by Glynna Kaye
“How’s it going, Anna? Counting your pennies already?”
Crafters, as Delaney knew, used pinecones for wreath making and tree decorations. A net bag holding six or seven cones often sold for five dollars at national craft stores, so Anna figured she could easily undercut that price or quadruple the bag size and make a tidy profit from local and regional crafters.
Anna grinned at her. “I am. Ka-ching!”
Luke had quite the entrepreneur on his hands.
“Me, too,” Chloe chimed in as she examined a pinecone, trying to determine if it was a keeper.
Travis had showed up, too, and he and Kendrick were using a pole saw to manually trim dead “ladders” from a cluster of young pines while Nelson and another boy cleaned out rotting leaves and deadwood from surrounding bushes. Up by the porch steps, Sybil and Scottie had finished filling a half barrel with soil, flats of pink-and-white petunias at their feet awaiting transplant.
But best of all, Luke himself stood on a ladder, cleaning fistfuls of decaying pine needles from the gutters and dropping them to the ground where a teenager below swiftly bagged them.
Why did his presence make her so happy? Much to her embarrassment, Paris had been quick to pick up on that last week. Oh, sure, he was a good-looking, physically fit guy. But Dwayne had been all that, too. And nobody complained about it being a hardship to gaze upon Pastor McCrae as he shared God’s word from the pulpit, but her heart didn’t do a tap dance whenever he appeared. So it was more than that.
Maybe it was the fact that Luke’s eyes sometimes held a sadness that she longed to chase away. Or that it was evident he loved his kids more than life itself. Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that he’d made sure she got home safely last night. He didn’t have to do that. These days many men didn’t even offer.
“Yo, Dad!” Travis called. “Can I borrow your truck keys? It’s time to pick up the pizza you promised.”
So Luke had lured him here with pizza?
She watched as Luke descended the ladder, handed over the keys and counted bills into the open palm of his son. More money than a single pizza would cost.
“Stick around, everybody!” Travis waved the cash in the air as he and Kendrick trotted toward the truck. “Pizza is on its way.”
A rousing cheer went up from the kids, but she didn’t like the sound of that one bit. Had Luke bribed all the teenagers to show up with a promise of pizza?
Luke headed back to the ladder, but she beelined across the yard to cut him off before he could climb up.
“Luke.”
“What’s up?”
“Can I speak with you a minute? In private?”
He glanced around the yard as the others settled back into their work. “I guess so. Sure.”
She motioned to him and he followed her to the backyard where, as they rounded the corner of the house, he raised a hand to get the attention of those working there. “They’ve gone to get the pizza.”
“All right!” Fist-pumps and whistles accompanied the announcement.
So he had bribed them. But why? He didn’t even think this project was a good idea.
He turned to her. “So what did you need to see me about?”
She didn’t want to talk in front of the kids, so motioned for him to again follow, this time behind the freestanding garage where she halted. “Did you get these kids to show up here with a promise of pizza?”
He shrugged. “Worked, didn’t it? I watch my money closely, but pizza for a dozen kids didn’t break the bank. So don’t worry about it.”
He thought she was concerned about his financial situation? She let out an exasperated breath. “What I mean is, it’s one thing to reward them for a job well done once it’s, well, done.”
“Kids are kids. They get hungry.”
“But the whole point in this kind of project is to help young people learn that it’s about giving, not getting. You know, more blessed to give than receive? It would have been one thing if you’d shown up with pizza and surprised them all—but quite obviously they knew beforehand that pizza was coming.”
“What’s the big deal?”
“I told you—”
“I motivated them, Delaney. It’s as simple as that. You were there Sunday night and saw the reaction the teens had to the Masons, to their oldest boy. And on Tuesday you couldn’t have missed the mixed responses to this place. Pizza gave the borderline kids a nudge.”
She shook her head. He didn’t get it.
“Come on. You’re acting as though I’m luring them into a drug ring or something. This is a church project. One which, I’ll remind you, you initiated.” A flicker of confusion flashed briefly in his eyes. “I thought you’d be pleased that so many kids showed up.”
He did this for her?
In her dreams, maybe. There was no point, though, in arguing. What was done was done. Unfortunately, he’d set the tone for future project days. Would the kids expect someone to foot the bill for pizza all the time now?
Before she could decide on an appropriate response, Luke angled a glance at her, looking as he probably had as a boy when trying to get out of a punishment.
“So I don’t get as much as a thank-you?”
* * *
Boy, had he botched that. But she was being unreasonable. Too idealistic.
She wasn’t, however, a parent raising two teens like he was, so he needed to keep that in mind. As a single, childless woman who didn’t have a whole lot of life experience, her knowledge of parenting would be limited to women’s magazines or a psychology class she’d taken in college. None of which prepared anyone—man or woman—for reality, including the occasional need for a healthy dose of, yes, bribery.
