Page 68 of Studfinder

“Nolan?” I stand to face my brother before glancing across the property to Rita, who’s planting flowers where we’ve already secured new bushes. Rita stands from her kneeling position and removes her work gloves. She swipes her hands on her jeans and walks over to Nolan.

What the hell? I tug off my own gloves, dismissing Sullivan’s glare, and cross the yard to where Rita has approached my brother.

“Nolan, what’s going on?” I address him first, finding it strange that he’d come to the work site. I’m also a bit concerned as he sought me out here of all places. I don’t need my family drama mixing with my parole.

Nolan sheepishly glances at me before looking up at Rita. “I’m here to accept your offer, if it still stands.”

Rita slowly grins, chewing at the corner of her lips for a second before straightening her expression to look stern. “You’re late.”

Nolan lowers his eyes and sighs before answering. “I was lost.”

My head is so busy moving back and forth between the two of them I’m not certain what to focus on. The fact Nolan is here. The fact Rita is smiling. Just what the hell is happening?

Reaching out a hand to Nolan’s shoulder, Rita responds. “We’ve all been there.”

Again, my gaze is moving from one of them to the other. “I don’t understand,” I state, but neither of them looks at me.

“Let’s get to work,” Rita says to Nolan before glancing over at me. “Jake, get back to work.” Her demand is soft but still commanding before she addresses Nolan once more.

“Let’s step into my temporary office.” She chuckles as she tips her head toward her crossover and leads Nolan toward the vehicle. I’m frozen in place on the pavement, watching my brother wheel behind Rita. Her head twists to make certain Nolan follows her, and then her body shifts so she can look at me as she walks backward.

“Thank you,” I mouth to her.

“Anytime, handsome.” Rita salutes me with two fingers at her forehead before lowering her gaze to my brother and offering him another smile.

Watching Rita interact with my brother for a moment, a presence comes to my side.

“She’s good people,” Sullivan states beside me, pride filling his voice, along with desire. I haven’t missed how Sullivan tracks Rita, just as I do when she’s on-site.

“She’s the best of women,” I mutter, having stated the same thing to Rita once. I don’t deserve her, and Nolan certainly doesn’t deserve her kindness either.

A half hour later, Nolan starts to wheel away from Rita, and I drift over to him. “What’s happening?”

Nolan explains the job offer Rita’s given him. Rita has stepped up to listen and occasionally nods at Nolan’s explanation.

“Does this arrangement have a time limit?” I question, glancing up at Rita, shocked by all I’ve learned. The social media work Nolan can easily do from a computer. The fundraising efforts seem like something Nolan would be good at organizing, and the youth group, which is a bit of a surprise, could really do Nolan some good.

“This isn’t a sentence,” Rita clarifies. “It’s effort. Nolan will get out of it what he puts into it.”

“And Nolan can speak for himself,” he interjects, narrowing his eyes up at Rita. Rita softly chuckles and shakes her head at my brother. They aren’t friends, but I can see she’s trying. She’d done more than a friend might do. She did what I asked, and then she took it one step further. She’s put her faith in Nolan, too.

“Rita says you’ll be leaving the area,” Nolan mentions, changing the subject.

“I explained how you’d like to move out of state, but I can’t place you on our sites in New Hampshire yet. We have a new project up in Gaskin,” Rita clarifies.

“You’re really moving away?” Nolan questions, his voice lowering with regret.

My eyes leap up to Rita. “I’m undecided.”

Her lips purse, ignoring my comment, and she pats Nolan on the shoulder. “Well, Nolan, it’s good to have you here.”

“Yeah, I need to get going. I have that meeting next.” Nolan sets his hands on his wheels, but I step before him. My hands lift, stopping my brother’s retreat.

“What meeting?” I ask, fear creeping over my skin. Is this another setup for Nolan to turn himself in? What is Rita playing at?

“Rita found me a therapist.”

Slowly, I lower my raised arms. “Why?”