Page 59 of Coach
The last layer of sealant had just finished drying that afternoon. It needed another day or three to be hard enough for me to feel comfortable with her using it. But I’d been dying to finally give it to her.
“This is incredible. Like, genuinely, Saul. This would be worth thousands if you sold it. And it’s solid,” she said, knocking on the wood. “Nothing is solid wood anymore.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said, watching her lovingly stroke the surface. “Because I made it for you.”
“Wait… what?”
Her lips parted; her pretty eyes went round.
“No.”
“Yes. I’ve been working on it since you mentioned wanting a small two-seater table to fit your space.”
“That’s… that’s so incredibly generous. But I can’t accept this.”
“Why not?”
“Because you should be selling it. Seriously, thousands, Saul. I’ve seen people pay like five grand for something half as gorgeous.”
“It’s not about money.” Hell, the wood wasn’t even that pricey. The biggest investment in it was the time.
“You must have been working on it day and night.”
“That’s what I like about making something for someone. The hours I spend on it, thinking about what they might like, how they might use it, what kind of memories they might make with it.”
“In that case,” she said, running her hand across the surface again, “I accept. I insist on paying you back with a meal served on it.”
“No way I’m passing up on that. But we’re gonna have to find you some chairs first. I haven’t perfected the art of making a chair yet.”
“Luckily, I specialize in finding things like that. Even if I have to sand them down and stain them to match the table.”
“I’d be happy to help.”
“Thank you for this, Saul. Really. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Clearly, she didn’t have a mirror.
“You’re more than welcome. Alright. Take up the stool. Relax. I’ll get the bath all ready for you.”
When I left, she was still lovingly stroking the table.
And my dirty mind didn’t imagine those fingers moving over my skin like that.
As much as I’d dreamed of her showing up at the door, of what we would do when that happened.
This was not the time.
She was here for comfort, not sex.
So while she took a hot bath, I was going to take a long, cold shower.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Este
Honestly, I just snapped.
I’d been sitting on my phone, researching the town and its many colorful past and present residents while the neighbor started to screw something over and over that made this god-awful shrieking sound each time. I swore I felt the sound stab up my spine, into my ears. Myteethhurt with it.