He wasn’t quite sure, though, why he’d sprung for pizza and had Travis and Anna put out the word. It would have been altogether better had the turnout been lousy enough to send Delaney, Garrett and Lois back to the drawing board to rethink things. To find a better project. Vet or no vet, anything involving Benton and Lizzie Mason was dubious.
Her brow now wrinkled in thought, Delaney looked torn as to how to respond to his searching query for a word of thanks. Or would Grady label it as pitiful? As fishing for a compliment from a pretty woman? But obviously a thank-you wasn’t going to come without a struggle.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, Luke. But I believe it’s important that young people learn to give freely, not always look at what’s in it for them.”
“Agreed.” He nodded, relieved that they could come to a consensus. He was willing to take ownership of his actions. “Since you’re heading up the project, I should have asked you beforehand. So I owe you an apology.”
But he’d wanted a great turnout to be a surprise.
Why? So he could show off his generosity? His thoughtfulness? Win her admiration? Compete with Garrett? He had no business doing that.
But taking the razzing from his brother and sister about Delaney last night...well, it had, oddly enough, felt kind of good. Good to be seen as someone still in the game. Not a loser relegated to the bench. They’d actually thought Delaney might be a romantic prospect for their older brother. Not that she was or ever would be. But yeah, it had felt good, and doing something nice for her today had felt even better.
Until she’d had a problem with it.
“I owe you an apology, too.” Her eyes reflected her sincerity. “For accusing you of manipulating the kids.”
He shrugged. “I guess I did precisely that, though.”
“Yes, you did.” A dimple surfaced in her cheek. “But thank you anyway.”
He raised a doubtful brow.
“I mean it, Luke. Thank you. After refueling with pizza, maybe the kids will stick around a while longer and we can finish this first phase of the outdoor work today.”
> “That’s entirely possible.” But they’d have to do it without him. He’d promised his grandmother he’d be back to the Hideaway after lunch to put up new curtain rods in her suite. Dad and Grady both hated doing that kind of stuff, but for some reason he wished now he hadn’t made that commitment.
“We have the framework for vegetable gardens to build next weekend,” Delaney continued, her eyes bright, “and we need to plant veggies and more flowers. There are stepping-stones and cement benches to place, too, both of which were donated. But if we finish cleaning out the undergrowth and the pine needles today, we can move on from here next weekend.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Everything works for the good, right?” Her mood had lightened considerably now that she was focusing once again on the bright side. “Even the asbestos scare has us out here working while the weather’s nice.”
“Which reminds me...” Luke motioned toward the house. “That friend I told you about in Phoenix put me in touch with a guy who will be here on Thursday to cut out a section of the flooring in the kitchen. The bathrooms and entryway, too. He’ll send them off for analysis.”
Her brows tented. “Not until Thursday?”
“Earliest they can get here.”
“And it could be widespread? Not just the kitchen?”
“Possibly. Most likely none of it’s contaminated. But it’ll get checked out and then we’ll do whatever has to be done.”
Why’d he say we, as if he and Delaney were teaming up on this? He’d better watch himself. She already had stars in her eyes too often when she looked at him. Not a good thing, as Marsha would certainly attest were she still alive to voice an opinion. If she had to do it over again, would she marry him—or show him the door?
Smacked by reality, he stepped back, realizing that without thinking he’d moved closer to Delaney as they’d talked. Even when being gently chastised, he’d been drawn to her. Literally.
“So,” he said, forcing cheerfulness into his tone. “Let’s get a piece of that pizza while there’s still some left.”
Chapter Ten
“It’s been good talking to you, Delaney. I’m glad to hear your youth group project is coming along.”
It was hard to tell, but over the phone Aunt Jen sounded more tired than when Delaney had picked her up for church the previous weekend and taken her out to lunch. But, as always, she’d insisted she was fine—and urged her niece to step up her job search. Delaney, however, had no intention of going anywhere until the project was completed. And, of course, not until sufficiently reassured that her aunt wouldn’t need her.
“We’re making good headway despite that storm that hit us last weekend.” To her disappointment, it had been a soaker and they’d had to cancel the whole workday because the Hope Ministries board decided it was unwise for the young people to work indoors until the asbestos question was resolved.
“The roofers have been busy this past week. And a local contractor donated some insulated windows, so installation is taking place, as well. Talk about an answered prayer. Several of the house’s windows are in bad shape, and you know how the winter wind can creep in around the tiniest of crevices.”
“I certainly do.”
Not wanting to get in the way of the hired workers when the sun finally came out, Delaney had borrowed her aunt’s sewing machine and spent most weekdays with a group of church ladies as they set out to accessorize the house. Curtains, throw pillows, wall hangings. She steered clear of the property except to drive by and see how things were progressing. But when the teens finished with the outdoor labor today, would the asbestos testing prove to be negative so they could start working on the interior next weekend? That would be Independence Day weekend, though. Would anyone show up?
The summer was already flying by too fast and the work she’d committed to stretched far beyond her original perception. Had she, as Luke had suggested, bitten off more than she and the youth group could chew?
