Page 22 of Wanting a Family Man

“Reid was looking for boxes of Tiffany’s stuff and realized the floor joists weren’t up to current building code. We’re shoring it up.”

Trystan had been given the job of cutting the two-by-fours to size and handing them in. When Logan had turned up, he had crawled in to help Reid. They were currently on their backs in the shallow space, hammering and swearing.

“Was it starting to fail?” Sophie asked with alarm.

“Not at all. Dry as a bone, no rot or termites, not even any warping.”

“Then…?”

“Have you met him?” He meant Reid and his do-it-my-way infernal bossiness.

Instead of laughing, Sophie narrowed her eyes, hearing the edge in his tone. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She tilted her head in a silentCome on, annoying him further because she read him so easily.

“He asked me to do something, then he went ahead and did it himself,” Trystan said with simmering heat.And screwed me to the wall while he did it. Or, at least bound him to the tours for the rest of the summer.

I had a thought about the Cloe situation, Reid had said when Trystan had come downstairs.You know Cheryl’s in the business program at UVic? I remembered that Hazel is her aunt.

Hazel was one of the councilors they’d met with this morning. Cheryl was a steward on theStorm Front, the other tour boat. Trystan had seen immediately where Reid was going when Reid had said,I could use a liaison as I put this deal together.

“You’re not upset about this, are you?” Sophie pointed into the hole. “Here’s news, pal. Crawling under a house is actually kind of shitty. Why are you always mad that you’re the step-and-fetch guy? That’s the easy job.”

“Tell me more about how he does me so many favors.”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously, Trys.” She lowered her voice. “Why are you so mad?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

It mattered. Reid had gone so far as to speak to Hazel, who thought Cheryl would make an excellent liaison to help set up the framework for the sale of Raven’s Cove to the Heiltsuk Nation. Cheryl would love the opportunity. She had said so when Reid had called her.

I had to call while she was in Bella Coola and had reception, Reid had argued.She’s confident she could fit working for me around her classes once she’s back at school. I need more than clerical help. I need someone who’s invested in the outcome.

Trystan couldn’t argue any of that. He also thought Cheryl would be excellent in the role. He’d been sorry they hadn’t had anything more challenging to offer her than cleaning up after tourists when she had applied as a summer student.

Still, it was so fucking typical for Reid to overturn the entire fucking apple cart so he could put the fruit back the way he wanted it.

What will theStorm Frontdo for a steward?Trystan had asked, making Reid spell it out.

Sarah can move to theStorm Front. Sarah was Trystan’s steward.She’s prepared to come over tomorrow to train Cloe if you and Cloe agree to her working on theStorm Ridge.

You’ve talked to Sarah, too? Without talking to me?

I’m talking to you right now.Reid was completely unapologetic. We can find anyone to take that job if you don’t want Cloe.Reid was a master at handing out a stone-cold poker face, but Trystan could read his underlying motivation like it was written in neon.

They owed Storm their best effort at welcoming her aunt, but they had to be cautious until they knew Cloe better. That was truer than ever, Trystan acknowledged dourly, given what Cloe had told him about her situation. He wasn’t about to air her business to Reid, though.

Cloe hadn’t had a break in a while and deserved one. This would give her a job, a place to stay, and access to her niece in a way that was limited while they all figured out how far they could trust her.

For that reason, Trystan hadn’t told Reid to go fuck himself, but it meant he would be spending twenty-four seven with Cloe. That was a lot of time with a woman who was already sizzling his blood.

Thatwas why he was so royally peeved. Reid had set him up for weeks of sexual frustration and he couldn’t do a damned thing about it.

“This will cheer you up,” Sophie said as she leaned into the opening to call out, “Hey, Logan? You want me to come in there and help? I can run home for my two-pound mallet and my eye protection. I’ll get my gloves and kneepads, since I’m wearing shorts.”

“Sophie,” he said in a very dangerous tone. “We agreed that what happened that day will never be mentioned again. If you spill my dirt, I’ll spill yours.”

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