coffee.
They’d barely cleared the front door before her dad said, “You were always too good for that boy.”
“Said every father on the planet. He’s only a friend, and it was kind of him to stay once I sprained my ankle.”
He harrumphed.
They walked side by side until he reached his blue Ford truck.
She faced him. “I can write you a check, Daddy. I can divert three thousand from my store for now, but that’s all I have to give.”
“That’s all I need.” He embraced her, holding her tight. “Honey, you don’t know what this means to me.”
She softened at his gratitude. “Of course.”
“I’ll pay you back. It shouldn’t take too long now that I got a raise.”
When he let go of her she reached into her purse and pulled out her checkbook. After she wrote the check she handed it over, swallowing back a surge of apprehension. With no money to fall back on, she’d better hope and pray nothing else went wrong.
chapter twenty-four
While Aiden ripped the carpet from the tack strips, Sophie held her breath. On hands and knees she rolled the carpet and padding away from the walls, slowly revealing the wood floor beneath it.
Please let it be in good condition.
She’d pulled up a few corners weeks ago, delighted to find the original planking under the carpet. The caramel-colored wood had seemed like it only needed a little TLC, the minor scuffs and scrapes simply adding character. She hoped there were no ghastly water stains that would require sanding and restaining. She didn’t have time for that.
Sophie surveyed the exposed flooring. “So far so good.”
“It looks great. Nothing a coat of polyurethane won’t cure, I think.”
They’d finished painting yesterday. They had only to remove the painter’s tape but decided to pull the carpet first thing this morning and see what they had to work with.
Aiden moved to another wall, ripping the carpet free from the strips. When it proved stubborn, Sophie joined his efforts. Finally the old carpet came loose. Some minor discolorations marred the wood near the door.
“Looks like a good place for a rug,” Aiden said.
“Doesn’t it?”
“How long will the shelving take to install?”
“Leonard said two days. He called last night to tell me they were ready. We just need to take care of this floor first.”
“You’ll have to give the polyurethane some time to cure before installing the shelves.”
“I have the fast-drying type, but it needs two coats, and you can’t walk on it for twelve hours. You’re supposed to wait three days to put furniture on it, but we don’t have that kind of time. We’ll clean the floor and hopefully get both coats done today. Tomorrow, while it cures, I can price books—I should have no trouble doing that on my own.”
Aiden sat back on his haunches, bringing him close enough for her to see the silver flecks in his blue eyes and the stubble on his jaw. Smell the lingering scent of his soap.
He regarded her with an enigmatic expression. “Are you saying you’ll be finished with me after today?”
She shrugged, her stomach wobbling at his nearness—and at the thought of his departure. “I know you have a life to get back to. Once the shelves are in, it’ll just be a matter of setting up my shop. My ankle is already a lot better. I’ll be off the crutches by tomorrow, I think.”
The look in his eyes might’ve passed for regret. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
“You’ll still be hobbling around.”
“I can work around that. There’s nothing too arduous ahead of me.”
“What about the heavy boxes of books? You shouldn’t be carrying that kind of weight.”
She hadn’t really considered that. “I’ll see if I can get some help. Seth might be able to come after work tomorrow, and maybe Jenna and Grant wouldn’t mind pitching in once they return from their honeymoon.” Though she hated to ask them.
His eyes searched hers. “Sounds like you’ve thought it through. I guess I should book a flight for tomorrow then.”
“Sounds reasonable.” The thought of him leaving made her gut twist. She’d gotten used to having him around again.
That live wire stretched between them, zinging pulses back and forth. Drawing her in. Making her wish things were different.
She broke eye contact, giving a quiet laugh. “You’ll probably be glad to get away from these mundane chores and get back to your adrenaline rushes.”
His gaze traveled over her face, his eyes turning thoughtful. “I’m glad I stayed.”
Sophie basked in his affectionate look. Tried to memorize the