Page 77 of The Brotherhood

“I gotta know what the SIA is,” Jek laughed now.

“Duh,” Savvie said. “The Swamp Intelligence Agency.”

“But wouldn’t that requireintelligence?”

“Uncle Zep!” Mah-Mah cried. “Don’t make me get a switch!”

“Alright, alright,” Bart called to Lucas. “Devise your plan and turn it in like Luseah.” He pushed off the wall. “Anybody else here want to expand the government before we end this and eat some damn gumbo?”

It was a unanimousnoas conversation filled the room and everybody got slowly moving. Jek made his way to the kitchen, catching sight of Lenora headed in his direction. “Jek!” she called before he could dodge into a crowd.

He turned, bracing for the warfare already raging in his blood. “Lenora,” he said, not quite making eye contact. “Hungry?”

“For Mah-Mah’s gumbo? Always!” she said, smiling before looking around.

“What can I help you with?” he asked, seeing something was on her mind.

“Well, Mah-Mah says you’re the best small furniture builder we have, and we need shelves at our school’s infirmary.” She clasped her hands and angled her head. “But don’t worry, you’ll have help. For free,” she added.

He chuckled, and lowered his head. “I can do it, but I prefer working alone.”

Her face fell a little then brightened. “If you don’t need a helper, then I’ll just bring you refreshments.”

He paused. “Youwere my free help?”

She beamed a smile and nodded. “I’m very good with a hammer,” she leaned and whispered. “Learned it from my father when I was a young girl.”

He side-eyed her with half a grin. “You? With a hammer?”

She grabbed his arm then quickly withdrew it. “And a circular saw,” she added quietly.

Fuck, this was a bad idea. “I guess I can hire you as an apprentice,” he said.

Her eyes got big. “Really? To learn how to make furniture?”

Holy shit, jackpot twice in a row. “If you want to, sure.”

She grabbed his arm and again jerked it back. “Pretty sure we need more beds for some of the families. And baby cribs,” she nodded with a saintly soberness.

Then it hit him. He’d just secured seeing her every day indefinitely. “Let me know when you’re available and I’ll see what we can do.”

“Oh! Thank you!” she gasped, grabbing his arm, andagainsnatching her hand back.

“Am I burning you?” he wondered, chuckling. She was sure burning him.

It took her a moment before getting his meaning and thankfully she laughed. “It’s so hard, I’m naturally a very affectionate person and I’m usually never around men,” she explained, her face stern. “And you’re… well, you’re… I see you assafe,” she explained. “But you’re still a man and I’m required to follow etiquette rules.”

Damn. Safe. “Well… you sure it’s okay for us to work alone together?”

He was almost sorry he asked but he wanted to make sure they did. Her pretty hazel eyes got big again. “I can get a work order from sister Isla!” she realized, hand on his arm again.

He looked at it and she snatched it back, making him laugh. “Well, I’m hungry,” he said. “You wanna discuss plans over gumbo?”

She accepted with animated enthusiasm. He offered his arm and she regarded it. “It’s a gentleman’s etiquette,” he explained at her ear. “Allows you to put your hand on me without breaking any rules.”

Her eyes widened with her smile. “You aresoclever!” she bragged, putting her hand on his arm as he led her to the kitchen.

Oh yeah. So clever.

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