Page 473 of Small Town Firsts
She pushed his hair out of his eyes, and he didn’t shy away. If I wasn’t already in love with her—and I damn well knew I was, had been for more years than I ever wanted to own up to—then I would have been after seeing that.
I finished cleaning up and made a mental note to pick up eggs, as well as milk. And from the lone heel in the bread bag, that was also on the list.
We raced through our meal as my phone reminded me it was time to leave for school. I would be lost without the various alarms I set for myself. Working for myself meant a very chaotic schedule.
I checked my laptop as Danny went to get dressed.
“Holy shit.”
“What?” She got up to look over my shoulder and gave a delighted laugh. “I’m definitely putting that video on my main work feed.”
“I can’t handle all I have now.” Stunned at another thirty jobs since overnight, I was just under triple digits, for fuck’s sake.
She looped her arms around my shoulders. “Guess you have to activate the brothers in Murdock Brothers, then.”
“Guess so.”
She kissed my cheek. “I can bring Danny to school if you want.”
I turned. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely. If he’s okay with it.”
“I’m okay with it,” Danny said from behind us.
“I’ll go get dressed.” She ruffled Danny’s hair and disappeared down the hall.
“Thanks.” I glanced over at him. “Can you feed Trouble?”
He nodded and went to the pail where we kept the dog food while I tabbed through all the jobs and organized them in my usual categories of emergency, high priority, and low.
Nora rushed back in, her hair still tousled, but from the neck down she was fresh as last night. “I’ll call you later?”
I stood up, following them downstairs to the front door. Danny had on his backpack and was out the door before Nora. I grabbed her around the waist and dragged her in for a kiss. Herhazel eyes were blurry and shocked when I pulled back. “I’m not sure how late I’ll be, but I want to see you tonight.”
“Then, we will.” Then she was gone, leaving me with Trouble laying at the top of the stairs, head on his paws.
“He’ll be back in a little while.” I scratched his ears, and he popped up and followed me into the dining room.
I spent the next few hours on the phone as I called back people. Some had already found another handyman to cover them, but there were a startling number who still wanted my services.
I opened up my brother chat and called out an SOS.
Cash:
How many jobs?
90
Kai:
FML, how many? Since when? How many are hot babes?
Just get here. I need an all hands-on deck. And if it keeps up, you might actually have to stay.
Cam:
I have a few more weeks in Daytona. Sorry, man.
