“What, are you afraid some buck is going to take me out on my walk home?” Her lips stretched to a half smile, as if that was all the energy she had left. She sighed. “Feminism, chivalry, I don’t care. I’m tired, and you’re sweet for offering. I’ll take it. Thanks.”
He walked her to the passenger door, her footsteps wooden and slow like a sleepwalker. The mighty worker had finally hit her wall. He didn’t feel quite as bad. He opened the door, and she slipped in.
Brynn guided him through a couple of turns, and he pulled into her driveway behind her small Jeep. “It was great to meet you, Brynn.” He turned off the ignition, ready to walk her to her door, but she placed a hand on his forearm, stopping his movement as he focused on her touch.
“Stay here. You’re tired. You can watch me unlock my door and go in.” Her hand slipped down his arm until her fingers reached his and lingered a second longer. “Thanks for making today so fun, Gage. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course,” he said, but he wasn’t sure what he should do. She was about to open the car door. If he allowed the misunderstanding to continue much longer, she’d likely not forgive him. “Um, Brynn?”
“Yeah?” She turned back toward him with trusting, maybe even admiring, eyes.
It felt good to be appreciated, but worry twisted in his gut. He needed some time to tweak the situation before she hated him. The last thing he wanted was for her to realize he was the same Mr. Konewko who’d started off not only on the wrong foot, but the wrong planet. He’d have to ask Keenan and Avery what they thought he should do. “See you soon.”
To: Brynn Caley
From: Joseph Konewko III
Demo Day
Apparently, things went rather well today, and I understand that you were there all day working your tail off. I appreciate your hard, dirty work. I was impressed with how much two people were able to accomplish in one day, and not to worry—starting tomorrow, you’ll have additional help. I’m impressed by your work ethic and wanted to say thank you. It reminds me of one of my favorite fishing sayings: “A reel expert can tackle anything.” You must be an angler at heart.
Sincerely—thank you.
JGK
Gage quashed the pang of guilt he felt for not fessing up. He was making things worse, but he didn’t want to take the chance of alienating her. He liked her. She’d been amazing. He would have some serious backpedaling to do if he was going to earn her respect for Mr. Konewko, let alone like him. He double-checked the email to make sure he didn’t say anything technically wrong, even if it was misleading by making it sound like he’d heard this from someone else rather than experiencing it himself.
After sending the email, Gage joined Keenan and Avery in the living room. He was sure he’d fall asleep on the couch in front of them, but he would give staying awake a valiant fight.
“Whew!” Gage fell onto the living room rug, his hair still wet from his shower. The couch was just too far away to be reached.
“You look exhausted,” Keenan said, stating the obvious.
“Laugh it up, fuzzball,” Gage mumbled from the floor. He heard a woman’s chuckle. At least one of them caught the reference.
It was no way to greet his guests, especially since he hadn’t exactly been introduced to Avery yet, but at least he was entertaining them … in a way.
“We said we’d come by and help,” Keenan reminded him. He’d texted when the two of them got into town about an hour before, but Gage sent directions to the cabin instead of to the store.
“There was no need for you to get all gross tonight. Tomorrow’s soon enough.” Gage recovered enough strength to sit up cross-legged on the floor.
“So? What did you think?” Keenan was sitting rather close to a pretty blonde, their hands intertwined. “And before you purposely misunderstand, I’m asking about Brynn.”
Leave it to his best friend to know him inside and out. He decided to level with them. “Oh, you have no idea. She’s gorgeous. And funny. And smart. And—” He knew he was drifting off with a faraway look in his eyes. He had to look silly, but he didn’t care.
“That good, huh? And what did she think of you?” Keenan pressed.
“Therein lies the problem.” Gage let out a huge sigh as he leaned his head against the seat of the chair behind him. As he looked up, he was momentarily distracted by the ceiling fan and a long cobweb that stretched diagonally across the room. “She kind of didn’t realize I’m the guy she calls Mr. Konewko.”
“And you kind of didn’t set her right?” Avery’s eyes went wide.
