Page 27 of Wanted By You

“Peggy,” I scold, eyeing Butch’s truck pull in.

“He’s here,” Wade announces from his spot by the window. “You hens back off. Cassidy deserves a good man who can change her fuses properly.”

“Oh,god,” I groan, covering my face in complete embarrassment as they start to laugh and move about casually. They all fail miserably attempting to appear busy, but still close enough to eavesdrop.

Kill me now.

I get his extra-large coffee and take a deep breath as the bell chimes. I turn back to the counter to a towering, scowlingmountain of a man. “Good morning,” I say, placing his coffee down in front of him.

“Morning,” he grunts, tossing cash down on the counter. “I’ll try one of those sugar cookies today.”

I nod, gathering his two breakfast sandwiches and cookie.

While I’m packing them up, he asks, “How’d you make out with the water heater?”

Alison starts to snicker and I shoot her a glaring side-eye before responding, “Good.” I set the bag down. “Water was hotter than I’ve ever gotten it. Made me wonder if they were slowly dying out beforehand.”

“It’s possible. You should probably check your entire circuit. Make sure you don’t have a short somewhere.”

I exhale, cashing him out. “I’ll add it to the list.”

His brow furrows. “You’ve got a list?”

“Yeah, the Get-To-It-When-I-Can list.” And if it’s even possible, Butch scowls harder. “Doesn’t…everyone have a list?” I ask slowly, handing him his change.

He huffs, tossing the change in the tip jar. “What’s at the top of your list?”

I shrug. “There’s a roof leak over Garrett’s room, but Mr. Finley helped me patch it temporarily a few weeks ago.”

“Patch it with what?” he presses further.

“Plywood.”

Butch scoffs loud enough that he doesn’t need to use words to tell me what he thinks of that idea. “I’ll take a look at it for you,” he tells me like it’snotup for discussion. He snatches his coffee and to-go bag from the counter rather aggressively and stalks off without saying another word.

The whole coffee shop is dead silent as I watch him get into his truck and pull off toward the mountain. That was…odd.

“Sooo, you still going to say he doesn’t have a thing for you?” Alison asks with a beaming smile.

“Plywood,” Wade mutters with a shake of his head. “I tell you what, Bob Finley is a damn dumbass.”

Well, shoot. I didn’t think plywood was a bad idea. And considering I hate heights; it was more or less whatever Bob was willing to do for me at the time.

“He’s just being nice,” I say, internally questioning everything I’ve ever known or heard about Butch Montgomery on top of everything he’s ever said to me.

“Nice enough to change yourfusesand patch up yourleak.” Alison laughs.

“What’d you write on his cup today?” Peggy asks curiously.

“Expect nothing, appreciate everything.”

“Oh, that’s fitting.” She smiles knowingly.

Janice hums. “You know, I bet my wedding dress would fit you, if you’d like to take a look at it.”

I exaggerate a groan, and they all laugh. But for some reason, I can’t seem to wipe this smile off my face. Because as big of a dick as Butch has been in the past, he’s already done more for me than anyone has in a very, very long time.

Ten.

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