“I was being flippant, Matt. I got the impression this was a done deal when the offer letter came in.” He held back the growl building in his throat.
“You didn’t sign it.”
He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. After a count of three, he exhaled. “I told you I needed to tie up loose ends, and I couldn’t commit to a specific date until I was certain I had everything in order.”
“Is it in order?”
“Almost.”
He looked around the bookstore at the rows of colorful spines. He breathed in the scent of paper mixed with the lemon-infused furniture polish used on the tables at the end of the day. He’d miss the bookstore and Will. His heart lurched when he thought of Natalie. He’d miss her the most.
“Get your ducks in a row, man. We need you here.”
“You don’t need me. You need someone with deep pockets and my skill set.”
Matt ignored the statement. “I’ll keep you posted.”
He hung up and looked at his schedule. He’d been in Aspen Cove for weeks longer than he expected. Doc was certain once the shop was opened, there would be a line of people waiting to interview. The only application he’d gotten was from Louise, who was nice enough, but when she said she’d have to bring her eight kids to work with her, he passed. That was opening day and two weeks ago.
As much as he shouldn’t care what happened after he left, he did. Building the shop was a labor of love. Love for a woman he’d never met but who gave him the greatest gift since his mother birthed him.
The door opened, and Will walked inside, looking bedraggled with smudges of dirt coloring his cheeks.
“Look at you. Did you give up the bookstore and find another career path?” He opened the small refrigerator from under the counter to get Will a bottle of water. “Drink this and take a seat. Tell me what you’re up to.” He knew what Will was up to. Natalie had texted to tell him not to pick them up because they had gotten a ride from Tilden, who was coming into town early, and she wanted to get a head start on the cleanup.
He’d missed seeing them first thing in the morning.
“She’s working me to death.”
“You’ll live. Remember that she’s doing this for you. There’s sacrifice to every gain.”
“I don’t even know what that means.” Will drank deeply.
“It means that often, the important stuff takes work. Your sacrifice is hard labor. Your sister’s is much bigger. She’s working beside you, on top of taking on the responsibility of a house and raising a brilliant young man.”
Will always thrived under positive reinforcement. Since his arrival, Jake had watched Will transform from a thug-in-training to a young man with a bright future.
With the dramatic flair that only a boy could have, Will dropped his head to the table with a thunk. “It doesn’t take any brains to clean, and if Wes brings over the leftover paint he used on his house, then I’ll be painting until I keel over.” He lifted his head. “Why can’t we hire a painter?”
“You can, but that might mean you can’t eat for the week.”
“Not true. You gave us more food than we know what to do with.”
That sparked an idea. “How about I get Agatha to watch things, and I come over to help?”
Will jumped up. “Now that’s an idea.” He looked at the clock hanging on the wall. “I better get going, or she’ll send out a search party.”
“Why are you here?”
A hint of red painted his cheeks. “I’m supposed to get my shot records, so Nat has a copy of them, and then come right back.”
“Nat?”
His smile spread wide. “Yeah, she thinks it’s a term of endearment—a nickname, but I call her that because she’s like the bug.”
“Which starts with a G.”
Will rose from the chair. “That’s why I get away with it. She doesn’t ask me to spell it.” He turned toward the door, and before he opened it, he said, “Just so you know, I think you’re brilliant, too.” Will raced out and down the street.
Jake was on the phone seconds later.
“Agatha, I know you don’t technically work here, but could you cover the rest of the day? I want to help Natalie get the house ready.”
There was a pause and some muffled chatter as if she’d covered the phone.
“I’ll be right over.”
She showed up five minutes later with a jumbo bag of Skittles and a Red Bull.
“Those drinks will kill you if the candy doesn’t do it first.”
She dismissed him with a wave. “I gave up gambling, drinking, and sex, on most days. This is my new vice.”
He didn’t want to remind her that she enjoyed a glass of wine nightly at Bishop’s Brewhouse. As far as the sex, he wouldn't go there with a septuagenarian.
“Thank you for doing this. Natalie could use the help.”
She settled onto the stool behind the counter. “And you look like you could use Natalie.”
“You might be right.” He left through the front door. It was just after noon, and he was certain neither Natalie nor Will had eaten, so he stopped at the diner for burgers and fries for them and a grilled chicken breast salad for himself.
He took a seat at the counter and watched as Maisey and Louise tamed the lunch crowd.
When Louise leaned against the back bar for a breather, Jake said, “Thanks for covering for Natalie.”
“It’s a blessing to me. I could use the work. With five out of my eight kids heading for school, things are tight. Don’t get me wrong. We aren’t hungry or anything. It’s more about the school supplies and clothes. Brian wears out a pair of sneakers every few months. Eric is growing like a weed. He’s the second oldest, but he’s inches taller than Brian, and only a few short of Bobby. Don’t get me started on the girls. The hair ties alone could send me to debtor’s prison.”
“Where are the kids now?”
She gave him a devious smile. “I duct-taped them to the wall.” She covered her mouth to squelch the laughter. “Just kidding.” She nodded toward the table where Will usually sat. Shoved into the booth were six of her eight. “Bobby’s sister is keeping an eye on the babies. She can’t handle them all.”
