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Sounded about as easy as keeping his feelings about Sophie to himself.
Zach was nothing if not determined. On the upside, the landscaping wasn’t terrible. Being in the South, the tall, mossy trees stood strong and provided shade all over the property, including near the pond in the backyard. Mostly they’d need new shrubbery and flowers around the porches, but Zach knew an amazing landscaper he often recommended to other people. But that was the last thing they’d need to worry about.
After pulling in the necessary tools and another box of trash bags, Zach’s cell vibrated again. If that was Braxton saying he’d be late, Zach was going to kill him.
Glancing at his phone, he was shocked to see Liam’s name. The message simply said: Count me in.
Okay. Not what he was expecting. Zach shot off a quick reply: In on what?
He stared down at his phone, eager for the response, knowing most likely his brother meant the resort, but he didn’t want to assume and he wanted to make his brother just say it.
The girly resort.
Zach smiled. He hadn’t expected Liam to jump in, especially after the blowup at Zach’s house several days ago.
The front door opened and closed as Zach messaged Liam back: Then you better take time off from that fancy restaurant and bring your tool belt, city boy.
For all the frustration they caused each other, for all the ways they simply didn’t click, Zach actually felt good about this. He wanted Liam to be part of the project. Chelsea would’ve wanted all of her brothers to be in on this, and Zach admitted to himself he couldn’t wait to get started with both of his siblings.
No doubt they’d argue, most likely fight and swing fists, but in the end they were coming together for their late sister because they loved her. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
Braxton appeared in the doorway, holding up a large brown bag. “Hurry up and eat. We have a lot to do.”
Zach grabbed the bag from his hands. “Shut the hell up. You’ve been MIA for days.”
A shadow fell over Braxton’s face. “Had some things to work through.”
Of all the boys, Braxton was the last one to show emotions. He had his shit together . . . or he put up an outstanding front.
“You okay?”
Nodding, Braxton pulled in a deep breath. “Just unfinished drama I had to put to rest.”
Zach wasn’t going to pry; he had enough secrets and drama in his own life. Besides, that was one area the brothers all silently agreed on. If one of them wanted to talk, they would. They weren’t going to sit around and try to force one another’s feelings out in the open.
“Then let’s eat.” Zach inched around his brother and headed toward the kitchen. “Afterward you can swing the sledgehammer to knock that wall out. I’m looking forward to you getting some calluses on your pretty hands.”
Behind him Braxton snorted. “These pretty hands gave you a black eye the other day, if you recall.”
Setting the sack on top of the old chipped countertop, Zach shrugged. “I deserved it. Besides, I’m sure I’ll repay the favor one day.”
After pulling out the cartons of burgers and fries, and the bottles of soda, Zach leaned against the counter and started digging in. Braxton took his stuff to the tiny island that would soon become scrap.
“When I was at the house earlier I fed the pups, let them out, and had quite an interesting conversation with your new neighbor.”
Of course he did. No doubt Ms. Obvious was hitting on Braxton as well.
“She’s pretty bold,” Zach replied around a fry. “Don’t encourage her.”
Laughing, Braxton nodded. “I got that. She was looking for you, though. I’m not sure she wanted to talk to me.”
Shocked and a bit disturbed, Zach swallowed. “Don’t feed her any information about me, either. That woman cannot take a hint.”
“She’s smokin’ hot.”
Zach didn’t reply. He wasn’t drawn to the voluptuous blondes who painted on red lips and poured themselves into their clothes. And he sure as hell wasn’t attracted to someone who just assumed she could get anyone into bed.
He refused to stand there and think about the type of woman he was drawn to, because there was only one.