“I couldn’t. Are you kidding? She hates Mr. Konewko.” Gage gulped and stretched his legs out, crossing his feet at the ankles. It was easier than sitting like a kindergartner. “Apparently, I’ve come across too strong in my emails.”
Keenan pulled a face, but before he could say anything, Gage interrupted him. “I know, you told me so.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to say it, but yeah,” Keenan gloated, per his usual self, but only because he knew Gage could take it. “You do realize you need to set her straight. Want us to do it tomorrow?”
Gage covered his face with his hands, anguish crushing his hopes. “No, not yet. I need some time. Somehow, I have to change her perception of Mr. Konewko first. I don’t want to mess this up.”
He was thankful no one told him he already had.
Chapter 11
Realizing that Gage was a bit of an early bird, Brynn headed to the store as soon as she was ready instead of waiting for the appointed time. She’d only been inside Owen’s Outfitters for a few minutes before the door opened. She twirled around, expecting Gage. Instead, a young man she didn’t recognize stepped over the threshold and stopped to survey the place with a critical eye. Though she figured Mr. Konewko to be an older man, just the way he took in the store and the fact that he wasn’t Gage meant it had to be him. So this is Joseph Konewko. Her insides squirmed, but she attempted to tamp down the feeling. As Gage had said, she needed to give her new partner a shot.
The man’s eyes stopped on her. Just as he was about to greet her, the door opened again, admitting a classically beautiful woman about her own age. The pretty, willowy woman had straight blonde hair worn loose about her shoulders. Blinking, she walked up behind the man and wrapped her arms around his waist. Brynn noticed a charm bracelet dangling from her wrist and an engagement ring staking her claim. Great. The complete set—the bossy partner has a high-maintenance girlfriend—fiancée, Brynn corrected herself, taking a peek at the ring again. That’s all I need.
When the man whispered something in her ear, his fiancée dropped her arms and backed off to a respectable distance before looking Brynn’s direction. Her pale face blushed furiously. “Sorry. It’s so dark in here, I didn’t realize we weren’t alone.” She stepped forward. “I’m Avery.”
Brynn was just about to say hi when she noticed Gage edging around the couple. “And that’s my buddy Keenan. They’re the construction crew.”
Then what was Gage? Maybe he was just trying to be honest. Yesterday had clued her in that Gage didn’t exactly know his way around a toolbox. Either way, neither of them were Mr. Konewko, so she relaxed.
“Great to meet you both.” She grasped the broom handle tightly, trying to keep up her confidence as the outsider. She was part owner, and this crew was here to help her. “It’ll be nice to double the manpower, right, Gage?”
“Oh, yeah.” He faked as if he were exhausted already, but he had a smile on his face. “Are you sore this morning, Brynn, or am I the only one?”
“A little bit,” she admitted. Gage looked so adorable, she couldn’t bear to leave him hanging. Moving heavy objects and ripping up old carpet wasn’t her typical workout, and she’d been both surprised to be sore and thrilled to find that her recovering leg did just as well as the strong one. One more reason she couldn’t wait for the snow. “I’m ready for more.” Although she’d been nervous thinking she would meet Mr. Konewko in person that day, as soon as
she saw Gage, her nervousness turned into butterflies—of the best kind.
Over the next few days, the four of them got into a regular routine: Avery working with Brynn on the walls and ceilings, leaving Keenan and Gage working together on the floor.
“Not that I mind, but I’m kind of surprised you aren’t working with Keenan instead of with me,” Brynn said to Avery as they patched holes and sanded them down in preparation for fresh paint on the walls.
“Um …” Avery stalled, probably thinking of how to say it delicately, when the answer dawned on Brynn.
“Oh, I get it. It’s because I need the help.”
Brynn thought back to how Avery always knew the next step the two of them needed to take. She knew all about the electrical when they needed to replace the inconsistent florescent lights with new LED ones, which doubled the light in the room with half as many fixtures. Brynn wouldn’t have had a clue how to do any of this, whereas Avery was completely self-sufficient, never having to ask the guys for assistance.
