The Stone Family Heart - Taylor Hart Page 0,44

this sheetrock up, get the texturing done.”

Tim was overwhelmed by their generosity. He wasn’t an emotional guy, but his throat tightened with emotion. He grabbed his wallet and said, “Take my card.”

Trent scrunched up his face at him. “Listen, you pretty much saved my sister-in-law when Mr. Jones almost killed her, and then you showed up for our sister in the middle of a hurricane. Let us do something for you, okay?”

“Just take my card,” Tim said as he followed them out to Trey’s truck.

The brothers piled in, and Marshall winked at him. “Suck it up. You’ll just have to get used to people doing nice things for you, Tim.”

He watched them pull away from the house, practically glowing with gratitude. Truth be told, he was also a bit angry that they were right: it was hard for him to accept help. He only wasted a second before he rushed back in, fueled by determination. If they were going to get the sheetrock up tomorrow in the living room and the texturing done, then he needed to finish the electrical in that room tonight.

Tim went back in and assessed what he had as far as supplies. He grabbed his Bluetooth speaker and put on a Pandora playlist, then started working. Of course, while his hands were busy, his mind wandered back to Kensi. He’d wanted to see her when he’d gone to the beach house, but he’d gotten so distracted by her brothers that he hadn’t even asked where she was.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been working when there was a loud knock at the door. No, he couldn’t have any interruptions. He wanted to finish the living room so it would be ready tomorrow. But he forced himself to pause and fling the door open. He was rewarded with the sight of Kensi awaiting him on the other side.

She looked like she had stepped out of a designer magazine. Her red hair flowed gently around her shoulders, and her green eyes were clear. She wore a summer dress, and it was like the past and the future were all wrapped up in one.

She was gorgeous.

Her lip tugged up. “Hello.”

The moment stretched forever, and Tim pulled out his phone long enough to turn off the music. “Hey.”

They stared at each other for a moment, and it would have been weird if it had been any other woman.

He cleared his throat. “I was meaning to come check on you today, but your brothers were fixing the beach house and then we came here.”

“They told me.” She smiled and stepped toward him.

He backed up, holding the door open. “Sorry, come in.”

She walked past him, and he breathed in her vanilla fragrance. She smelled amazing.

"So tomorrow your place is getting a makeover.” She twirled slowly in the kitchen, taking it all in. “You’ve already done a lot.”

It didn’t hurt his pride that she noticed his hard work, or that she was standing in his home. “Thank you.” He grinned, unable to hide his excitement. “But your brothers are a force of nature.” He scratched his head as he added, “I think we’ll be able to get a lot done tomorrow.”

Kensi made her way into the living room, evaluating the effort they had put in. She was slender, and her skin was like porcelain. He wanted to reach for her, hold her.

Abruptly, she stopped. Her gaze went to him. “What?”

Fine, maybe he was looking at her like a stalker. “I was …” He swallowed and decided to tell her the truth. “You’re beautiful.”

For a moment, she didn’t respond; then she smiled. “Tim, don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Say things like that.”

It took him aback that she was acting so dismissive.

“What?” she asked, her expression turning sober.

How did he have such strong feelings for this woman? He hardly knew her anymore.

“Nothing.” Tim moved to the window that faced the ocean and sucked in a breath. The thing his uncle had said to him—Kensi is back for herself—had been running through his mind all day. What did that mean? Why would her return be for herself?

Kensi wandered over to share the beach view. “It’s gorgeous here.”

They’d argued over this very thing so many times. “But you like city life, right?”

She turned to face him. “Why are you angry?”

“I’m not.” He calmed himself.

For a long time, they stared into each other’s eyes, then Kensi turned back to the sunset. “I ran into Mr. Banks today.”

Tension filled him. “Really?”

She explained what Mr. Banks had said about cutting out the petroglyphs.

“He