Page 62 of A Package Deal

“Good morning, Roger,” I called, grabbing my tool belt and walking over.

“Have you ever built a barn before?” He launched into all his doubts about my work experience, something we’d already gone over when I gave him my estimate last week. He’d agreed to the job and I’d bought the material. Now was not the time to revisit my competence.

Pip and Savannah showed up, getting to work while I tried to get Roger to back up enough to allow us to get the job done. He stayed the rest of the day, grumbling about everything and inspecting every measly detail including the type of nails we were using. We barely got two sides of the frame up in a whole day because of all his interference. I’d have to have a talk with him tomorrow. This couldn’t go on or this job would take double the time I’d estimated and I already had several other jobs lined up after this one.

Plus I was chomping at the bit to start working on the custom house with Warrick.

Roger finally went inside his house as we packed up for the day, Pip and Savannah shooting me murderous glances.

“I know. I’ll talk to him tomorrow,” I promised them. I couldn’t have my crew quit on me. The two of them left, grumbling about heading to town for a beer. I stayed behind to make sure everything was tidy so Roger wouldn’t be calling me to complain tonight. Then I slapped on the new magnet to the side of my truck and stood back to admire it.

M Builds - Sisterhood of the Traveling Tool Belt

Warrick’s bonus check was sitting in my bank account, minus the portion owed to my crew, I had enough jobs lined up to last the next few months, and I had a gorgeous man wooing me. I ran a finger over the magnet, pondering how I’d come so far in so little time. I’d dreamed of this day when my world had been in pieces at my feet. Envisioned exactly this moment and wondered if it would ever come to pass. And here I was, living that dream.

I climbed in my truck and headed for home. Or Gigi’s house. I sighed, shaking my head at myself. Was that truly home? The practical side of me said that trusting a man I’d only known a month was asking for trouble. Then again, I’d known Cayden my whole damn life and he’d still screwed me over. Was the length of time the determiner of trustworthiness? Or was it actions?

Something Gigi had mentioned really struck a chord with me. Warrick’s love language was acts of service. Running on impulse, I swung into a parking spot downtown and ran into the hardware store. Last time I was in here, I saw a barbecue set that would be perfect for Warrick. When we were at the carnival, he’d admitted that he was a bit of a foodie, which was why his line of work was perfect for him. But he hadn’t had much time since coming back to Blueball to make the kind of food he liked. I couldn’t afford to buy him that egg-shaped grill that was popular on cooking shows these days, but I could get the grill set. I’d love for him to share with me his love of grilling.

“Hey!”

I turned, grill set in hand, and saw Paisley behind me. She gave me a hug, avoiding the tools, and stepped back. “Hey, Paisley. How are you?”

“Good! Just picking up some stuff Gannon needed for the glampground. I was going to text you about getting the girls together for a playdate. Aster has been nagging me. With school out, the poor girls don’t get to see each other every day.”

I nodded. “That sounds lovely. I’ll talk to Warrick tonight and see what our week looks like. Childcare coverage is hard in the summer.”

“Oh my gosh, I know. Thankfully Gannon can watch her most days or I’d never get enough hours to stay employed. Hey, maybe we can pool our resources? Like, one day you have all the girls. Another day I take them all?”

“I’d love that,” I said, feeling like I’d made genuine friends in Blueball already. That phrase about raising a child taking a whole community had felt so trite and unattainable before. But now I was starting to see that it was possible for me and Georgia too.

She nudged me with her elbow and dropped her voice. “Speaking of husbands, how are things working out with Warrick? You two seemed pretty chummy at the carnival.”

“Chummy?” I laughed.

“Don’t avoid my question, Emmerleigh.”

Her mom-voice made me snicker some more. “I’m not avoiding it, I just don’t know how to answer quite yet.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s clear you have feelings for the man. And we all have eyeballs. He’s hotter than a Blueball summer afternoon and he clearly has lots of feelings for you too.”

I tilted my head left and right. Was I the last one to catch on to his feelings for me? “Yeah, he does. I’m just…well, I guess I’m scared to take the leap again.”

She snorted. “Of course you’re scared. We were all there at one time. Didn’t you hear us at lunch?”

I winced. “Honestly? No. I was overwhelmed and not exactly listening.”

Paisley just laughed. “I love your honesty. Here’s the Cliffs Notes version: we all were scared to fall in love, but what’s actually scary is turning your back on true love and having to live your whole life alone. We all decided we’d rather take that leap than to live with regret. You just have to decide too, Em. But be careful. If you wait too long, someone else will decide for you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Warrick

For the first time in weeks, I was the only one up in the house. Em hadn’t felt comfortable spending the whole night in my bed while under the same roof as Mom, so she’d set her alarm at two in the morning just to sneak back into the room she shared with Georgia. That routine was getting old, which made me even more motivated to start the house build and get the three of us moved into our own place.

Last night at dinner, Mom had declared that Georgia was hers today. Meaning, she’d spoil the crap out of the little girl and bring her back home with sugar flowing through her veins and happiness exuding from her pores. I was on board with that. Every kid deserved grandparents who spoiled them rotten.

Em had stunned the crap out of me again by gifting me a barbecue set last night that I immediately used to grill steak kabobs on Mom’s grill. I sputtered a few times, but managed to get out a thank-you. Perhaps, over time, I’d react normally when someone gave me a gift, but for now, I was still touched and overwhelmed by it. I’d also kissed her right then and there with Mom and Georgia giggling in the background. Em looked dazed when she pulled back, her cheeks pink and her eyes sparkling. Even more stunning? She hadn’t argued with me or gotten mad that I’d laid one on her in front of witnesses.

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