Page 26 of All My Heart

“Is that why you're in Maryland? Or does it have something to do with that guy who keeps stopping by? What's his name, Tex?”

I rolled my eyes again. “His name is Rex.”

“Isn't he one of your boyfriends?”

He said it like I had a million, and he'd never keep track. “He's an ex.”

“Whatever he is, he wants to talk to you.”

“I'm taking a break from everyone. That includes him.”

“You need my help to deal with him?” Dad asked.

My family was overprotective, and it was nice most of the time. I sighed. “I can handle it.”

“Of course you can, but it doesn't mean you should have to.”

“Being here is good for me.” There was no one telling me how risky it was for me to travel alone or how dangerous it was to live in the woods next to some guy I didn't know. I could live my own life, and it felt good. Exhilarating even. I was in no hurry to return home.

Just then Axel drove up in his truck. It was black but had a covering of dust from driving up the lane to our cabins. “Listen, Dad. I've gotta go.”

I should offer to help Axel carry in his groceries, but he already had most of the bags on one arm, his muscles bulging while he strode purposely toward the cabin. I shouldn't be watching him. It was stalker behavior. But my desk just happened to face his house, and it wasn't like I'd placed it here.

“Be safe. If you need anything?—”

I smiled. I loved my parents, but they didn't understand me. “I'll call you.”

Then I hung up on my father, eager to watch Axel make a few trips back and forth from his truck to the house. He must have stopped at a hardware store because he was hauling supplies. I didn't know what they were, but I enjoyed the way his muscles flexed.

I sighed. How was I going to get work done?

I'd need to take care of my needs before I went over there for dinner, or I was going to jump him as soon as he opened the door.

Would Axel be the kind of guy who'd fuck me against the door? I squeezed my legs together at the idea. It would be nothing for him, but it would be everything for me. I knew he could make me feel good. My core tingled with anticipation. My body was going to be disappointed because I had no intention of following through on any of my fantasies.

When it looked like he was done with the show, I tried to refocus on my screen. I needed to answer new client requests for estimates, schedule appointments, and deal with any issues homeowners were having with completed renovations.

I dealt with the customers online so that Mom could take more time off. I knew they were thinking of retiring, and if I didn't get into the construction side before that happened, my brothers would never let me in. They only saw me as an administrative assistant.

As much as I loved my brothers, they didn’t understand me. They probably were happy with the way things were going. We liked to keep things in the family, and they needed someone to work the front office.

If I left, and Mom retired, they'd have to hire outside, and they wouldn't like that. But I was starting to think it wasn't my problem. Being here in Maryland was making me see that I had more options than I originally thought. I wasn't dependent on my family.

I could do something different. I didn't need to be in the state of limbo waiting for my family to make a different decision when it was unlikely they would.

On the island, the options were limited to tourism related, restaurants, realty, construction, and shops. I'd always felt lucky to work for my family. I had a job, unlike a lot of my friends who'd worry they'd have to move off the island for more opportunities.

I sighed as I got to work on answering emails and preparing estimates. For now, this was my job. I'd wanted to offer a design service to our clients, helping them come up with ideas for their kitchens or bathrooms, but Dad thought customers wouldn't need the service even though it was a common request.

I wished we could offer the service. Just because we were the only construction firm located on the island didn't mean it would always be that way. We needed to change with the times. I just wished my family could see it the way I did.

They didn't want to get involved in design. They didn't see that I could take care of it. I was starting to think they didn't think I was capable.

This job with Axel was a way to prove myself. I'd renovate his cabin and take the pictures to document my progress.

I lost myself in work for the next few hours, then took a shower before grabbing a six-pack of beer I'd brought on the first day I arrived. I figured Axel was a beer kind of guy, not wine.

I knocked on the door, my heart beating in my throat. I should tell him this was a bad idea.

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