Page 46 of Pick Yourself Up
She understood it, she did. After hearing of the danger Jolie and Thea had been through, she’d been the same herself. Same when her brothers had been on missions in the Army. It was just more difficult when she was the one worrying them.
After putting a hearty stew in the crock pot, she prepped the biscuit dough so it would be quick to pop in at dinner time. Then she set some of the frozen soup she’d made into a pot on the stove to thaw for lunch. Gray entered the kitchen, looking delicious in his worn jeans and a t-shirt that showed off the muscles she wanted to lick.
His eyes sparkled when she looked up and found him grinning at her. “Morning, Beautiful.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she knew she was smiling like a lovesick puppy. He kissed her sweetly, then brushed his thumb over her lips. “That’s an excellent way to start the morning.”
Which suggested even better ways to start the day. Gray’s eyes deepened at whatever showed in her face, and she reached up to kiss him again.
She fell in love with this man a little more every day. Her heart was a goner, and she didn’t mind at all. Falling in love was supposed to be a big, scary deal. For her it was a lovely slide into happy.
Which meant she was ready to take that next step with him. Ready to go way past kissing. All the way to mind-blowing sex. Because sex with Gray was going to be incredible. Every time he touched her, her body responded. All he had to do was exist, and she was drawn to him.
Gray’s eyebrow shot up. “I like what you’re thinking.”
She laughed. “You’re a mind reader now?”
He caressed her jaw, sending shivers down to her toes. “I hope so.”
She was about to answer when Ford and Jolie entered from the mudroom. “Ducks are playing with Hemsworth and we’re at your service.”
Gray nodded, but his eyes stayed on hers. “I’m definitely at your service.” His whisper barely reached her ear. She flushed and shivered. That sounded very good. Time to make room for a second date. A date that would be all about having her way with this amazing man.
He kissed her lightly and turned to their friends. Thea and Knox entered the kitchen as well. Gray smiled at them all. “Let’s get to it. The truck should be here soon.”
Amber shook herself out of her sexual haze and they headed to the B&B. After getting input from Ford, Sean, Aisling, and the rest, they had a game plan.
Ford had spreadsheets, organized by job size, priority, and budget. Seeing the entire spreadsheet and estimated costs made her heart quake. Even though the family insisted all the costs for the renovations and the gardens come from the inheritance, she wanted to put in her own money, make it hers.
It’s your dream. Don’t shirk at it. Fox’s voice echoed in her head. He’d wanted them all to find a dream and go for it. And if that one didn’t work out, to do it all again.
What would he think about her dream involving his brother’s farmhouse? She hoped it would make them both happy.
Amber unlocked the building, disarmed the alarms, and opened windows to welcome the breeze inside. After days of having the air moving, the interior no longer smelled musty. Although that probably had as much to do with the many hours she’d spent cleaning the floors and walls as it did with the fresh air.
Ford grinned as he looked around. “There’s nothing quite like a clean slate to begin a new project. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a work site so clean. You realize we’re going to mess it up with all the construction, right?”
Her cheeks heated as she smiled. “I do, but cleaning all the spaces means I know the house really well.”
The sound of a backup alarm had them all heading outside. A semi loaded with all the things they’d need for the initial stages of the renovation eased down the farm road: wood, drywall, tools, and so much more.
Ford moved into the road where the driver could see him to show him where to park.
Amber had to blink back tears when she saw the load. Gray hugged her. “You good?”
She nodded. “So good. This is the first time I’m doing a project for myself and I’m a little overwhelmed. In a good way.”
He hugged her again. When he released her, Jolie spun her into a dance. “It’s real, Amber. You’re going to rescue this farmhouse and bring it back to life.”
Her sister always got it. “It’s going to be amazing, Joles.”
“It is. And we’re all going to help as much as you want. I know you’ll want to do a lot of it yourself because it’s yours, but we want to help.”
Jolie knew her so well. Amber laughed and squeezed her sister. “Thanks. I definitely can’t do this huge place myself. It’s going to take a while, but it’s going to be amazing.”
They opened the double-door entrance to the B&B and, using equipment the driver provided, they brought everything into the main front rooms of the house.
The driver, Bill, shook his head. “This ought to keep you busy for a while. This is a big house.”
