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“I can’t imagine.” Give her nails to polish or someone’s hairy eyebrows to wax and she’s a pro. On a construction site, she would be useless.
“It’s not hard. Just takes practice.”
Done with the cutting, Quinn shifted to drilling in screws and Sandra shook her head. “I have my doubts.”
Paxton chuckled. “Wait here.”
Not sure what he had in mind, she walked a few steps back into the kitchen. Or what would be the kitchen? She could see it all so clearly. What a perfect home for someone.
“I promise this isn’t hard. Let me show you how to use a drill to put in a screw.” Paxton appeared with a piece of wood and a drill in hand.
Her heart fluttered. She had to stop herself from lifting her hand to her chest. Surely this had nothing to do with working beside Paxton and everything to do with power tools being seriously out of her comfort zone. It had been a long time since she’d noticed butterflies in her stomach. Butterflies that seemed to get more rambunctious every time Paxton looked at her. Had to be a coincidence. It had to be the power tools. She wasn’t ready for anything more than simple friendship. Besides, what were the odds of anyone as sweet as Paxton wanting a woman who came lock, stock, and barrel with plenty of baggage and someone else’s son?
“This is battery operated. We don’t use corded tools anymore because the cords wind up getting cut or causing a trip hazard.” He pushed the trigger. “This makes it go. This switch here changes the direction of the spin.”
“Change direction?”
“Yes, whether you’re screwing in or unscrewing it.”
She focused on the tool, surprised when Paxton chuckled.
“It’s not a snake. It won’t bite you.”
If this were her ex-husband, she would have expected the thing to do just that. Ed never knew what the heck he was talking about.
“The screw goes on the tip which is magnetic.” Paxton placed the screw on. “Let me do one and then I’ll hand it over to you.”
Watching the drill and board was easier on her nerves than watching the man.
“You don’t want to push too hard or you can strip the screw. Take it nice and easy.”
Nice and easy. Easier said than done.
“Your turn.”
The drill was heavier than she’d thought it would be. When his fingers slid away, she almost dropped it.
Still smiling as if she weren’t the biggest klutz on the planet, she inhaled as he wrapped his hands around hers. “Here, let me help.”
Willing her fingers not to shake, she put a screw on the tip of the drill and let the pressure from his fingers pull the trigger. The screw went straight in.
“See?” He smiled and pulled away.
Breathing more easily with him not standing so close, she also regretted his not standing so close. How crazy was that?
Chapter Five
“There will be other kids?” Overflowing with excitement, Sandra’s son danced around her as she stood in the bathroom, applying the last coat of mascara.
She didn’t normally wear much makeup, but her eyes always looked so drawn out and bland if she didn’t at least put on a dash of mascara and a bit of blush. “I expect you to be on your best behavior and listen to what the adults tell you to do.”
“Can we go?” Anyone would think the kid was on his way to the North Pole to meet Santa in person.
“We’re getting picked up in five minutes. Go put your shoes on.”
He bounced out of the room. His excitement would be contagious if she wasn’t already just as excited about stepping back in time, even for one night, and even if it was with a young son in tow. Dinners at the Farraday’s were always a good time. Great food and a family that actually liked each other. This would be a good experience for David. He needed to see what happily married people and large loving families looked like. Up until now, his only example of marriage and family had been her and his father’s strained, almost embattled relationship.
Putting away her makeup, she took in her appearance. Not bad for a prodigal daughter.
