Oh gosh. Oh no.
My heart is developing a crush.
And my brain seems powerless to stop it.
Seven
My entire bodyhurts by the time we’ve finished painting. Like, every single muscle is screaming in agony right now. My body is a writer’s body. I’m meant to sit in a comfy chair, only exercising my fingers while I type out my next bestseller. I am not built for six hours of painting.
Max takes the paint stuff outside to rinse it off, and I’m supposed to go shower, but I’m just laying here on the floor of my bedroom, staring at the ceiling with zero willpower to get back up again.
There’s a soft tap on my door, followed by, “You hungry? We can head to the diner for dinner.”
“That sounds amazing,” I say, lolling my head to the side to look at him. “I need to shower first.”
“I thought you were doing that thirty minutes ago?”
I sit up. “It’s beenthirty minutes?”
He chuckles. “Have you been laying there the whole time?”
I drag a tired hand across my face. “I guess I have.”
“Mind if I shower first?”
I nod, laying back down on the cool hardwood flooring. “Be my guest.”
“Cool,” he says, tapping on the doorframe. “I’ll shower then finish something on the back porch real quick, then I’m ready whenever you are.”
“What’s broken on the back porch?” I ask, staring at the ceiling. The back porch looked fine last time I was out there.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Fine,” I say with a yawn. “Keep your secrets.”
* * *
There must have beensomething in my Diet Coke at the dinner. Alcohol? Magic fairy dust? Something. Because it’s like the normal Julie has been yanked out of my body and replaced with a cooler, more fun, flirtatious Julie. Max and I had so much fun at Roger’s Diner. He’d introduced me to a few of the locals, and when our neighbor Lina showed up with her husband, we’d pushed our tables together and had dinner with them.
Everyone loves Max. He’s so kind, and friendly, and sweet.
I find myself sneaking glances at him during the short drive back home. Here in the cab of his truck, I can smell his cologne. It’s cool and soft, reminding me of the ocean. I know I have to get back to writing my manuscript. I know he needs to finish renovating my house and get out of here so my life can truly start over here in Sterling. All of that needs to happen ASAP.
But for now… I really like this.
“Ready for your surprise?” Max asks after parking next to my Jeep in the driveway.
“Surprise?”
“The porch,” he says with a mischievous grin.
“Sure.” I know I’m smiling back, but I try to keep my voice calm and natural.
We make our way through the house which now smells like fresh paint and looks clean and open with all the paint supplies gone. As I step out onto the porch, I don’t notice anything different.
“Well?” I say, turning around to cock my head at Max, who promised a surprise. “I don’t see anything different.”
“How about now?”
