Her Dirty Builders (Men at Work #10) - Mika Lane Page 0,8

outburst. And unfortunately for him, he had to be my witness.

I buried my face in my hands to hide the mess I was turning into but knew my shaking sobs gave me away. Just as I was about to ask him to show himself to the door so I could go get some toilet paper to blow my nose on, I felt his hand on my elbow.

I looked up and saw a kindness in his eyes, like he knew what it was like when the universe decided to take a huge dump on you. It was all I could do not to tumble into his arms.

But I didn’t need to. He slung an awkward arm around my shoulder and patted my arm.

And if I wasn’t completely crazy, leaned over to smell my hair.

6

ALDEN PIERCE

“Hey, if it isn’t everyone’s Most Eligible Bachelor. How’d things go at the old Buckner house?”

Case rolled his eyes at me and pulled out his phone. “Here. Take a look at some of the pictures I took.”

“It’s a mess, isn’t it?” Case’s mom called from the front office.

Cripes. She wasn’t kidding.

I scrolled through photo after photo of dry rot, termite infestation, water damage, and actual holes in the floorboards.

I couldn’t ever recall having seen a residential project in such bad shape.

“Jesus. Did you say someone was living there?” I asked.

Mrs. McKinney showed up at Case’s office door, ready with the local gossip like she always was.

“Yes, someone is living there, Alden. A girl Case graduated high school with. Esme Rutherford. Poor thing bought the house with a fiancé, who up and left her at the altar. Can you imagine? I mean, can you imagine?”

She shook her head. “I remember her from a few years back. She didn’t hang out with you and your friends, did she?” she asked, looking at Case.

But before he could answer, she continued her chatter. “She was a squat little thing. Glasses and braces. Not at all pretty. But you should see her now. Quite the knock-out. I saw her wedding announcement in the paper. Wouldn’t you agree, Case?”

He shrugged. “Yes, Mom, she’s attractive. Now can you let Alden and me get some work done?”

She raised her hands as a peace offering then thought better of it. In fact, she walked into the office and helped herself to a corner of Case’s desk, propping her behind right on it. He sighed and shook his head.

She patted my arm. “I wanted to tell you, Alden, that if Mr. McKinney were here today—god rest—he’d be so proud of you and the job you’re doing with little Rose.”

Case was eager to get to work, I knew, but any time I could talk about my Rosie, I did. She was the center of my universe. “Thank you, Mrs. McKinney—”

But she wasn’t done. “When that woman—I hesitate to call her Rosie’s mother because a mother just doesn’t leave her babies—took off, you stepped into her shoes like she was never there.”

Well, yeah. What else was I supposed to do? Sit home and cry in my beer? Of course I took care of my baby. She had no one other than me.

Dammit. Every time I thought about how I was the only person in the world that Rosie had, I got choked up.

And I didn’t want to get choked up at work.

“Thank you, Mrs. McKinney.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “Of course, honey. Now, promise me you’ll bring by the little one soon? I’m dying to see her. It’s been a while.”

“Sure. Maybe I’ll have my mother bring her by tomorrow.”

Case’s mom clapped her hands together gleefully. “Oh, great!”

“Mom, if you’re going to hang out with us, let me get you a chair to sit in,” Case said, pulling another chair up to his desk.

“Thank you, Case,” she said, settling in.

She held out her hand for Case’s phone. “C’mon. I want to see the Buckner house photos, too. I’d like to know just what we’re getting into.”

She gasped as she scrolled. “Good lord. This reno is not going to be cheap. Or fast.”

Mr. McKinney, who’d been like a second father to me, had run the business with his wife by his side since day one. While I missed the hell out of the old guy, I couldn’t imagine what the loss was like for Mrs. McKinney.

I was shattered when I’d found out he was gone. It was such a shock—he’d been so healthy and robust. I guess it goes to show you never know when your number is up.

The man had