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“Will that be a problem?” he presses, taking in my expression.
“Um – I mean –” I push a stray blonde hair behind my ear and tug my shirt down over my belly again. “Is he dangerous?”
“Who, Cole?”
I raise my eyebrows. Were we talking about someone else? Instead of voicing my sarcasm, I nod.
“He’s harmless,” he says, crossing his arms defensively. “Rough around the edges, but he won’t hurt you.”
Having to take his word for it, I sigh and step out of the master bedroom. I start to lead the tour and peek into the next bedroom. It’s been cleared of the furniture, so I shut the door and take a look in the bathroom directly across the hall from it. Instead of pink, it’s all blue. Honestly, what is with these colors? There are absolutely no redeeming qualities in this house, minus the walls holding up the roof.
I turn toward Derek who had been silently following me. “Kitchen?”
He waves me on, and we head back through the hallway, across the living room, and into what is surely the dining room. Several large windows in the dining room overlook the pasture, maples, and firs. To my surprise, an antique table is situated directly in the middle of the room that’s riddled with construction tools across the surface. Instead of bawking at the mistreatment of a beautiful piece of furniture, I turn to the kitchen where Derek had already entered.
I rub my shoulder as soon as I step into the kitchen. The joint is already aching at the prospect of what this kitchen will do to it.
The cabinets are dark wood, and the style is straight from the seventies. The countertop has already beenremoved, but I can tell it was tiled like the bathroom because it holds a few trashcans full of smashed tiles.
The sink is an old farmhouse sink, and I head to it to run my fingers across its smooth surface. It’s in perfect condition, and I find myself giddy about that. It’s a little treasure in a place that would be better if it were burned to the ground. “Can we keep this?”
“Sure, just let Cole know.”
I breathe a sigh of relief that at least some old charm from the house can stay. Maybe some white paint on the dark cabinets can cheer up the space. “When will the countertops be in?”
He pockets his hands in his back pockets. “That’s on order. With us being way out here, it’ll take some time. I can have Cole put wood on the counters for now so that you have a surface to cook on.”
“That’d be great,” I murmur as I head to the stove, and a slow smile spreads across my lips. “The appliances look new.”
“Neil had replaced the old ones since they didn’t work.”
“Wonderful,” I say, meaning it. Having working appliances that I’m familiar with will make this a hell of a lot easier on me. Plus, it’s several things that I don’t have to try and haul out of here because, honestly, I have no faith in an ex-con’s work ethic to lend me a hand.
“Well,” he says, slapping his thighs. “I’ll let you get to it. You have my number, right?”
I turn to him. “Saved it in my phone.”
“Great!” he exclaims. It sends him into a coughing fit where he turns away from me to hack up a lung. “Jesus have mercy on me,” he grumbles when it’s over.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
He waves me off as he turns back to face me, wiping athis eyes. “Cleaning supplies are in the cabinets, and there’s a pantry” – he points to a few tall cabinets – “that has the rest of the supplies. A broom, a duster, things of the like.”
“Okay, great. And where can I get paint and such?”
“Mount Pleasant.” He flicks a thumb over his shoulder. “I have a few charge accounts there. Tori can show you around to get what you need.” He clears his throat, and I can tell he’s about to go into another coughing fit. “I need to get out of here. I think you’re right and the dust is making it worse.”
I give him a reassuring smile and make a shooing motion at him. “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”
“Please do,” he says as he turns and strides out of the kitchen. “I’ll get ahold of Cole and let him know you’ve settled in.” Shortly after, I hear the screen door shut.
Chapter 2
Cole Garner
Even over the T.V.,I can hear his hacking before he rings the bell. I roll my eyes as the bell echoes throughout my trailer. Well, it’s notmytrailer. I rent it from Derek, one of the few houses he took over from his brother when he died, or disappeared, depending on who you ask in this part of Utah.
I don’t answer it right away because, maybe if I sit here, he’ll think I’m not home. Even though my truck is outside, I could be on a stroll through the neighborhood or some shit like that.
