Page 8 of Searching for Love

ChapterThree

Avery knew that it would look like she was desperate to see Lucas again if she stopped by his building the following day. But after working a half shift at the bakery, she figured she’d just… walk by. And after her and Lucas’s eyes met through the large glass window, well, it would be rude of her not to say hi. Right?

If the smile on Lucas’s lips was any indication, he was pleased to see her as well.

She stopped on the sidewalk and waited as he unlocked the old wood and glass doors. An ancient bell chimed when he held it open for her.

“Hey,” he said a little breathlessly. He was wearing worn jeans and a gray T-shirt that was covered in a layer of dust. There was a smudge of dirt on his chin which made him look even sexier. Most importantly, he looked completely happy.

“Hey,” she replied, looking around the dirty room. She could see the potential even through the layers of dirt and trash. “Wow.” She stepped in and turned a circle.

“I just moved in two days ago,” he pointed out. “First is cleaning and clearing so Parker and his crew can get in here. Hopefully, they can start the important things tomorrow.” He motioned to the full trash bags that lined the back hallway.

“Need any help?” she offered. “I have the rest of the day off and tomorrow as well.”

She’d wanted to offer to help him clean up the building when she’d run into him the day before at the beach, but she’d been afraid that she’d sound too eager.

“I’d love some help,” Lucas said easily. Then he frowned down at her outfit. “You should probably change first.”

She tapped her backpack with a grin. “I have a change of clothes in here. I can change in the bathroom.” She motioned to the hallway, remembering where the bathrooms were from when she used to eat there when the place was Bonnie’s Sandwich Shop. Actually, for a summer, she had worked behind the counter making sandwiches as well.

“Great,” Lucas said. A pile of trash bags started falling over when she stepped past them. “I’m going to haul these out to the dumpster in the alley,” he suggested while she disappeared into the bathroom to change into the clothes she’d packed in hopes of this exact moment happening.

After pulling on a pair of worn jeans and an oversized T-shirt from the fire station where her dad was the fire chief, she stepped out just in time to help Lucas pull the rest of the trash bags to the dumpster.

“There, now we can move around a little better in here.” He dusted off his hands.

“Where do you want to start?” She looked around.

There was still a lot of trash lying around from the dozen years that the place had sat empty.

“Hauling out the trash is my main focus for now.” He picked up a roll of large black trash bags. “While I take care of that, you could sweep?” he suggested.

“Perfect.” She walked over and took one of the three brooms he had leaning against the wall. “So,” she said after they had started working, “how much in here are you going to change?”

He glanced up from scooping a pile of newspapers into a trash bag and was silent for a moment. “A lot.” He sighed as he looked around the room. “Fresh paint everywhere. New booths, tables, chairs.” He motioned with his elbow. “Floors will need work.” His eyes landed on hers. “That’s just out here. The kitchen…” He rolled his eyes. “And upstairs…” He smiled. “That’s why I hired Parker.”

“Well, I can clean, and paint, and I helped my parents sand and stain their hardwood flooring once.” She beamed proudly. “I’ll bet this floor just needs some TLC as well.”

“I planned on it. I don’t have the money yet to replace it.” He frowned down at the hardwood.

“We’ll get it gleaming like new.” She started sweeping again.

For the next hour, while they completely cleared out and cleaned the main dining area’s floors, they chatted about his plans for the space. She liked his plan to have brightly colored booths with decorative blown-glass lights over each.

He told her about his friend who was a glassmaker and then showed her a few of the women’s pieces while they sat down on the curb and enjoyed a cool drink.

She tried not to be jealous of the way he talked about the other woman. That was until she saw an image of the woman he was talking about. She was in her sixties.

“She’s a friend of my grandpa,” he added. “I think that there was more between them at one point.” He smiled. “They both deny it, but…” He tucked his phone into his back pocket.

“Does he live in Edgeview?” she asked, curious.

“Between here and Edgeview. He sticks close to my mom and Sophia.”

“He’s your dad’s father?”

He nodded again. “His family is long gone. He’s always thought of my mother as his daughter. I think he would have rather…” he started but dropped off with a shake of his head.