“You’re doing great.” Avery was both reassuring and encouraging. “I grew up doing this, so it’s second nature—and my job. Put me on a ski slope, and you would literally be holding me up. I don’t know the first thing about skiing.” Avery looked over at the guys who were finally prepping the floor for thinset, with boxes of tiles stacked neatly nearby. “You’re not the only one who needs a little guidance. I don’t know if you noticed Gage.”
Brynn wondered if her interest in Gage had been too marked, too obvious. She’d had the hardest time keeping her eyes on her work. If she ever stopped consciously keeping herself on task, she found her eyes and her daydreams filled with him.
“I thought he was doing okay,” Brynn answered, but obviously, Avery was insinuating that he wasn’t. “Shows what I know.” Brynn laughed at her own expense.
“Oh, he is. You’re both quick learners. In fact, maybe we could persuade you to come work for us.” She chuckled. “As if we could get either one of you away from this store.”
Surprised and confused by the statement, Brynn was about to ask what she meant, but Avery had already left to get something from the toolbox. It was probably a slip and didn’t mean anything. They’d be done with the renovation soon enough, and then Gage, at least, would be free. Avery returned with sandpaper. “I think it’s dry enough now to move on to the next step.”
Brynn leaned against the wall and looked over at the guys. Keenan was watching Avery off and on, but Gage was hard at work on his knees, the muscles in his arms contracting and releasing as he worked the trowel with the thinset over the concrete subfloor. Keenan stood behind him, buttering a tile that lay on his palm like an upside-down pizza. The men looked like they were in a commercial, smiling and joking, good-looking and happy. Brynn longed to be part of that, but she knew in a few days the job would be complete and she’d be stuck with the stranger she had yet to meet.
“You guys know Mr. Konewko, right?” Brynn asked the room in general. They were close enough that everyone could hear her, and she concentrated on the men’s backs for a reaction. “I mean, he hired you, didn’t he?”
Gage’s back stiffened as he stilled the scraping motion, sitting on his knees as if waiting for someone else to answer.
Keenan, on the other hand, turned to look at her, a slight upturn at one corner of his mouth. “Sure.” He nodded. “What do you want to know?”
“I don’t know what to ask, exactly. It’s just that I haven’t met him in person yet, which in itself is kind of weird, don’t you think?” Brynn wished she’d thought this through before initiating the conversation, but as long as she behaved herself, it wouldn’t hurt, right? “He’s a bit of an enigma.”
Keenan laughed so hard he doubled over, but with a glare from Gage, he stifled it, returning his attention to Brynn. “Whew!” He choked off another laugh. “Thank you for that. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.”
Confused, Brynn tried to remain patient, hoping this would eventually lead to something she could understand, some nugget she could grasp.
Keenan tried out a serious face, apparently as serious as he could make it for the time being. “Wow. Well, I’ve known him for a long time, and no one has ever made him sound so interesting. Or mysterious.” He paused for a second, handing Gage the next buttered tile, thus encouraging his friend to plug away at the task at hand. “He’s just a regular guy. I’m sure when you meet him, you’ll understand why there’s been this delay. He’s got a good reason.”
“Well.” Brynn couldn’t help but feel slightly offended. After all, Mr. Konewko had practically ordered her to help with the remodel and he had yet to darken their doorstep. He had to be back from the expo by now. “Doesn’t anyone else think it’s odd that he hasn’t at least shown up to inspect our progress? Grace us with his blessing?” A not-so-charitable thought occurred to her. “I’m not going to change anything he doesn’t like. It’s his own fault for not being here for the decision-making.”
Why was she complaining about this? She was actually pleased to have had the opportunity to take over that role, especially as she had the help of her three new friends who had the construction experience to help her out. “I had been wondering what he’s contributing to our project, but I guess it’s money. I just thought he was going to be here.”
She closed her mouth, wishing she’d stopped a couple of minutes ago. She sounded bitter and untrusting, and it had completely changed the mood from Keenan’s mirthful laughter a moment ago.
