week. Cameron is gone for the summer. He’s working at camp again. You can stay with us.”
Jesse chuckled, and his eyes wandered over to Laine, who was sweeping the foundation near the front of the project. I thought he blushed, but I wasn’t sure. Because I wasn’t watching.
“Thank you, Shari, but I’m already set up there.”
“Jesse. I can’t have it. You do so much for others—you shouldn’t endure a lumpy bed every night.”
“Really, the bed’s not lumpy. It’s cozy. Honest.”
He didn’t give. This was an interesting development. But why did he keep glancing toward the suntanned beauty, with pink stained across his cheeks? I turned away.
“Okay, but I don’t like it.” The woman sighed. “In fact, I’m going to have to insist you let me feed you tonight so I feel better about it.”
Without looking, I felt his eyes on me.
“I’d planned on eating with some of the crew tonight, Shari. I’m sorry.”
Was that a reference to me?
“Bring them all. We’ll do a backyard barbecue.”
Silence. Please say no.
“You got it.”
Before I could summon some sense, I glanced backward. He stared right at me. Jesse held me with a look I didn’t understand, and I silently begged him not to drag me into this arrangement.
He returned his attention to Shari. “There’ll be at least two of us, maybe three.”
Mack and me. Which of us was the assumed second, and who was the tentative third?
I should have listened to my dad. I should have stayed home.
Chapter Nine
Jesse
I smelled a setup. They always had the same aroma. Usually the same pattern too. It began with a mom, well meaning and generally pleasant, inviting me over. Without mentioning that her available daughter would be in attendance.
Shari surprised me with this one. Barely a year gone by. I was sure Laine needed more time. Plus, if I’d wanted a date, I’d have asked all on my own. Surely Shari knew I didn’t need any arrangements, nor did her daughter.
Perhaps she’d misunderstood the relationship that had developed between Laine and me last year. Laine didn’t see me as a potential replacement for her snake of an ex-fiancé. We were friends—good friends—but just friends. I listened while she worked through some of the mess the guy had left her in, knowing without a doubt that she needed an outside ear and an honest guy’s encouragement. She’d never hinted romantic interest. I was sure I hadn’t either. Not last summer. Not today.
I finished loading my tote of tools in the bed of my truck. Most of the workers had been driven home by rumbling stomachs, Shari and Laine included. Only Alex the resident comedian, Mack, and Sarah remained, all standing in a loose circle near the newly raised stud walls. Fixing a smile, I set my stride in their direction.
Sarah caught my eye and stepped away.
My shoulders drooped. She’d misunderstood. I’d caught her glancing toward me while I talked with Shari. No way she didn’t hear our conversation. And she’d also seen me watching Laine. What must she think?
“Sapphira.” I caught her attention before she scurried off the job site.
Having no choice, she stopped, but she hesitated before she turned back.
“Hungry?” I grinned, hoping she’d not jumped to some natural conclusions.
She shrugged.
Not an encouraging response. I plunged ahead anyway, addressing the group. “Shari Fulton asked the crew over for a barbecue tonight. Y’all are coming, right?”
“Home-cooked food?” Mack licked his lips. “I’m in.”
“Sorry, Jess,” Alex said. “My wife probably has dinner on the table. I’d better get to it.” He shook Mack’s hand, then mine, and started away with a wave. “It’s nice to meet you, carpenter-girl. See you tomorrow.”
That left only Sarah unaccounted for.
Please come. I didn’t want to untangle all the reasons I desperately wanted her there. She needed a friend—that was reason enough. I settled my hands on my hips and managed half a
Jesse chuckled, and his eyes wandered over to Laine, who was sweeping the foundation near the front of the project. I thought he blushed, but I wasn’t sure. Because I wasn’t watching.
“Thank you, Shari, but I’m already set up there.”
“Jesse. I can’t have it. You do so much for others—you shouldn’t endure a lumpy bed every night.”
“Really, the bed’s not lumpy. It’s cozy. Honest.”
He didn’t give. This was an interesting development. But why did he keep glancing toward the suntanned beauty, with pink stained across his cheeks? I turned away.
“Okay, but I don’t like it.” The woman sighed. “In fact, I’m going to have to insist you let me feed you tonight so I feel better about it.”
Without looking, I felt his eyes on me.
“I’d planned on eating with some of the crew tonight, Shari. I’m sorry.”
Was that a reference to me?
“Bring them all. We’ll do a backyard barbecue.”
Silence. Please say no.
“You got it.”
Before I could summon some sense, I glanced backward. He stared right at me. Jesse held me with a look I didn’t understand, and I silently begged him not to drag me into this arrangement.
He returned his attention to Shari. “There’ll be at least two of us, maybe three.”
Mack and me. Which of us was the assumed second, and who was the tentative third?
I should have listened to my dad. I should have stayed home.
Chapter Nine
Jesse
I smelled a setup. They always had the same aroma. Usually the same pattern too. It began with a mom, well meaning and generally pleasant, inviting me over. Without mentioning that her available daughter would be in attendance.
Shari surprised me with this one. Barely a year gone by. I was sure Laine needed more time. Plus, if I’d wanted a date, I’d have asked all on my own. Surely Shari knew I didn’t need any arrangements, nor did her daughter.
Perhaps she’d misunderstood the relationship that had developed between Laine and me last year. Laine didn’t see me as a potential replacement for her snake of an ex-fiancé. We were friends—good friends—but just friends. I listened while she worked through some of the mess the guy had left her in, knowing without a doubt that she needed an outside ear and an honest guy’s encouragement. She’d never hinted romantic interest. I was sure I hadn’t either. Not last summer. Not today.
I finished loading my tote of tools in the bed of my truck. Most of the workers had been driven home by rumbling stomachs, Shari and Laine included. Only Alex the resident comedian, Mack, and Sarah remained, all standing in a loose circle near the newly raised stud walls. Fixing a smile, I set my stride in their direction.
Sarah caught my eye and stepped away.
My shoulders drooped. She’d misunderstood. I’d caught her glancing toward me while I talked with Shari. No way she didn’t hear our conversation. And she’d also seen me watching Laine. What must she think?
“Sapphira.” I caught her attention before she scurried off the job site.
Having no choice, she stopped, but she hesitated before she turned back.
“Hungry?” I grinned, hoping she’d not jumped to some natural conclusions.
She shrugged.
Not an encouraging response. I plunged ahead anyway, addressing the group. “Shari Fulton asked the crew over for a barbecue tonight. Y’all are coming, right?”
“Home-cooked food?” Mack licked his lips. “I’m in.”
“Sorry, Jess,” Alex said. “My wife probably has dinner on the table. I’d better get to it.” He shook Mack’s hand, then mine, and started away with a wave. “It’s nice to meet you, carpenter-girl. See you tomorrow.”
That left only Sarah unaccounted for.
Please come. I didn’t want to untangle all the reasons I desperately wanted her there. She needed a friend—that was reason enough. I settled my hands on my hips and managed half a
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