Page 11 of All Because of You

“It’s OK. I get it.” His gaze found hers. “And I care for a couple of reasons, one being Chrissy. She was a true friend to me when I didn’t have many, so I care what happens to her store.”

He shoved his free hand into the pocket of his slacks, an empty feeling gnawing at his chest. Chrissy Price had been the first one to believe in him—the only one, really. He’d come into her shop to buy a new wrench three years ago, and she’d asked if he’d mind helping her with a plumbing issue her landlord hadn’t had time to fix. Afterward, she’d served him lemonade and some killer chocolate chip cookies, and they’d sat on her back porch chatting about life.

That had become their weekly routine. He’d stop by and help her with something around the shop, and she’d dish up some sweets and wisdom.

It was because of her encouragement, her belief in a screw-up like him, that he’d finally gotten his life on track—away from the alcohol, the parties, the recreational drugs and on toward something meaningful.

The sun slipped past the horizon and tall lamps along the boardwalk popped on, dousing him and Madison in artificial light.

Their pace slowed. Madison seemed to be thinking, her face contorted. Finally, she spoke. “Yeah, I’ve decided to stay. To reopen the store.”

Oh, wow. “What made you decide to do that?”

A shrug. “The library job I had lined up fell through, and people clearly want a hardware store in town. Seemed like the logical thing to do.”

She didn’t appear to have the same passion for the store that Chrissy had, but Madison seemed smart enough. Given the several generations of Prices to own Hole-in-the-Wall Hardware, running the store was in her blood.

And the peopledidwant a hardware store. He’d thought Herman was the answer. But maybe . . .

He cleared his throat. “That’s great. So, what’s the plan? What do you still need to do before you can open?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t know the first thing about running a business, so I’m not sure. I’ve been trying to organize Aunt Chrissy’s records, but that’s driving me up a wall.”

“She wasn’t the neatest of people, was she?”

“No. There’s a huge storeroom filled with boxes, and I don’t have any clue what’s in them yet. I’m a little afraid to find out. I guess I could just go ahead and reopen the store and see what happens, but the research librarian in me is apprehensive to dive in like that.”

And here was his opening. His chance to snag a win for the community despite not winning the contract with Herman. And if he could be Madison’s hero in the meantime, well . . . “I could help.”

“Help? How?”

“I work with businesses all the time to come up with plans to help them stand out, which includes doing a deep dive into their assets and liabilities.” He pushed past the tension and flexed with his free arm. “And I’ve been told I’m rather strong. I can help move boxes with the best of them.”

How he wanted Madison to crack a grin along with him, but she remained as stoic as ever. Evan racked his brain, trying to think of something he’d done to make her so guarded around him. But he hadn’t known her back when she’d lived here, and their two interactions this week hadn’t been enough to cause this kind of reaction—at least, he didn’t think so. Maybe she was just like this with everyone.

Before he could gather the courage to ask her if he’d done something offensive, they reached the back porch of Hole-in-the-Wall Hardware.

Madison turned, pulling the brown paper bag to her chest. “Thanks for the offer.” Pools of uncertainty flooded her eyes, and she fiddled with a strand of hair. Evan had the strongest urge to tuck it behind her ear. “Yeah, I guess if you wouldn’t mind helping me tackle the storeroom, that would be great. If you’re sure you have time.”

A real grin slid across his lips before he could stop himself from looking overly enthusiastic. “Just name a time and it’s a date.”Idiot.“I mean, just tell me when and I’ll be here.”

“How about tomorrow after work?”

“You got it.”

“OK.” Madison stood there for a moment, staring at him like he was a disjointed puzzle she couldn’t figure out. “Bye.” Then she turned on her heel, walked up the back steps of the store, and went inside.

He couldn’t help it—he threw a fist pump in the air. Helping another vital business in the community to reopen would look good on his job application for the head community developer position, should it become available as he suspected.

And maybe, at the same time, he’d be able to unravel the mystery of Madison Price. “Challenge accepted.”

Evan headed back toward the office. And though he was destined for a night of work and cold meatloaf, he whistled as he walked.

Chapter 3

What in the world had made her agree to let Evan Walsh help her with the store?

And why, now that he was here, did her gaze keep drifting back to him? She wished she could blame it on her meticulous nature checking to make sure he was doing things right. But his detailed way of handling everything had settled any lingering concern that he organized like her aunt.

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