Page 33 of No Going Back
At least he thought he had.
Dianna shrugged. “I’ve never been in here.” She leaned deeper into the formal living room. “Vera was pretty protective of this place. She didn’t let anyone inside.”
“I think that was as much about protecting her independence as it was protecting the property. This place wasn’t really habitable, let alone safe for an old woman.” Griffin tipped his head toward the space Dianna seemed curious about. “You can go anywhere you want. I’ve already taken care of the collapsing floors.”
Dianna’s eyes widened. “Collapsing floors?”
“They weren’t technically falling in yet, but they were on their way.” He followed behind as she moved into the room. “I was able to save most of the hardwood and I think I can patch in the spots I had to replace, so hopefully no one will be able to tell what’s original and what’s not.”
Dianna reached out to slide the tip of a finger along the top of the waist-high built-in lining one wall. “Vera would be so happy you’re trying to preserve everything you can.”
“I wish I could save more, but the bathrooms were pretty trashed.” The tile was damaged and missing in spots and the walls and floors behind it had to be replaced. “But I’m going to do my best to make everything suit the house.”
“I can’t wait to see what you do with it.” She moved to the back of the empty room, pointing across the small hall splitting this side of the house in half. “Is this one of the bathrooms?”
“That’s the office.” Griffin stepped in close, letting his body brush against hers in an act of self-indulgence. He pushed open the solid wood door to reveal the room he’d been living out of. “It was the best room in the house so it’s where I’ve been staying.”
Dianna walked inside, her steps muffled by the large area rug he spread across the floor to protect his bare feet in the morning. “I love the windows.” She motioned at the floor-to-ceiling panes. “But I bet the light is tough to ignore in the mornings.”
“I’m usually up before the sun is, so it doesn’t bother me.” Griffin crossed to the small fridge that held drinks, opening it to pull out a pop and offering it up.
Dianna sighed, taking the cola before sinking down to sit on the edge of his bed. “I don’t even remember what it’s like to sleep in anymore.”
There weren’t many people in this world who worked harder than he did, but after living next door to her for over a month it was clear Dianna was one of them.
And it drove him fucking nuts.
“You give any more thought to hiring someone to help out?” He snagged another drink and carried it over to sit beside her as she picked at her breakfast, positioning his body farther from hers than he wanted to.
He promised he wasn’t going to be a distraction, and he’d done his best to stand by that promise.
Mostly.
Sure, he might have started taking his backyard showers right after she got home in the hopes Dianna would re-extend the offer to use hers. Showing up on her doorstep, expecting to use her facilities, didn’t sit quite right. And sure, occasionally he would check on her in the mornings, hoping she might invite him to enjoy more than a cup of coffee.
But so far neither of those things had happened. They’d both been perfectly friendly and perfectly behaved.
Unfortunately.
“It’s just scary.” Dianna settled her plate onto her lap, looking surprisingly defeated. “But I feel like I’m starting to wear out, you know?”
“You’ve been working your ass off for almost a year and a half straight. Of course you’re worn out.” He reached out to smooth her dark hair behind one ear. “You could always hire someone and if it doesn’t work out you can let them go.” He struggled to pull his hand away, instead letting his fingers slide across her skin. “That’s the nice part about being the boss.”
Dianna smiled, perking up the tiniest bit. “You make it sound so simple.”
Griffin shrugged, catching a strand of her hair between his fingers. “Business is simple.”
It was everything else that was complicated.
Dianna sighed, refocusing on her breakfast and finally taking a bite. “I had someone I was considering, but that was weeks ago. She’s probably found another job by now.” She scooped up a bit of hash brown before collecting biscuit and gravy. “I wouldn’t even know how to find someone else.”
“You can always call her and start there. If she’s busy then you can check with Mae and see if she knows anyone who’s looking.”
He wanted to help Dianna. Wanted her to have less stress. But not all of his reasons for pushing her to hire an employee were as selfless. If she was able to come home earlier at night, he could spend a little more time with her before she fell asleep on his shoulder and he was forced to come back to this big empty house.
Not because he was trying to be part of her life or because he was trying to make her part of his. It was just nice to have someone he could talk to about his day. Someone who didn’t press him for more than he could give. Hopefully he provided her with the same.
“Maybe you’re right.” Dianna blew out another breath, her cheeks puffing with the exertion. “And I’m sure it will be fine. I’m not the same person I was and I don’t think I would let someone walk all over me again like I did before.”
