Page 47 of Forbidden Secrets
“Yes.Why are you doing that?”
“Gage is helping us, Mom.”
He pulled out another staple, dropped it in a small tub, then addressed Addy.“Shade’s coming down, sunshine.You and Pancake stay put.”Addy tightened her arm around the dog.
Gage pulled out the last staple and let the screen fall to the ground.
“Mom said ‘hell.’”
“I heard that.She allowed to swear?”
“No, but she says ‘shit’ sometimes too.”
“No kidding?”Gage’s grin had Melanie’s stomach doing a slow roll.
“Way to rat me out, kid,” she muttered.Telling herself to stay focused, she said, “Addy, it’s time to come in.Dinner’s ready.”
It was getting dark and thunder rumbled again.Like a switch flipped, rain began pelting the ground from the heavy gray clouds overhead.Pancake whimpered.
“Poor baby, she’s scared.”Addy moved farther under the overhang, keeping a hand on Pancake’s collar.
“Addy, take Pancake inside until Gage is ready to take her home.She’ll feel safer.Remember to wash your hands and set the table.I put the dishes on the counter.”Melanie opened the door and Pancake bolted inside, followed eagerly by Addy.
Mel turned back to Gage.He collapsed the ladder and leaned it against the wall under the eaves.“I didn’t ask for your help getting the screen down.”
“No, you didn’t.I’ll put it in my trash can.”
“I can deal with it.I was going to borrow a ladder from Paul to finish the job.”
“Now you don’t have to.”He climbed the steps to stand on the small, covered stoop, dark gaze assessing.The rain came down in a curtain behind him, filling the air with the smell of wet earth.“I have a ladder.I’ve got pliers.Your trash can is full since Jordy and I filled it with the pieces of the other ladder and I have space in mine.I don’t see the problem.”
She heaved out a frustrated breath and closed her eyes.“I’m the problem.Dammit.”She opened them again to find he’d taken a step closer.She tilted back her head to meet his gaze.“I’m grateful for your help, Gage.But this is my house, and I need to do things myself.I knew going into it there’d be maintenance I’d have to take care of.”She pointed up.“The eaves and facia board need to be painted, which is why, besides being hideous, the screen had to come down.I don’t want to rely on friends or family to take care of things like that.”
“So you watch how-to videos.”
“It’s not like I don’t know how to do anything, but yeah, pretty much.”
“I’ve got nothing against learning from videos.Do you plan to do the painting yourself?There’s a lot of prep work, and painting takes skill.That’s besides being backbreaking work and risky if you’re working from a ladder, even a good one.”
“Hold on, I never said I was doing the entire project.Addy’s school friend Lucy’s two moms own a house painting business.They call it Roller Girls.Jessica is coming tomorrow to give me an estimate.She said she’ll give me the friends and family discount.That’s why I wanted the screen down.”
“Next time ask me.”
“Next time I’ll make sure I have a sturdy ladder and do it myself.”
“Uh-uh.I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“You can’t tell me what to do, Gage.”
“All that means is I need to keep a closer eye on you.”He shook his head as the words left his mouth.“I don’t mean that as bad as it sounds.I want you safe.”He jammed his fingers through his hair and looked like he wanted to say something else but stopped himself.“I’ll get Pancake and head home.The ladder and screen can wait until it’s not raining.”
A woof followed by Addy’s giggle sounded through the door that had been left ajar.
Melanie rubbed her arms against the chill and looked out into the pounding rain that had dropped the temperature.Bringing her gaze back to his, she said, “This doesn’t mean anything in the context of, um, what happened earlier, but if vegetable bean soup sounds good, you’re invited to stay for dinner.”
“You mean in the context of the blow-my-socks-off kiss we shared?”
“Yeah, that.You and Pancake will get soaked if you try going home now.”
