Page 62 of The Grumpy Side of Paradise

Like my mom always says, when we make plans, God laughs.

As if to back her up, as I climb into my car, the sky lets out a loud rumble of thunder.

“Fine.” I tip my head back and glare at the sky. “But I’m getting my coffin handles first.”

Chapter 28

Adam

I don’t see Evie all day. We’re close to done framing, so I don’t need her, but the day stretches out longer than the others did when I had her to talk to. Showing her how to use the nail gun was nice, too. I liked having my arms around her. I liked it even more when there was no nail gun and my lips got involved, too.

About the time I’ve given up hope of seeing her, she comes into the Garden and orders dinner. I’m happy to see her, but we’re actually busy for once, so I don’t have a chance to talk to her until she’s been there at least an hour.

On the other hand, Sebastian, who for once is early to band practice, has plenty of time to talk to Evie. Which he does, despite the glare I shoot him from the kitchen. In fact, every look I send him only encourages him to talk to her more. At one point, he actually moves from his side of the table to hers to show her something on his phone.

I know he’s doing it to make me jealous, not because he’s interested in her, but it works anyway. I nearly burn Evie’s dinner. I’m so distracted by my stupid cousin.

Finally, Bear comes into the kitchen. “Dude, let me take over before you burn the place down.” He reaches for my spatula, but I pull back.

“I’m fine.”

Bear laughs. “No, you’re not, and you won’t be until you go talk to her.”

I huff, hand him the spatula, and take off my apron. Evie smiles when I walk toward her table, sending electric pulses through my core. Sebastian smirks but gets up.

“I’ll talk to you later, Evie.” He bumps my shoulder playfully as he passes.

I slide into the seat across from her, even though I’d rather be right next to her. “Hey. I was hoping I’d see you earlier today.”

“Yeah, I went to get the coffin handles.” She twists her napkin around her finger, and her eyes dart between mine and the table.

“How do they look? Worth the trip to get them?” I stop myself from addingI would have gone with you.She’s giving me weird vibes. I don’t know if she’s had enough time to decide she regrets kissing me last night or if this is her going slow. But why would she come intomyrestaurant if she didn’t want to see me?

Women are just as confusing to me at twenty-seven as they were at fifteen. Maybe that’s why I stayed with the same one for so long. Too much work to figure out what they want. Even after twelve years with Dakota, I still didn’t know what she wanted. I thought I did. I was wrong.

“I think they’ll be perfect. Definitely worth the drive, but not just because of the handles.” Now her eyes hold mine, and they dance in the flickering light of the candle between us.

“Don’t leave me hanging. What else did you find?” Sure, I would have preferred her to invite me over later to see the coffin handles, but telling me what she’s excited about is good too. There’s just less potential for kissing.

“The Lindenhofs and their house.” Her smile grows, but I’m confused. “Wally said I can have the wood for Georgia’s floors.”

“You met Wally?” That’s the only part of what she’s told me that I understand, but her excitement is contagious. If I were better at smiling, I’d be joining her.

“I did, and he had good things to say about you.”

“You and Wally talked about me?” The fact he said good things about me isn’t surprising. The fact he talked to Evie is. He only talks to people he likes, and it takes a while for Wally Lindenhof to like anyone. That’s why we get along so well. We get each other.

“Yep. He said you’re the only person he’d let take down his mother’s house.”

I blink hard. “Excuse me? Wally wants to tear down the old Smith house?” At least a dozen visitors every summer and half a dozen locals every year offer to buy the house so they can tear it down and build something bigger and better on the lakeside plot. Wally won’t sell.

“Yep. And he wants you to do it because, in his words, ‘Adam will do it with respect.’ And he’s going to let me have the wood so I can use it for Georgia’s floors.” Evie bounces in her seat.

“Hold on.” I put up my hand. “I’m still back at Wally wants me to tear down the house. How did you make that happen?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs, and it’s freaking adorable. “It started with trespassing and ended with me drinking terrible coffee—but don’t tell him I said that—while eating boxed donuts and suggesting he let me use the wood from the house for the floors in Georgia’s. I guess he liked the idea.”

“Do you know how many people have tried to get him to tear down that eyesore, including my brother?” I’m so stunned, only the cold air creeping snaps me back to what I’m supposed to be doing. New customers are coming through the door, and I need to get back to the kitchen.

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