Gripping her cell phone, she moved to the perimeter of the backyard, away from the noisy, rambunctious boys who’d taken a break from constructing three raised vegetable beds in a sunny patch of the yard for a quick game of touch football. They’d had another good Saturday workday turnout, a couple of parents leaving only a few minutes ago. But although Luke had dropped off Anna and Travis earlier in the day, he’d yet to put in an appearance.
She hadn’t talked to him since a brief chat the day they’d shared “bribery” pizza with the teens. Not inclined to talk much about himself, she did manage to gain a glimpse into his military background and peek into what life must be like at Hunter’s Hideaway, where he and his children lived near several family members.
She and her aunt visited a few more minutes before ending their conversation. Then she looked up just as Luke strode around the corner of the house, his trusty canine Rags at his heels. Her heart cheered at the sight of him and she watched in astonishment as he suddenly dashed into the thick of the football game and snagged a pass intended for Kendrick.
But before he could make a move, the pack of boys forgot that this was a touch game and tackled him.
With no layers of pine needles to cushion his fall, Luke hit the ground hard. Delaney cringed. But to her relief, he laughed as he sat up and handed off the ball to a grinning Kendrick. Rags checked him out to be sure he was okay, then Travis gripped his hand to help him to his feet.
“Serves you right, Dad.”
Still laughing, Luke dusted himself off as Kendrick tossed the ball high into the air, then caught it.
“Are you going to join us for a game, Mister Hunter?”
He shook his head, his fingers kneading the shoulder he’d landed on. “I think I’ll pass, thank you. But I couldn’t resist when I saw that pigskin sailing right past my nose.”
It was then that Luke saw her, a suddenly sheepish grin surfacing only long enough to ramp up her heart rate before it disappeared. He bid the boys a farewell as he and Rags made their way off the temporary playing field to where she stood.
“Are you okay? You took quite a hit.”
He drew back, as if her words had wounded his pride. “Of course. No harm done.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Boys will be boys—at any age?”
His brows lowered slightly.
“Something like that.” He looked back at the yard, then to her once again. “It appears they’re ready to fill in the framework with topsoil that the landscaping company dumped out front just as I was pulling up. We can get that cleared out of the driveway before the workers return again on Monday.”
“Things are moving along.” Then, looking up at him, she giggled. “You have a horn.”
“What?”
“A horn sticking up.” Without thinking, she stepped close and reached into his hair to snag a long pine needle. Her throat suddenly went dry as her fingertips made contact with the short, soft strands.
Startled eyes met hers but, nevertheless, she managed to triumphantly hold up the captured brown spike, longer than the length of her hand.
“See?” she said somewhat breathlessly as she gazed up at him, for a fleeting moment envisioning her younger self slipping the pine needle into the cedar keepsake chest she kept on top of her dresser.
Come on, Delaney, you’re not fifteen anymore, crushing on the boy in math class.
Luke plucked the pine needle from her fingers, studied it for a moment, then tossed it aside.
So much for mementos.
“Thanks for the rescue.” He took a step back as if to put some distance between them, then brushed his hand roughly through his hair to dislodge any other foreign objects caught there when he’d hit the ground. “My kids get their kicks from a good laugh at my expense. Dad with a horn sticking out of the top of his head would certainly make their day.”
A smile twitched. “Like I said, I’m used to being teased by my kids.”
“Now, now, they only tease you because they love you.” Her breath caught again, hoping he didn’t think she was implying...well, anything about her own motive for teasing him.
He held her gaze for a long moment, the emotion in his eyes shifting at lightning speed from surprise to curiosity to open male interest, then shuttering back to that resigned sadness she’d too often seen reflected there.
Think of something to say that will make him happy again.
“Where’s that adorable Chloe today?”
“With her grandma.” He nodded toward the football game still in progress. “I guess we’d better get these guys hauling topsoil before they think they’re done for the day.”
But as he walked away, she couldn’t help but visually search the ground for the lone pine needle she’d plucked from the soft strands of Luke’s hair.
* * *
As Luke strode across the backyard, he slapped his hands together in a loud clap and Rags leaped to his feet. “Come on, boys. Back to business.”
His heart pounding like a marching band drum, his thoughts were anywhere but on hauling dirt. Delaney had caught him off guard when her fingers had innocently slipped into his hair in search of the errant pine needle, sending a tremor down his spine that he prayed she hadn’t felt.
Man, he must be losing it.
The boys joined the girls around front, pausing to inspect the perennials they’d planted along the perimeters of the porch. Blanket flower. Bee balm. Coreopsis. Bellflower. A few others he didn’t recognize from helping in Grandma Jo’s garden when growing up. The place was starting to shape up nicely, far more than he would have guessed when he’d originally invited himself along with Delaney for an inspection.
Delaney.
What was wrong with him? She was every bit as close to Travis’s age as she was to his. Could he get arrested for having thoughts like wanting to catch her hand in his and pull her close for a kiss?