Page 17 of Rules to Love By

The process took long enough Marcus had finished his coffee and was squirming again by the time Ozzy looked up. He fluttered the papers. “You have a great start here.”

“Start?”

“The list of materials is thorough. And I like that you made a note about the electrics. I would go a step further and ask Andre if he would mind coming over to take the fixtures off and see what’s behind that wall.”

“You think he has time for that?”

“For you I think he’ll make time. Can’t hurt to ask him. It’ll give you a bit of a hand at coordinating other contractors, because you’ll have to work around his schedule. He’ll help, and it’s another piece of experience you can use.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“The other thing I would suggest you do is take your materials list to Home Hardware and ask Sandra to give you an actual quote. Another piece of the puzzle, and it’ll be a more accurate picture. I think you’re underestimating some of these prices, and once your quote is accepted by the client, that sort of thing is less negotiable. You’ll end up eating some of the shortfall and put less in your pocket at the end of the day. Which, if you ask me, is already a bit lean. You could pay yourself a little better.” He held out the papers for Marcus to take them back.

“I’m not like you,” Marcus had to remind him as he took the papers. “I’m just a handy guy, not an actual contractor.” He curled the estimate into a tube, crushing it a bit in a damp fist.

Ozzy snorted. “Marcus, I’m an ex-army chaplain who talks to old houses. I’m learning a lot from my contractors as we go, so I know, if you ask their help, they’ll be good teachers.”

“I will, then. Thanks.”

“Not a problem. Anything else?”

Marcus shook the tube between them. “Just this.”

Ozzy stood. “In that case, good luck. Let me know if you need anything. Tools, advice, whatever.”

“Thanks, Ozzy.”

“You’re welcome. Happy to do it. You’ve got a good start there. If that’s your first time doing this, I’m impressed. You have a good handle on it.”

“Probably because Aunt Iris always insisted on an outline of everything I did around the diner for her.”

“Sounds like a wise woman.”

“She was.” She’d kept him on track. Without her, there was no path to follow.

For a moment, the thought of losing her guidance swamped him. His vision narrowed to a wavering point of light, and he might as well have been in the bottom of deep well for all the breath he could draw.

“Marcus?” Ozzy’s muffled voice barely reached him.

He didn’t have the breath to respond.

“Marcus.” A strong hand clamped onto his shoulder. The pinch of flesh did what the rumble of his name hadn’t, focusing his attention.

He gasped. For one horrible second, he thought maybe he wouldn’t be able to release the breath. Then it came out in a whoosh, and he sagged.

Ozzy’s hand thumped his shoulder as the big man withdrew. “Okay?”

Marcus nodded. “Yeah. Fine.” He had to focus all his energy on the act of defying gravity long enough to make it to standing. He had none left to meet Ozzy’s eyes. “I should get those estimates.”

“Marc—”

“I’m fine. Really.” He scurried out of the office and down the hall to the back kitchen door, thankful to be out of the house before he had to talk to anyone else.

CHAPTERFOUR

“Well.” Eli scratched the back of his head. That had not gone as smoothly as he’d hoped. But then, he hadn’t expected Marcus to hit so many of his buttons, either. Yes, he was good-looking, but it was so much more than just his looks.

“Good-looking.” Eli snorted. “He’s fucking danger-zone hot.”

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