Page 45 of Hooked on a Feeling

“I listed the boat slips for rent last night. I’m hoping this weekend, I’ll see some folks who would like to rent them. It’s pretty basic and the one thing that’s essentially stress free for me. After that, I can’t really afford much else. The roof on the marina and the asphalt need to be redone, but there’s no way I can afford those things unless I tap into savings.” She let out a long sigh. “I want it to be in the best possible shape. I want to give back, if that makes sense. But anything I do probably won’t matter much in the end when it sells.”

“Did I tell you that my brothers and I replaced the shingles on the roof of our grandmother’s house after my grandfather passed away?”

“No, you never told me that.” Starr had a feeling she knew where this conversation might be headed.

“Do you have enough in the budget to order the shingles?”

Starr could tap into her savings. Her she-never-touched-it-even-when-it-was-a-rainy-day savings. But was she okay using John and his brothers’ help? She’d already gotten a favor from Deanne that was a tremendous gift. “How long does something like that take? How could I ask your brothers to devote a weekend to helping me when they don’t even know me?”

John gave her a boyish, breathtaking grin. “Judge and Jersey pretty much know how I feel about you. Jake is always willing to help out. He wouldn’t care one way or the other. Might take him away from gaming time, but he’ll be fine.”

Starr loved the idea. She really did. She blew out a breath. I can’t do this alone. There was no way. She didn’t have experience in fixing things or replacing dock slips or roof shingles or laying asphalt. What she had experience in wouldn’t see the light of day unless she accepted the help.

She brushed her fingertips over his eyebrows, admiring his prominent bone structure, then grazed them across his cheekbones and down his jaw. Her heart swelled. This man was truly an angel. And the unspoken discussion between them—well, he’d voiced his opinion about not wanting her to leave loud and clear—but she couldn’t stay. She had to go back home. Maybe? Definitely—for a little while. Her fingers crossed over his lips. So soft and perfect.

“Stop overthinking things, and say yes.” He kissed the pads of her fingers.

“I would be honored if you could get them all to help. And I promise I’ll help too.” She pressed a kiss to his mouth.

“I have a few friends that owe me one. With eight of us helping one another out, I think we can get it done in two days. Three, max. It won’t take long to pull the shingles off, and while a few of us pull them off, two of us can start smoothing and laying the new ones.” He blinked open his eyes. The smile that crossed his lips sent tingles down to her toes. “But you better get to the supply company right now and see what they have on hand. Maybe they could still deliver them in time for the weekend.”

“I think you better check with your posse to see when they can help.”

He lifted his arms and put his hands on her bare ass and squeezed tight. “I’ll text them after I make you come two more times.” His cock throbbed beneath her. He nodded toward his briefs. “Pull ’em down, wild thing, and climb aboard this ride.”

* * *

“The shingles will be delivered late Friday afternoon,” John said to his three brothers over breakfast Thursday morning. The local restaurant, Bonnie’s Diner, was one of their favorites with its black and white checkered tile floor and red vinyl booths. The jukebox was currently playing “Daydream Believer,” falling in line with the diner’s overall theme of framed photographs of Elvis, The Beatles, The Monkees, Buddy Holly, and various other artists from the fifties and sixties. “Tank said it could be evening since we ordered them last minute, but it doesn’t matter. You guys good with helping?”

“I’m in,” Jake said.

“I can help,” Judge said. “I’ll just cancel the two dates I had lined up for Saturday, but whatever.”

“Two dates? Shut up.” Jersey frowned. “I can help. I just need to let Belle know.”

“I have two dates. Same time. They’re twins.” Judge held up two fingers. “They just turned twenty-five.”

John rolled his eyes. Judge was the dog of the family, no doubt. “Thanks, guys. Be there at seven. No later.”

With a few groans at the early hour, they all agreed to be at the marina on Saturday morning. John and Starr had gotten everything the men would need to lay the shingles, and she was at the marina checking in with her yoga studio while John had breakfast with his brothers. John watched his brother’s drive off and the timing was perfect when his phone rang and the caller ID showed Italy, John couldn’t help but think that Dom had heard John had gotten fired from Blue.

“Dom. How was Como?”

“Weather was enjoyable. I have no complaints. I wanted to check in with you and see if you’d thought any more about my offer.”

John pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have. It’s intriguing, I have to be honest.”

“You’re declining my offer?”

“I’ve really put a lot of thought into it, but South Carolina isn’t my home. Emerald Port is.”

“I figured it would be a long shot,” Dom said.

John chuckled. “Not quite that long of a long shot, and if you were anywhere near this area, I’d be hard-pressed not to take the offer. But this is my home. My family is here, and as much as they can be annoying, I can’t imagine living anywhere without them. Thanks for thinking of me.”

“No problem. If you ever want to do business in the future, give me a call. It’d be a pleasure.”

“Thanks. I will.” John hung up the phone. As much as he wanted to be in charge of his own destiny, he could never go somewhere else. Especially to another state. And with Starr next door… Yeah. He knew what he wanted there, but he wasn’t sure how he was going to get that outcome. It would be a hell of a lot easier if his dad wasn’t so damn stubborn.

---