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“Works for me. I’m heading upstairs.” He tapped his notebook against his thigh and headed toward the steps before turning back. “Zach—”
Zach turned. “I know. Play nice.”
Braxton threw her a grin before he ascended the wide, curved steps. The grand staircase itself was sigh-worthy. The rich beauty of the entryway was stunning. Sophie had sold this house to her friend, so she’d been inside several times. Now she was looking at the home from a whole new angle. A business angle, and one that would surely take off if done right.
First, though, they had to make a list of needed renovations and take it to the housing office to get them approved. Once the guys had a building permit, they could get started. Sophie could hardly wait to see this home start to take shape and come to life.
Sophie turned in a slow circle, taking in the windows, the high ceiling. Only a few feet from her, Zach crouched down and ran his hand across the old hardwood floor. Not the original from the looks of it. Again, he muttered something and Sophie decided to take matters into her own hands. She was done letting him hide behind pain and guilt. She would be spending a good bit of time with them now, because Braxton was right. She had every right to be part of this journey.
“What are you thinking?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Sand them or replace them?”
Those blunt fingertips ran across the grain, leaving a trail in the dust. He didn’t answer and Sophie wasn’t budging. Tapping her foot, she smiled when his eyes darted to her legs. She’d thrown on an old pair of tennis shoes, running shorts, and a tank. Sophie knew the closed-up house would be stuffy and hot.
While she may have ugly surgical scars on her hip, she knew her legs were in great shape from the water aerobics classes she taught twice a week and the runs she forced herself to do. Even her doctor had suggested exercise to keep the muscles strong and firm. He did warn her not to overdo and to listen to her body, and right now her body was saying she wanted Zach to take notice.
“Chelsea liked the look of dark, rich wo
od floors,” Sophie went on as if they were actually having a conversation and this wasn’t one-sided. “I think that would look really nice in here.”
Rising to his full height, towering over her, Zach’s intense, hard gaze pinned her in place. “I’ll figure it out once I see the rest of the place. I’m not concerned with cosmetic decisions right now. I’m more concerned about getting approved for the permit. I’ll worry about ‘pretty’ later.”
Wayward dark strands curled over his forehead; inky lashes outlined beautiful dark eyes any woman could get lost in. When he crossed his arms, mimicking her stance, she caught sight of the freshly busted knuckles on his left hand.
“Did you get in a fight?” she asked, nodding to his hand.
He didn’t even glance down. “Yeah, with the bathroom I’m renovating.”
That snarky side of his irritated her. “That looks serious. You need antibiotic ointment on that,” she scolded. “Probably could use stitches.”
When she started to reach out, he stepped back. “I’m fully aware of how to tend to my own wounds.”
“You may be aware, but you’re doing a piss-poor job of following through.” She refused to let his sharp words or actions hurt her. He was Zach, sometimes crabby, sometimes quiet . . . yet always intriguing. “When that gets infected because you’ve opted to be bullheaded and you can’t work, I won’t be responsible if an ‘I told you so’ slips out of my mouth.”
His eyes darted to said mouth, and Sophie resisted the urge to lick her lips. No doubt Zach went for the vixen type, the woman who didn’t care about relationships.
Why was she so worried about Zach’s type? Over the years Chelsea had mentioned a few women here and there, but as far as Sophie knew, Zach hadn’t had a serious relationship since he’d gotten out of prison.
The fact that he had served time always bothered her. Not that she saw him as damaged or below her in any way. His incarceration had eaten away at her each day he was away. He’d made a mistake. Yes, people were hurt, but he’d never been in trouble before and she’d wanted the judge to take it easy on him.
Chelsea had hinted at a horrific childhood Zach had lived through, and Sophie hated how he’d been doing so well for himself until one night when they’d all made poor choices.
To see his brothers and Chelsea struggle with the backlash from the town, then their parents’ fight to hold their heads high and still be proud of the man Zach was had been difficult. Eventually people’s whispers died down. Other gossip had taken its place.
Sophie had been in surgery the day Zach’s sentence came down, and she’d been unable to be by his side, to tell him how sorry she was. She’d tried to visit him in prison, but he never accepted her as a guest. After he’d served his year, she’d gone to him, but he wasn’t the same man anymore. He’d closed in on himself, turning away any friendship or anything more they could’ve had.
And that had sliced her deeper than any surgery or doctor’s findings ever could have. Not only had she lost any chance of a romantic involvement, she’d lost a friend.
He’d gone straight back to working with his father until Ed passed away from a massive heart attack. Only a year later Zach’s mother succumbed to cancer.
As if all the events leading up to the death of the two people who’d saved him hadn’t been enough, Zach had lost them when he was just getting back on his feet. Perhaps he’d never recovered. Maybe he never would.
Sophie had to try, though. Chelsea wanted better for her brother, and to be honest, Sophie wanted more of a life for him, too.
“I have a busy day.” Zach flexed his wounded hand and let out a tired sigh. “Look around all you want, but don’t get in the way.”
Turning on his battered work boots, he walked away and disappeared down the wide hallway. Sophie gave him a mock salute, which he couldn’t see, but the childish gesture made her feel better.
Zach was in all-work mode and irritated, so looking around on her own was perfectly fine. Besides, she wanted to explore the mansion from a female standpoint, from the view of how to decorate and make use of each room for the grand spa and resort her best friend had envisioned. Yes, all the beautifying would come later, but that wasn’t going to stop her from daydreaming now.
