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“Just wanted to stop by before I turned in.” He paused, then cleared his throat. “Seems we’ve got some catching up to do.”
I looked down at the floor and nodded, trying not to blush.
“Yes. We do.”
“Sorry I haven’t been around,” he said. “It wasn’t because—”
“Oh stop it,” I interjected. “Please, you have no reason to apologize.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
“This was part of the deal — you guys being called away. Not always knowing where you are, or when you’ll come back.” I shrugged noncommittally. “I had to understand this going in. I still understand it now.”
“That’s good.”
“Damn right it’s good,” I smiled. “You guys got lucky as all hell.”
Still stoic, Ryan’s mouth cracked into a half smile. “Tomorrow. Me and you. Again.”
“Take two?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a date.”
“Damn right it’s a date,” Ryan said, closing the door.
He left me sitting in silence, wondering how it would all fit together. Everything sure seemed to be going smoothly. But when it came to sharing, Kyle and Dakota were already experienced. I had no idea how Ryan’s conception of our relationship fit into the grand scheme of things… or how it related to the other two.
Hell, he hadn’t even kissed me yet.
Twenty-Six
SAMMARA
“No way I can save it,” the man said. “It’s gotta all come down.”
The sub-contractor was pointing to the exterior trim work, both on the first and second floors. The big mansion sported scrolling Saratoga gables. Charleston brackets and Corinthian pilasters, more beautiful than any I’d ever see in a dozen lifetimes.
All of it was as detailed as it was irreplaceable. All of it needed restoration and repair.
But this guy was telling me different.
“It’s just too far gone,” the man said. “It’s rotting from the inside out.”
“Trevor, right?”
He nodded, not taking his eye from the eves of the house. He knew his shit, I’d give him that. But he didn’t have the interest that I needed to see from him.
“Listen Trevor, this is hand-carved workmanship over two centuries old. There’s no way we’re tearing these out.”
“There’s no way you’re repairing them either,” he shrugged.
“Oh no?” I challenged. “I have two quotes from other subs that say differently.”
“Bah!” he snorted. “They’re just going to paint over it, not restore it. It’ll look better for a little while, but it’ll never last.”
I paused considering what he saying. I wasn’t ready to give up on them yet, but the other quotes were a little too good to be true.
