Page 22 of The Problem with Dating
“My wife just texted,” Nathan told her. “I can go home now.”
I watched as Echo tried to mumble a laugh. “That’s…that’s good, yeah?”
Nate nodded. “Yeah,” he agreed. “I miss her.”
Echo’s eyes just started blinking a mile a minute. She was probably surprised that Nathan freakin’ Hayes was opening discussing his marriage and feelings with her.
I almost laughed, but instead asked, “Would it be alright if we showed up same time tomorrow?”
She was still looking at Nathan all confused-like. “Uh, yeah…” Nathan saluted her before heading out the door, and Echo still looked perplexed.
“You okay?”
Her eyes found mine, and she grimaced. “Other than having Nathan Hayes redo my floors, yeah, I’m great.”
I decided to have mercy on her. “To you, he’s Nathaniel Hayes. To me, he’s just Nate, my little brother,” I told her.
Echo crossed her arms over her chest. “A little heads up would have been nice.”
I smirked. “We both know it was going to have to be an ambush or nothing at all.”
She cocked her head. “This is a bit overboard for an apology, don’t you think?”
“Forget the fact that I was a complete dick, but when you lied to my Mom about how I had been such a great help, well…I couldn’t let that go.” I lifted my chin. “Why’d you do it?”
“Because Louise is a nice person,” she replied. “I…I didn’t want to be the one to break the news to her that she raised a jackass.”
“Three.”
“What?”
“She raised three jackasses,” I corrected her. “And she’s aware. That’s probably why she had been so excited by your lie. You gave her hope for me.”
Echo laughed, and it was genuine, and it sounded perfect.
I smiled at her and her face immediately grew serious. “I’m not going to let you do this job for half, Gideon,” she said. “Even if Nathan doesn’t need the money, it’s not right.”
My tools dropped and I walked towards her. And because she wasn’t stupid, she retreated with each step, but when her back hit the kitchen island, that’s when she realized she had trapped herself.
I placed my hands on the counter on either side of her, caging her in. I leaned down, and even though I knew I probably smelled of grout, plank boards, and sweat, I still crowded her.
It was time to clear some shit up.
“You’re right,” I agreed. “I won’t be doing this job for half.” I stared into her brown eyes. “I’m doing it free of charge.”
Her eyes widened. “No,” she rushed out. “Absolutely not, Gideon.”
“I owe you, Echo.”
She shook her head. “An apology, Gideon. Not…notthis.”
“Did it ever occur to you there might be another reason I’m doing this?”
“Besides, that you don’t want me telling your mom on you?”
Fuck it.
I leaned in until my breath was tickling her ear. “Maybe Iwantto do this for you.”
