Cain grimaces slightly. “My sister said they need work.”
“She said that because she wants those two knuckleheads out of her hair.”
“Probably.” Cain grins before sticking his head into the living room. “Boys!” he growls. “Quit shoving each other around in Elsie’s place. You break her TV, and I’ll break your ass.”
The two lanky teenagers straighten their spines and push back their shoulders. Neither of them looks at all sorry. They’re both smothering smirks.
“Sure thing, Uncle Cain,” one says.
“Unc,” the other adds with a snicker.
“Unc-o.”
They burst into a roll of uncontrolled giggling.
Sawyer rubs his temple. “It’s gonna be a long day.”
“Pfft. Not for you,” Cain says. “These repairs will get done a hell of a lot faster if you ain’t here eyeballing me the whole time.”
Sawyer tips his head in my direction. “How do you feel about that, Elsie Hoskins?”
I clear my throat, but it’s hopeless. Only an “Um…” comes out.
Sawyer leans over and murmurs in my ear. “You’re the boss. Use that big, brave voice.”
I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so patient. He gives me all the time I need to get comfortable in a social situation. My parents never bothered. A shove, a barked order to smile, and a shaking head as they wondered, “Why aren’t you cured?” was their method.
Sawyer gets a bold but grateful smile from me. I square my shoulders before I face Cain.
“You and your… your… nephews…” I point to the teenagers. “Are you going to touch anything?”
Cain’s thick eyebrow arches. “Well, I’ve gotta touch the molding, look at the plumbing, and obviously I’ll need to check all the cabinets—”
“But you won’t touch any of my things?”
“What type of…things?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Quit that shit,” Sawyer says. “You know what she’s talkin’ about.”
Cain puffs out a breath. “Mate, you have become seriously less fun these last couple of days. I’m just joking around.”
“Less jokin’, more—”
“Yeah, yeah. I’mfixing. Elsie, I promise I won’t touch any of your things. I’ll keep that pair of idiots out of your bedroom. I’ll even tell them they have to use the restroom at the takeout place downstairs so they don’t piss all over that fluffy pink thing you’ve got in front of your toilet. And IpromiseI’m gonna workmy ass off all weekend to get this place up to scratch… On one condition.”
“Name it,” I say.
Cain grins. “Take the snarling pitbull with you when you head out.”
“Almost at the dunes.”Sawyer takes his eyes off the road long enough to give me a smile. “You got everythin’ you need?”
I dig around in the oversized red beach bag parked on my lap. “I’ve got my book…my hat…”
“Water?”
I hold up the bottle and swish it so he can hear how full it is. “Yes.”
“Sunblock?”