“I hear what you’re saying, Brynn,” Gage said, turning to face her for the first time in this conversation. “And I totally agree. But it’s probably for the best. He’s not very meticulous about these kinds of things. Giving him a paintbrush would be disastrous.”
It didn’t escape Brynn’s notice that Avery and Keenan gave Gage a weird look. Perhaps they thought he was exaggerating way too much, but Gage’s reassurance did make her feel better. Brynn relaxed, accepting the sandpaper Avery handed her.
“I know for a fact he’s looking forward to meeting you, Brynn,” Gage continued. “And I think the two of you will work well together. Just give him a chance.”
Gage had said as much before, but this time, he sounded almost sad. Could it be that he wanted to be in Mr. Konewko’s shoes as much as Brynn wanted him to be? Why couldn’t Gage have been her partner instead of the despotic email writer? But she couldn’t very well hold it against him that he wasn’t Gage. It wasn’t his fault.
She breathed deeply, exhaling and pulling on a genuine smile. “You guys are right. I guess I’m just nervous since I don’t know what I’m in for.” She desperately wanted to change the subject. “Do you guys want to do something after we knock off work tonight?”
Typically after a long day, all she wanted was food and a shower and maybe some Netflix, but she found herself wanting to spend as much time as possible with her new friends—especially in a setting where Avery and Keenan would pair off and she could spend the time getting to know Gage a little more personally.
“After this painful job—” Gage rubbed his hands. “—what I want is my hot tub, but I’d love the company. What say you?” He specifically looked at Keenan and Avery, including everyone.
“I’d never turn that down,” Avery agreed.
“Sounds like a plan,” Keenan said.
By the time Brynn had cleaned up enough to head over to Gage’s cabin after their full day of tiling and painting, it was nearly ten o’clock. She wasn’t sure how long she wanted to be out, but they had to take a full day’s break from the renovations for the thinset to set.
Parked in Gage’s driveway, Brynn hesitated in her Jeep after turning the key, listening to the motor cool and click. Was she interested in pursuing Gage if it was going to be no more than a couple days’ fling? What did she even know about him? She didn’t know how long he’d been a resident of Ruidoso. As Avery pointed out, he didn’t seem skilled enough to be working for a construction crew or to be an independe
nt handyman for hire, so he must have a different job, but one that gave him time off to pretend to work construction? If Mr. Konewko had hired him because they were friends, it didn’t exactly mean he was local. Like Keenan and Avery, Gage could be from out of town and occupying one of the many rental units in the area.
Brynn shook her head. She was nutty to hope their working relationship would transform into something more. Just because the four of them were hanging out—by her own suggestion, no less—didn’t mean Gage was interested in any other kind of relationship.
She didn’t have to take the relationship to the next level. They could stay friends. If nothing else, a hot tub was exactly what her weary arms needed. After wielding a paint roller all day, they currently felt like cooked spaghetti. She’d rolled as quickly as she could with Avery cutting in around the ceiling and baseboard, working double time to stay in front of the guys, but surprisingly, they’d finished painting the entire store in one day. That was why she was here, or so she convinced herself, so she would get out of the stinking car. She was hiding like a scared rabbit, and this was so not like her. She was a go-getter and had never met a challenge she wouldn’t take.
Buoyed by her own pep talk, Brynn stepped out into the clear, crisp night.
“Hey, Brynn.” Gage opened the door to the cabin before she was halfway up the walk. She was mortified—he must have noticed her sitting in her car. She tried to convince herself that for all he knew, she was finishing a song on the radio. “Glad you found the place.”
“Have you lived here long?” She stepped through the door he held open. While she waved to Keenan and Avery, who were standing at the breakfast bar laden with snacks, but Brynn focused her attention on Gage for an answer.
“For now, this is a rental. I’ve only been in town a few weeks. But the place is growing on me, so I may make an offer. Or see what else is available—maybe ask Martin to find me something.”
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