“Order up,” Ben called from the window.
Maisey rushed over to grab it.
As Jake pulled cash from his pocket, and Louise rushed off to refill coffees and sodas, he asked, “Would you miss Natalie too much if she were to leave the diner?”
Maisey cocked her head. “Are you taking her with you?” She put her pen to her mouth and gnawed on the end. “I heard rumors about you two.”
“No, and we’re just friends.” He glanced around the diner. “I was thinking about how Louise needs stable employment to keep her kids in shoes. And although she applied for the job at the bookstore, I don’t think having the kids there would be good for the business.”
“Or good for the books.” Maisey handed him the bill and swiped up both twenties he offered. As she made change at the nearby register, she asked, “You want Natalie to manage the bookstore?” The cash drawer opened with a ding and closed with a thud. “She depends on the steady influx of daily cash.” She put his change on the counter.
He hadn’t considered that. “What do you think she makes?”
Maisey laughed. “I can tell you what she makes. It’s not enough to retire on, and just enough to get by.”
“Seriously, Maisey. If I can steal her from you, I need to offer something enticing. Now that she has Will, she’ll need a stable paycheck.” He knew waitressing wouldn’t provide that. One massive storm could stop her income flow for days.
Maisey frowned. “While I hate to lose her because she’s so good, if you could convince her to leave so Louise could take her job, and you provided her with a livable wage, I’d make the sacrifice. Letting her go would help the greater good.”
“I agree. Let me see what I can do.” He grabbed the bag and turned toward the door.
“Hey, you forgot
your change.”
He chuckled. “Put it into your retirement account.”
As he drove to 35 Pansy Lane, he realized how perfect this plan was. The house was conveniently located close to the bookstore. While it was the same for the diner, managing the shop gave her more flexibility. No one would be disconcerted if it was closed, so she could take Will to school or grab lunch at the diner.
With the bags of food in his hands, he walked toward the open door. Gone was the dust-covered floor, and in its place worn but clean planks of oak. The air smelled of Pine-Sol instead of mustiness.
“In the kitchen,” Natalie said.
He walked in and found her halfway inside the oven. The lower half stuck out and wiggled as she scrubbed.
He could have stood there all day and watched her round bottom move, but that would defeat his purpose of coming to help.
“I brought food.”
“I smell burgers,” Will called from the living room. He raced toward the kitchen and slid to a stop in the doorway. “Are you staring at my sister’s—”
“You want that cheeseburger or not, buddy?” He gave him a side-eye.
Natalie shimmied back and stood. “You were watching my—”
“Hard to ignore,” he cut in. “Now, come and eat.” He looked around and noticed there was no place for them to sit. “Let’s go outside.” He led them to the porch, where they took a seat on the steps. “Will, please go to the SUV and get three water bottles.”
Will slogged toward the gate now propped open with a large rock.
“If you’d told him there was soda in the car, he’d already be back.” She peeked inside the first bag. “This is for you.” She pulled out the salad and plastic utensils. “You didn’t have to bring us lunch. I brought a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. We would have been okay.”
“I know, but I wanted to see you.” He reached over and wiped a smudge of black grease from her chin. “You’re a mess, and yet you’re still beautiful.”
She lowered her head, but the blush reached her ears.
“Catch,” Will said just before he lobbed the water bottles like missiles in their direction.
Luckily for them, they were quick to respond, or else they’d both be out cold or at least bruised.
“Next time, you hand them over nicely,” Natalie reprimanded. “You could have hurt us.”
A loud sigh escaped. “Sorry. I was trying to have some fun.”
“It’s okay. Let’s eat and do more cleaning, and maybe we can persuade Jake to take us for ice cream.”
Will shifted his lips from side to side. “That’s not fun. That’s just tasty.”
“You haven’t been to Sam’s Scoops. His truck sits next to a park around the lake, and he serves up interesting ice cream flavors.”
Will opened the bag and pulled out his burger and fries. He was about to shove a bite in his mouth and stopped. “Interesting how?”
She giggled, and it was a beautiful sound.
“Things like green tea and grasshopper guts or dog bones and dynamite.”
“Grasshopper guts?” Jake asked.
“Not really. It’s just a name, but it’s a fun one.”
“Let’s eat and finish up cleaning so we can go eat guts and dog bones.”
“I’m in,” Will said and bit into his burger.
Natalie opened her Styrofoam container and pulled the onion off the burger. She leaned over and whispered, “In case you want to kiss me again.”
“You think onions will stop me?” He looked at Will. “Care if I kiss your sister?”
“You didn’t ask for permission the first time.” Ketchup oozed from the corner of his mouth until he cleaned it up with a swipe of his tongue.
“You’re right.” He handed Will a napkin. “Occasionally, I’d like to kiss your sister and stuff. Is that okay?”
Will rolled his eyes. “I don’t mind the kissing, but I don’t want to see the ‘and stuff.’ I got eyefuls of that when my dad was alive, and some crack ho came to get her fix.”
How this boy ever made it out alive was a mystery. “Duly noted.”
