Page 7 of One Touch

“Iamturning it left. It’s not moving.”

I stepped into the doorway. Kate’s body was half sticking out of the small bathroom vanity, her ass sticking up in the air. Duke was grabbing towels from a hook and tossing them over the sink as water sprayed everywhere.

“I don’t know what the hell she did!”

I crouched down to where Kate was unsuccessfully trying to turn off the water. “Move.”

She glared at me and scooted backward out of the tight space. Her jaw flexed as I waited for her to get out of the way. Once she was gone, I reached in and found the water shutoff. It was broken—that much was clear—but with a few hard turns, I was able to get the water from a deluge to a trickle.

I unfolded myself from under the vanity and stood. Katie was still in the bathroom, her tight white—and very wet—T-shirt plastered to her trim little body. Her hands were planted on her hips, and she glared at me like I had been the one to fuck up. I held her hard stare and tried not to notice how the outline of her lace bra only enhanced the fact that her nipples were hard little points through her wet shirt.

“Jesus, Katie.” Duke wiped his hands down his own wet clothing.

“The valve is broken,” I offered.

“We don’t need your help.” Kate crossed her arms in an unsuccessful attempt to cover herself.

“Is that all?” I ground out, annoyed at how the sight of her sent heat spreading through me.

She was about to argue again when a knock at the front door had us all turning. We filed into the hallway, Duke throwing his sister a dry-ish towel to cover up.

Tootie answered the door, revealing a man who was short, round, and not at all friendly looking. He held a clipboard in one hand and adjusted his striped tie with the other.

“Josiah. What brings you here?”

“Tootie.” The man nodded at her and narrowed his eyes at the three of us piled in the hallway. “Now I hate to do this, but I got wind that you’re planning some renovations without the proper permits. You know this home is registered with the Remington County Historical Association.”

I shot a glare at Kate, who only pulled the edges of the towel tighter around her shoulders and lifted her chin.

Tootie stepped aside to let the man in. “Permits? Why, I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re planning some simple updates. That’s all.”

The portly man shook his head and tapped his clipboard. “Don’t you go playing innocent. Any renovations require a building and zoning permit application for all building-related projects on a historical homesite. If not a permit, then the association has to approve the design at the very least. To ensure you’re maintaining the integrity of the house!”

He shook his head again. “Lots of folks saw Kate here at the hardware store, loading up on supplies. When I heard that, I went ahead to check on the permits, and lo and behold ... not a one was filed.”

“So someone saw Kate and snitched is what you’re saying?” Duke crossed his arms.

“Now, I didn’t say that. I heard rumors is all.”

“Yeah.” Duke knew as well as I did that it was a King who’d sold her the supplies in the first place and had taken the first opportunity they could find to get her into trouble.

The man looked down at his clipboard again. “Now I have to issue a fine, because without the proper permits, a reputable builder who—”

“I’m the builder.” I stepped forward, and the man’s head snapped up. He raked his eyes up and down, knowing full well I wasn’t a townie.

“Haveyoufiled the application for permits, then?”

I smiled the friendliest, most business-appropriate smile I could manage and tipped my head toward a fuming Kate. “Overeager homeowner. Had plans to file the applications in person myself on Monday. I can assure you that no other work will be started before we line everything up with your office. I take the considerations of the historical society very seriously.”

The building inspector raised his nose in the air, clearly disappointed he had lost his footing on reprimanding the Sullivans. “Hmm. Very well.” His hand dropped. “Consider this your one and only warning. Any renovations will be done by going through the proper channels. I’m going to make sure of it.”

“We understand,” Duke assured him.

“Well, now that it’s settled, I’m sure you have a lot of very important work at your office, Josiah.” Tootie’s voice dripped with saccharine as she placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him back out the door.

Duke turned to me. “Thanks for coming.”

Kate let out a huff.

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