give a fuck.”
Julio frowned. “I am cold and callous and don’t give a fuck.”
“Well, son, you are going to need to change that attitude,” Earl lectured. “You are going to be the first person there with a paintbrush in hand and the last one to leave. What’s more, your girl helps out at the women and children’s center. So you, my friend, are about to tap into your sensitive side.”
“Why are you doing this?” Julio asked.
Martha arrived with all of their food, and Julio noted that the two BLTs that Earl ordered did look mouthwatering. Martha served one to Earl and the other to Julio. She also had a heaping basket of hot fries and two milkshakes.
The one thing she didn’t bring was a cup of black coffee.
“Are you sure about this?”
Julio had to be insane to be taking dating advice from the old codger. He was as shifty as any con artist Julio had ever seen. But then there was just something about Earl that drew one in.
“Whatever he is trying to convince you of, mister,” Martha sighed, “I would run the other way as fast as your legs will take you.”
Earl grinned again, “Are you in?”
Julio picked up his BLT. “I’m in.” And then he paused, “What does someone wear when they want to paint something?”
22
“Um, Julio?”
Julio turned his head to see Natalie staring at him in shock. His paintbrush was still against the trim of the senior citizens’ center.
“Natalia,” he murmured, giving her a wide smile, “What are you doing here?”
Natalie frowned at him. It was 7:30 in the morning, and they hadn’t intended to start until eight. She had volunteered to come early to paint the trim, and it was nearly done.
“What am I doing here?” she repeated to him, “No, the better question is, what are you doing here?”
Julio showed her his brush. “Painting.”
Natalie gritted her teeth, “I can see that. I was just wondering why you were painting.”
Julio blinked innocently. “Because it needed to be done. Alice and Reena showed me where to paint. I don’t think I ruined anything.”
It looked really good. Natalie didn’t need to know that Julio had been there since nearly four in the morning. He wanted to show her that he had changed.
“You know Alice and Reena?” Natalie’s frown deepened.
Julio gave her his most charming smile. “They are lovely. We were discussing some things that might help improve the center. A wheelchair ramp will be added this week, and the furniture needs some updating.”
Natalie shook her head, “Julio, I am sure you don’t give a flying rat’s ass about a senior citizens’ center in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere.”
Julio’s smile fell, and he moved down the ladder so that they were on even ground.
“How would you know what I care about, Natalie? You won’t speak to me, won’t have anything to do with me. I like Otterville Falls. Here, the people are kind. I like Sutton and Mark and their adorable twins. And I like spending time at Abberly’s with Earl and Martha. So maybe, just maybe, I might give a flying rat’s ass.”
Natalie cheeks heated, and she took a step back. “Why should I believe you?”
Julio let out a sigh. “I haven’t been involved in the business for a long time. I don’t know what else you want me to tell you.”
The door to the center opened, and Reena poked her head out. “It’s about time you got here, Natalie! Your husband has been up since before dawn. Come and see the new appliances he had installed in the kitchen!”
Natalie gritted her teeth. “You can’t buy my affections, Julio.”
He stared at her for a long while. The tension between them was thick, and even Reena felt it and closed the door. Finally, Julio spoke, his voice low and insistent.
“Please, I am begging you, give me a chance. I am not the man you left.”
Natalie felt emotion clog her throat as a myriad of memories washed over her. It had seemed like something out of a dream. They were so young, and he was so dashing. They fell in love and married so fast that she hadn’t taken the time to really get to know him.
And then by the time she did, things were out of control.
“I almost died,” she choked out.
Julio drew in a sharp breath. “Do you think I don’t remember that? That it hasn’t haunted me every second, even all these years later? I used to think that I deserved you leaving. That there was nothing,