
    She eyed him. “Well, thank you, but you
still haven’t said why you did it.”
    “Just trying to curry favor with the
homeowner and edge out the competition. And I have an unfair
advantage because I have a house key.” He pulled the key out of his
pocket. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you.” He held it out to
her.
    Sara looked down at the key, experiencing a
strange exhilaration. Brian would have full access to the house—and
her life.
    “I have the one Hattie had. Maybe you should
hold onto that one so you can get in during the project when I’m
not around.”
    Brian smiled and pocketed the key. “I’d like
to schedule a time with you so we can go over the specs of the job.
From then I should be able to have a bid for you within a
week.”
    “Anytime is okay with me.”
    He glanced at his watch. “What about
tomorrow, here at the house? The dining room table is big enough
and we can spread everything out on it.”
    “I’m going to church in the morning. How
about in the afternoon at two?”
    “Sounds good. Bring all your magazines and
ideas with you.”
    “Okay.” Sara watched him exit the room and
sighed when alone. She looked around the now lovely room and
breathed in the smell of fresh paint. What a sweet thing for Brian
to do!
    Before her thoughts could take a more
sentimental turn, Sara bustled back to work.
    At the end of the day,
Brian helped her move her double-sized brass bed into the room
along with the rest of her furniture. The new paint color
complemented the white and rose print of her bedding and drapes.
Sara arranged her ferns and other plants around the room, and hung
up framed watercolor botanicals on the walls. When she put up lace
sheers, she noticed again one of the larger windows looked out
directly towards the cottage. Okay,
then .
    Once the bedroom move-in was completed, her
thoughts returned to the enormity of this new undertaking. And she
didn’t mean the actual construction. Sara remained amazed she
agreed to it in the first place. But she couldn’t deny the peace in
her heart over the decision. Hopefully, peace regarding Brian was
on its way as well.
     
    ***
     
    Sunday morning dawned bright and clear as it
often did east of the Cascades. Sara fought down butterflies in the
pit of her stomach. Due to her illness and the move, she hadn’t
been able to attend church with her aunt, and looked forward to
getting back into regular fellowship. She also admitted excitement
at the thought of seeing Brian following the service.
    Sara donned a pewter silk blouse and narrow
black skirt. Twisting her cuff into place, she wondered at her
feeling of anticipation. Was it because it was a business
arrangement? Maybe a professional relationship was the perfect
solution to her dilemma regarding Brian Farris. That way there
would be little risk of exposing herself to...unplanned
intimacy.
    She swallowed hard. It has to be enough .
    Sara glanced in the mirror, gave her skirt a
tweak, and joined Hattie out at the car.
    Buell Creek