Page 56 of Spiritwarrior

“You won’t be tall enough to reach, and I don’t trust my weight on one of those chairs upfront—they are older than I am,” Jody joked. “Here, I have an idea.”

Handing her the light bulb, Jody placed his hands on her hips and lifted her toward the ceiling.

“What are you doing?” she sputtered.

“Letting you change the light bulb. Can you reach it?”

“Uh … yes, give me a second.”

Jody held her steady as she twisted out the burned-out bulb and screwed in the new one.

“Got it.” Her hand went to his shoulder.

Jody pulled her closer to him as he slowly slid her down until her eyes were level with his. “Good job.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He set her back down onto her feet. “Anytime. Glad to be of help.”

Jody narrowed his eyes on Sophie as she fled out of the kitchen, nearly colliding with Logan.

He placed the tub of dishes in the sink as Logan eyed him. “I could have sworn that ladder was there yesterday when I needed to refill the drink station.”

“Yeah.” Jody shrugged, beginning to load the dishwasher. “It’s probably misplaced. I’m sure it’ll show up.”

“I’m sure it will.”

Jody’s lips twitched at Logan’s ironic tone. “You going to tell on me?”

Logan looked at him speculatively. “No, I’m just surprised you didn’t use the opportunity to kiss her. That was what I thought you were going to do.”

“Ah … You should watch the originalStar Wars.” Jody shook his head. “You have to time your first shot just right to get the explosion you want. That was a trial run. Watch and learn … young jedi.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“You mind making a couple of those sandwiches for me?” Jody asked.

Sophie looked up from the prep table. “Not at all. What do you want on them?”

“Everything but onions, and the pickled peppers.”

Blushing at the wink Jody gave her, she went back to wrapping the sandwiches she had made for Joel and her.

“How many would you like?”

“Just two.”

“You don’t want to check with your date what she would like on her sandwich?”

“No need. Both sandwiches are for me. I’m going with the family. Ginny and Alanna are both packing coolers, but I want to take extra for me. My brothers won’t hesitate to eat mine if I’m late.”

Sophie didn’t ask herself why she was much happier making the sandwiches for Jody after hearing he wasn’t taking a date.

“What time is Joel picking you up?”

“At six.” Sophie finished wrapping Jody’s sandwiches. “Want me to put them in the fridge?”

“Yes, please. I left my cooler in my truck. I’ll take the sandwiches when I leave.”

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