Page 36 of Chasing Sparks

It stirs something in me, along with pretty much every other facet of Ori’s personality.

If only …

Ori wraps her hands around her coffee cup, her expression pensive. “I received an inheritance from an estranged relative. I held onto the money for the first year because I had no clue what to do with it. Part of me wanted to cash it in and set it all on fire,but that seemed silly and dramatic—plus a total waste of lighter fluid.”

“Next time you come across a pile of cash you don’t want, I’ll take it,” Braden offers with a grin.

“Deal.” She shakes her head as she glances around the carriage house. “My parents used to bring me here as a little girl for the fall festival and every time, without fail, I made them drive past the Dean Estate. When I moved here, I asked Kiki about the place. Just as a lark, you know? She told me about the auction and before I could think through my crazy scheme, I bought it. Pissed off some developers big-time in the process.”

“Damn, woman. That’s impressive.” I loop my arm around her shoulder, pulling her into my embrace.

But Ori slips from the cocoon of my arms and begins pacing the wooden floor. “Enough stalling. Lay it out for me. Was this a good purchase or the dumbest idea of my life?”

“It’s not that bad,” I state, but my words do little to reassure her as her gaze falls on my brother.

“Is he just saying that?”

Braden chuckles, shaking his head. “It’s going to take some work, but at first glance, she’s solid. No evidence of mold, which is a huge plus.”

“Granted, we won’t know the full extent until we tear out the walls, but I’m telling you, this house has good bones.”

“Just needs a little love,” Ori sighs, playing with the end of her long braid. “Don’t we all?”

I don’t respond to her comment, although I’m fully aware she’s repeating my words back to me.

However, her version has a far different meaning attached to it.

Look, I get it. Ori is the type of woman who wants the whole happily ever after scenario. I want her to have it, too.

Even if it kills me to know it’s not a possibility with me.

But I have no desire to dive into that sticky conversation. Far safer to keep us on task and focus on the house.

I grab my coffee and move to the far side of the carriage house, leaning against the wall with a sigh. “Here’s the deal: the main house is going to take months, maybe even a year, of full-time restoration. It’ll require all kinds of skilled craftsmen to pull it off.”

Ori buries her face in her hands. “That bad?”

“Hey.” I walk over to her and put a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I haven’t gotten to the good part yet. They turned the carriage house into a two-bedroom apartment probably twenty years ago, so it won’t take much to make this space livable—buy some new windows, cabinets, appliances, polish the floors and throw on a fresh coat of paint.”

I mean my words to soothe her, but the furrow creasing her brow only deepens with every sentence.

“So basically, a total overhaul? What was I thinking?” Ori swings her arms, her eyes bright with tears. “I must have been certifiable that day at the auction to think I could move to a new town, open a store, and renovate a dilapidated mansion all in one go.”

“Nah, just determined. Like I said, I’m glad you bought it. I was afraid some investors were going to tear it down and build condos.”

“Trust me, they’re lined up, hoping I fail.”

“But you won’t.”

“How do you know?”

I lock my arms around her slight frame, smiling when she melts into my embrace. “You, Oriana Thorne, don’t fail when you set your mind to something.”

“Does that apply to you, as well, or are you exempt from that equation?” A teasing grin lights up her face as she lightly smacksmy chest. “Don’t look so stricken. I’m just playing. So, what’s the plan? Can you refer me someone to start the work?”

I nod, stealing a quick kiss from her pouty lips. “Absolutely, and we’re here now. Let’s break some shit.”

Demo work is fun work. Plus, it gets out a ton of pent-up frustration and rage. Trust me, after Lucille’s phone call, I need to beat the piss out of something.

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