Stormy Surrender - By Nicole Andrews Moore Page 0,29
the only person I know here.” She tried to inhale and slow her breathing. She was suddenly feeling frantic and she hoped she was able to hide it from him. She laid the notebook and pen on the only remaining part of kitchen counter, stretched deliberately while she tried to calm her nerves. The last thing she needed was to scare him away. When she straightened, she had on her game face.
Walking over to him, she smiled. “Look. You can’t beat the commute.” He chuckled at that. “And with me being a neighbor and having to see me all the time, I know you aren’t going to screw me over.” His eyebrows rose. Clearly he didn’t expect her to throw around that expression. “You have already impressed me with your understanding of the scope of the project. And we’ve only discussed the basics, none of the design changes I’m hoping to make. We’re talking about a new roof, new windows, siding, porch, plumbing and electric.”
She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why don’t you work me up a quote for all the exterior work? Send the guy with the piers over here, and then we can start working on plumbing and electrical.”
Joe leaned against the wall. He studied her for a moment before speaking. “I can’t decide if you are courageous or crazy.”
She laughed then. It felt good…and unusual. Ah, but she could get used to doing that again. It felt like she was spring cleaning her soul. And the thought cheered her immensely. Maybe this move was just what she needed to get back to the woman she was supposed to be. Maybe, just maybe, this man who managed to get under her skin every few minutes was also the one who was stirring her, challenging her, helping awaken the dormant Marti lurking somewhere in this tired shell. With that, she let out a sigh of relief. She wasn’t ready yet to let him go. Whatever it took, she’d have him working with her.
There were at least a few more questions that had to be asked before he could consider taking the job. There would have to be a good deal of profit to make this worth his while. Sure, there was chance that being constantly around that house would dull the pain…like he was creating a callous to protect his heart. There was, of course, the other possibility that the pain would get to him, and that he would finally crack. He thought of all those fights with Finn, all the holes in the wall that he to repair, the doors he had run his fist through. And he remembered her eyes laughing at him, reveling in his out of control emotions. Never again.
“So, what’s your budget for this project?” He asked seriously. “How much are you prepared to spend to make this your dream home?”
“Well, first of all, I think you should know that I fully intend to participate some in the remodel. I have experience. I’ve done this before.” She mirrored his posture and leaned against the counter with her arms crossed over her chest.
He bit the side of his cheek hard to keep from laughing at her. He had felt her hands when she fell into him at Hope House. He had studied her hands up close at the café. This woman was not accustomed to hard labor. “So, you can work a Paslode gun?”
It was obvious that it pained her to admit her shortcomings. “No, but I’m sure I could learn.” Her chin jutted out at the challenge.
“Oh, well you must be able to run a dual bevel compound sliding miter saw?” He looked her in the face. He knew that his eyes were dancing in excitement. And in return, he saw her form shrinking against the counter, defeated. He chuckled. “Well, since the bathroom and kitchen are more immediate needs, how well do you tile? Do you mix your own grout? Have you ever used leveler? Do you find it more challenging to lay tile in a diamond pattern or pinwheel?” He was stroking his chin as he walked closer. They were nearly toe to toe and he could tell it took all of her will to simply stand her ground. “Actually, you strike me as a travertine kind of woman, and we both know that is best laid in a basket weave.”
Marti sighed. “I’ve primed and painted. I have installed a toilet using an adjustable flange. I know how