Page 20 of Hearts on the Mend

This earns me a grin, a genuine grin that I have missed for far too long.

“What if I can find you a room? There’s plenty of space in this house. Hell, you could have that one,” I say, pointing to the spare room that’s a catchall for all my aunt’s belongings. “You’d have your space, and we’ll stay on the other side of the house.”

He scrubs a hand over the back of his neck, then looks between me and the room, hesitation there in his eyes. “You have enough to deal with right now. I don’t want to be a distraction.”

I can’t believe I’m even considering this because Matt would flip if he knew I had a strange man living in my house. The problem is I usually have a pretty good radar for people, and Nolan is all green flags. Besides, it would only be temporary. Strictly platonic. Just a working relationship.

I’m out of better options. The last guy I hired took a deposit and half my aunt’s kitchen budget and never showed up again. I’m not calling Ruth to ask for more money, not after everything she’s already done for us. Between lawyers and the move, there’s nothing left for me to hire a real contractor, and I don’t know another soul in this town I’d trust with a key to my house.

“I’m already in the middle of an ugly divorce. I don’t want to take care of another man. I’m not cooking, cleaning, or doing laundry for you.”

“I’m a grown man, Cassie. I take care of myself.”

The second his voice dips, my cheeks betray me, heat flooding through them.

“Not sure I can pay much, but you’ll get a room in exchange for overseeing all the work. I’ll put together a list of priorities to focus on getting it market-ready. I’m not expecting a full renovation. I work three twelve-hour shifts a week at North Point. The rest of the time, I can help while Ruby is in school. With the two of us, we might be able to finish by spring. Then you can leave and do whatever, and I can sell the house.”

“You have experience with this kind of stuff?”

“None, but I have a shitload of determination. Not to mention some banging playlists.”

Again, that sly grin, that rough, breathless laugh of his. “I’ll think about it.”

“You will?” I’m already halfway out to the hallway, keys jangling in my hands, when I realize I’m going to be late to pick up Ruby. The school is going to hate me. “Can you give me an answer soon, because if one more contractor blows me off…”

“I’ll think about it,” he repeats. “I’m going to check in with Scott, then head out. Have a good night, Cassie.”

“Wait.” I rifle through my purse, pulling out my phone. “What’s your number?”

Instead of answering, he steps toward me. Each footfall sounding a lot like my heart in my chest with every inch he erases between us. He slips his hand into his back pocket, unlocks his phone, and hands it over.

“Why don’t you give me yours instead? I’ll text with my decision.”

And just as quickly, whatever tension I swore sizzled between us extinguishes itself.

Chapter 7

Nolan

“You snore.”

The small voice picks at my sleep.

“Koalas snore too. Loud. Like this.” I feel her breath on my face. “Listen. Are you listening?”

I crack an eye open, my face plastered into the rough pillowcase, my toes freezing from poking out of the blankets all night. This room doesn’t have heat.

Ruby opens her mouth to snore, but instead sneezes in my face.

“I locked the door. How did you get in, Ruby?”

“Do you live here now? I live here. With Mom. I go to Dad’s house this weekend. I wonder if he has an elevator? Wouldn’t it be cool if houses had elevators? Mine would have a fish tank in it and purple glitter walls.”

Jesus Christ.

I traded my mom walking in on me jerking off for a germy six-year-old and a cold and damp room with a sagging mattress.

“Some houses do.” I wipe a hand over my face. Gross, there was spray involved. “Hey, kid, can you not come in my room, please?”