As they finished their lunch, a truck pulled to the curb. Wes Covington got out and reached into the bed to grab gallons of paint. They hung from his fingers like ornaments from a tree. The cans swayed back and forth on his walk to the porch.
“Afternoon.” Wes set them on the porch. “I went through the paint and found these. I’ve got two more gallons at home if you need them.” He popped the top off to show a soft beige.
Natalie jumped from her place on the steps and threw her arms around him. “Thank you so much. I … I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You just did.” Looking uncomfortable with the show of affection, Wes stepped back and shoved his hands inside his pockets. “I swiped up all the houses I could before Mason Van der Veen did. This is one of the better ones, but with the high demand for skilled workers, it will be a while before I can get to it.” He smiled. “You’re doing me a favor. Vacant properties seem to fall apart faster than occupied homes.”
“Can’t I pay you something?”
“You are. You’re painting.” He turned in a circle. “And if you can beat this yard into submission, I’d be grateful.”
Will stood and wiped his hands on his jeans before holding his out. “Thank you, Mr. Wes. This sure makes up for all the times your wife poked me with a needle.”
Wes laughed. “That’s her superpower. Stay on her good side, or the next ones will hurt worse.” He said his goodbyes and drove off.
“Break’s over.” Natalie stood and gathered the garbage.
Jake quickly ate the rest of his salad and followed her into the house. “Where do you want me?”
She lifted a brow. “Where do I want you, or where do I need you?” She shook her head, and her whole body appeared to shudder. “Seeing as they’re both the same, how about you focus on the windows?” She moved into the kitchen and picked up the spray bottle of cleaner and a roll of paper towels.
“I’ve got a better idea. How about you finish the oven, and I’ll supervise from behind?”
She pointed to the living room. “Out.”
They scrubbed and cleaned until half-past four. When the broom fell from her hands, and she looked ready to seep into the hardwood floors, he yelled for Will. “Time for grasshopper guts.”
Natalie wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “I don’t know if I have the energy for that.”
“All you need to do is sit in the car. I’ll do the rest.”
Will ran from the hallway to the SUV without further coaxing.
Jake wrapped his arm around Natalie and gave her a squeeze. “You’ve done well.”
She tilted her head up to see him. “I hope it’s enough.”
* * *
Natalie fell asleep on the thirty-minute drive. When he stopped in front of Sam’s Scoops Ice Cream truck, he told Will to go pick what he wanted, and he’d be there to pay in a few minutes.
“Hey love, we’re here.” He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she groaned. “Oh my God, I feel like I’ve experienced some kind of medieval torture.”
“No rack or guillotine present, but how about an ice cream?”
Immediately, she appeared to have more energy. “Sounds great, but I’m buying.”
He’d never let her pay. Her stubborn sense of pride was why he didn’t hire someone to come in and do the work for her. She wouldn’t have allowed it. But ice cream … she’d have to live with him buying her a cup or cone.
He exited the car and rushed over to open her door. Instead of letting her walk, he scooped her into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she squealed.
“I told you all you had to do was sit. I’m a man of my word.” He carried her to the empty picnic bench.
Will ran over. The excitement oozed from his pores. “They have three flavors.” He raised his hand and made a face. “Th
ere’s something called Tie Me Up, which is red rope licorice and strawberry ice cream. Snots and Dots, which is vanilla ice cream with caramel syrup and chocolate sprinkles, and then there is what I’m having.”
It was hard not to get excited with him looking ready to burst out of his skin. “What’s that?”
“Dinosaur Dung.”
“Gross.” Natalie made a gagging sound. “You wouldn’t eat black bean soup, but you’ll eat dinosaur poop?”
“It’s not really poop. It’s chocolate ice cream with brownie bites dipped in rock candy, so it looks like meteor bits.”
“Sounds … amazing.” She reached in her back pocket and took out a twenty. “I’m paying.”
“Not a chance. What will it be?”
Knowing she wouldn’t win, she quickly gave up. “Snots and dots.”
Will took his cone to a nearby swing set while Jake sat across from Natalie eating his Tie Me Up minus the licorice.
“This should give me enough energy to pack up a few things when we get home. Would you mind swinging by to pick us up in the morning?”
She licked the cone. Each time her tongue swept up the cream, his body twitched with need.
“Not a problem. Do you need my help packing your stuff? I don’t have plans tonight.”
She considered his offer for a moment. “No, you’ve already done enough for me. I hate to ask for the ride, but it’s too far to walk, and I’d like to get started on the painting tomorrow.” She took another lick. “I called Bobby about my car, and he said it was a bad alternator. I feel bad because I know things are tight with them, and he has to pay for the part up-front.” She gripped her cone so hard it fractured and fell to the table, leaving what little bit of ice cream was left on her palm.
He took her hand and raised it to his mouth, licking off the stickiness. The whole time their eyes never left each other’s. It was the deepest sense of intimacy he’d felt with a woman, and he wasn’t even inside her. When all the stickiness was gone, he kissed her palm and set it down on the table.
“I have a proposition for you.”
She looked down at her hand. “Does it include your tongue?”
“It could, but this isn’t sexual. It’s responsible.”
One Hundred Decisions: An Aspen Cove Romance Page 10