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Propping his hands on his hips, he dropped his head between his shoulders and blew out a sigh. “I want to get this roof fixed, finish my day, and get your painting done. Other than that, I don’t have the emotional energy for much else.”

“You’re hurting,” she whispered.

When he turned around all he saw was those red-rimmed eyes and a vulnerable woman staring back at him. He closed the distance between them, framed her face, and tilted her head back.

“So are you,” he whispered as he rested his forehead against hers.

Now what? They were at an impasse. She wasn’t about to let him heal her, but Jax refused to let her go through this alone. She’d been alone for far too long. Whether she liked it or not, he was going to make sure she knew how much he cared.

And if that meant putting it all on the line, then so be it.

Chapter Eighteen

Olivia pulled her car behind the trucks currently occupying her driveway. What were all these people doing here? More importantly, who were they?

Jax’s truck she recognized, but who were the others?

“Yay.” Piper squealed from the back seat. “Cash and Tanner are here!”

Melanie and Jade both let out a groan. Once Jax had come by with Piper, he’d immediately jumped into painting. Since Olivia wasn’t quite ready to face him, even with her friends around as chaperones, she, Jade, and Melanie took Piper to get some ice cream.

The ice cream trip turned into a walk in the park, literally, followed up by a quick run by the pet store. Piper seriously knew how to wrap adults around her adorable little finger.

Not only had Olivia’s heart taken a drastic turn since coming to Haven, her diet had gone all to hell. The run this morning was replaced with prepping walls for painting, so she doubted that burned the calories she’d just inhaled with a double chocolate mocha chip in a waffle cone. A waffle cone dipped in chocolate.

If going through your late father’s belongings and falling for a sexy pilot who gave you hickeys as a sign of endearment weren’t cause for calorie overload, she didn’t know what was.

“I didn’t know they were coming over,” Piper announced as she unfastened her belt and hopped out of her booster seat. “We should’ve brought them ice cream.”

“They aren’t staying long,” Melanie mumbled as she got out of the car.

Olivia laughed. Melanie was still a tad bitter over the whole ticket situation. For a woman who’d been through what she had, Melanie deserved a break. Instead, she’d caught the eye of the small-town officer. If only Tanner knew he was seriously wasting his time in his warped way of flirting with Mel.

As they all headed toward the back door, Piper ran ahead and went on inside. The entire house was a bit of a wreck. Boxes were stacked in rooms not being painted that moment, drop cloths covered the old hardwood floors. Blankets and plastic wrap draped over furniture that had been shoved to the middle of rooms. It would all be worth it once she got it done and sold.

But a piece of her had a pang of guilt over taking her father’s home and completely changing it.

“They’re upstairs.”

Piper’s anxious yell came from the staircase. Olivia followed her to make sure she didn’t step her foot in a tray of paint or trip over the mayhem.

The fumes weren’t too overpowering with all the second-story windows open allowing a breeze to pass through. Fans were stationed around as well to help with ventilation and drying time. Olivia reached the top landing and came in direct eye contact with Cash’s backside.

“Well, good evening,” she laughed.

He glanced over his shoulder and down from his perch on the stepladder. “Hey, Livie. I’m on ceiling duty. Jax said they needed to be done.”

Did he now? Because she hadn’t said anything about ceilings. And where had that paint come from? She didn’t have ceiling paint.

“Thanks, Cash.” No need to gripe at him. “Where’s Jax?”

“Guest bedroom.” He flashed a quick wink to Jade. “Yours, if the little pink sports bras are any indication.”

Jade let out an unladylike snort. “I better not be missing any of my unmentionables or I’m coming after you.”

“I sure as hell hope so,” he muttered as he focused back on the ceiling. “You should swing by my gym and we could spot each other.”

“I’m good. Thanks.”

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