and two bathrooms, Gavin’s place isn’t the worst I’ve seen in terms of an expansion.
We head out to the backyard and go over a few more basic things with the rest of the guys before Gavin leaves us, letting us get to work. He walks back inside with a bit of a limp in his step. I can’t help but frown after him.
“Let’s get to work, man,” Landon says, purposely slapping me on the back.
Bishop and I take measurements, and I start making a rough draft on the exterior blueprints of how far things would need to come out. If we knock down the back wall to extend, we’ll need to get a permit if we extend too far. I’m deep in focus, running numbers through my head, when I suddenly hear the pitter-patter of small feet. With my pencil hovering over the prints, I glance up, and despite myself, I grin when I catch sight of the bleary-eyed little girl with the sleep-mussed hair.
She pushes through the screen door and pauses on the deck, taking in all the men working in the backyard. Gavin’s also looking to landscape the backyard, no doubt for his granddaughter. Her face scrunches in dismay, and she furrows her brows when she looks at me, more than likely recognizing me from the grocery store. Padding down the steps, she pauses in front of Bishop and me. He watches her with a confused expression on his face. I don’t blame him. The kid is an absolute trip.
“Hi.”
“Hey, kiddo.”
“My name’s Luna.”
I fight my grin. “I know. I met you yesterday, remember?”
She pouts, clearly not liking that I’ve corrected her. I cough back a laugh, correcting myself for her sake. “Hey, Luna.”
She grins victoriously at how quickly I gave in. “Whatcha doing?”
I glance around pointedly. “Trying to work on the house for your grandpa.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants more space for you and your mom?” I say it as more of a question than anything else. I shoot a wary glance at Bishop and Landon, who look as much out of their element as I do.
I obviously don’t know much about kids. None of my buddies have them, and I only have one niece who’s already closing in on nine years old.
“Can I have a playground?” She looks directly at Bishop when she asks this.
“Uh…” He shoots a chary glance at me, begging for my help.
“And what about a swimming pool? It can be my early birthday present.” This time, she asks Griffin, and he looks just as uncomfortable as Bishop. It’s comical.
“It snows here, Luna,” I tell her, holding back my laughter. The look she shoots me is so dry, I feel like my skin is being chaffed with sandpaper.
“Annnd?” She raises her brow sassily, and all I can do is shake my head because Christ in heaven, this little girl is something else.
“Luna!”
We all turn at the sharp sound of Selene’s voice. Her face, clean of any makeup, is just as beautiful as it was last night. Though now that I’m paying attention, she looks stricken. When I glance down, I can understand why. Four people who are practically strangers standing right next to her daughter outside would likely freak anyone out. If I were her father, I’d be a little concerned too.
Selene hurries down the back deck steps toward us. She must’ve just woken up because she’s dressed in her nightgown with a flimsy robe tossed over it, and a pair of flip-flops are the only things adorning her feet. She skids to a halt in front of me and pulls Luna into her side. It doesn’t escape my notice how she angles herself in front of her daughter as though she’s shielding her from us.
So she’s a momma bear. I like that.
Selene nervously licks her lips, darting her gaze around me and the guys, and subconsciously, she pats her hair, probably just now realizing it looks a little wild and untamed. It doesn’t deter from her beauty, though. If anything, she looks hot in an ornery way.
“Your dad has us back here taking measurements for the expansion, sorry.”
Her gaze darts to mine, and we stand there, staring at each other for a few suspended seconds. I feel Bishop, Landon, and Griffin looking back and forth between the two of us. Their gazes are drilling holes into the side of my head, and their unspoken questions swirl in the suddenly tense air between us.
Bishop clears his throat, and it seems to snap us both out of