Page 19 of Bidding on a Second Chance
“Because it snowed.” Each word felt like a step onto ice that might not hold. But where had this lake of resentment come from? “Is that okay?”
“Did you shovel for anyone else? Some of the shut-ins from church, maybe?”
“You realize you’re one of the shut-ins from church until your foot heals.”
“You shouldn’t have come here.”
This was crazy, having to defend himself for doing a good deed. “It only took fifteen minutes. I had the time.”
She shook her head. “Still. You’re doing too much for me.”
“If you mean the furniture, that’s for the auction, not you. I’m going to the store, whether you ride along or not, so it’d be a stretch to call that a favor. You’ve got me on shoveling, but even that could be considered a favor to all the kids who have to walk by on their way to school.”
“It’s for the children? That’s your defense?”
He’d done it for Piper, pure and simple. Injuries like hers hurt a lot less without strenuous activity, and he didn’t want her to be in pain. “I need a defense to shovel a sidewalk?”
“Yes.” Color crept onto her cheeks. “I told you, I need to be sure you’re not bidding on a second chance.”
Was he? Undecided. No. Decided. He was not. Or … He pushed away memories—recent ones—of how her smiles had warmed him. Instead, he went on the offense. “Who talks like that? Bidding on a second chance?”
“It’s a play on the word bid, since we’re getting ready for an auction.” Her mouth moved, but the rest of her seemed frozen, possibly with embarrassment.
Since he’d come to prevent pain, he probably ought to rescue her, but she’d hit a little close to the truth. “You’re suggesting I’m so proud of my shoveling skills, I’d use them to try to win you back?”
Her mouth angled with an exasperated frown. “Yes. Because you like me.”
“I do?” He managed to sound unconvinced, but the effort strained his throat.
Her eyes widened, the exasperation growing toward frustration. “I don’t know. You tell me. Why else are you here?”
“It seemed like the right thing to do. As did offering you a ride, but if you’d rather put someone else out, that’s fine.” He stepped from the stoop onto the walk.
“You can’t like me.” Piper’s statement reached him stark and clear. “You shouldn’t. It won’t end well. It’s too risky.”
Too risky. She’d said that the night of their breakup too, and both times, it echoed something he’d been told two decades ago. What about him caused people to reject him with such vague, weak excuses?
“Message received.” He gave an exaggerated salute she’d see, even from behind him, and threw any romantic ideas of reconciliation in a prison cell and locked away the key.
ChapterThirteen
Had Piper been avoiding Graham, or had he been avoiding her? By the day after the shoveling incident, she suspected it was both. Yesterday, he had surprised her by not beating her to the shop. When he arrived, he’d gone straight into the back without detouring to see her at the front of the store.
Today had been a repeat of the same. At first, the hum of the sander had underscored the shop’s pop and soft rock mix. He’d been much quieter for the last hour. Piper hadn’t given him much direction, but the nightstand had turned out as well as if she’d done it herself. Made sense, since he’d taught her most of what she knew about making something old new again. Whatever quiet work he was doing now would probably contribute to an equally beautiful job on the next piece.
Meanwhile, she’d wheeled her scooter around, straightening inventory and working on her tablet behind the checkout counter. That last part was how she’d found a bed she wanted for the auction. Online pieces like this tended to go fast, so she’d need Graham to go pick it up today if she wanted it.
Was it really worth facing him?
She clicked to zoom in on the image. Shehadwanted a sleigh bedframe exactly like this one. She texted the number listed and quickly received confirmation that the bed was still available.
Time to talk to Graham. Piper scanned the shop. Jeannette and Denise browsed the racks, but the regulars wouldn’t mind if she disappeared for a minute to ask him to pick up the bed.
She was being silly, hesitating. She needed the bedframe, and the errand was distinctly for the Rasinskis. Graham wouldn’t mind.
I’ll take it,she replied to the seller.Let me see how quickly my guy can get there.
My guy. As though Graham was nothing more than an employee. Maybe treating him that way would establish the boundaries they desperately needed.
