Page 122 of The Re-Proposal

“Nothing.”

“None of your business,” Cody says at the same time.

Joel scowls.

“I better get out there before Nova starts looking for me.” I take a few steps and then I turn back. “Cody?”

He slips a hand into his trouser pocket and tilts his chin up.

“Thank you.”For those abs.I shake my head. “For the Party A lesson. And for getting that construction crew.”

“Don’t thank me yet, Miss Maura.” He lumbers over to me. “There’s no guarantee this project will be done in time.”

“It will.”

His eyes glow softly in my direction.

I start moving before he weaves an even bigger spell over me.

“Come on, boys. Let’s get to work.”

* * *

Gettinga house completely renovated in twelve hours is… chaos.

Near impossible.

Before tonight, I’d say it couldn’t be done.

But these farmhouse ladies thrive on the challenge. Anyone who tells them something can’t be done… well, I wish them luck.

Nova has the project blocked out to the minute, assigning construction workers and a team leader to every room that needs to be painted, decorated and repaired.

At first, it feels like an uphill battle. There issomuch to be moved out of the rooms, the floorboards are completely rotten and Sunny’s vision to add an attachment to the master bedroom requires way more construction than we initially thought.

We hit a snag with the plumbing and all hope seems lost.

But somehow, Cody gets a plumber to show up at midnight. The expert takes one look at the problem and shrugs. ‘I can fix that’.

Once that snag is smoothed over, the work continues.

“Ris.” Cody finds me outside where I’m shoving large stones into the dirt. “Come and drink something.”

“I’m fine,” I say, wiping my face with the back of my hand. It’s the least dirty part of me right now.

Cody glowers and gently swipes his thumb over my cheek, revealing a black streak on the pad of his finger. “Don’t be stubborn. You need to take a break.”

“Go on,” Vanya says. She’s kneeling beside me, getting her hands dirty too. Her husband Hadyn brings more rocks over in his wheelbarrow. “I took a break earlier. Hadyn can help me finish this up.”

Cody slips his hand around mine.

Maybe it’s because I’m tired or maybe it’s because I’m grateful, but I don’t pull away.

Inside, some of the others have the same idea. Kenya, Sunny, Dejonae and Yaya are gathered around the freshly installed counter. How Sunny managed to pull off a marble counter delivery at this time of night, I do not want to know.

“Here, Clarissa. Have some of Dejonae’s crack chai,” Kenya offers.

“Crack chai?” I accept the cup.

---