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I shoved my phone into my pocket then tipped back my head. Tears threatened, but I wouldn’t let them fall for Jimmy. Not ever again. I had one focus right now. And it was a freaking big problem because there was no way I could get this place in shape for them in less than two months on my own.
The old barn beside my garage caught my eye.
I’d had plans to call in my chip from Lucky Roberts in the spring. The dude owed me for his harebrained last minute scheme for his best friend’s proposal last month.
The man was obnoxiously loud, had player stamped on his forehead in neon green, and was far too attractive for his own good.
He thought he could charm his way out of any problem. I knew firsthand how charm could hide a person’s dark side and could even make you think you’d imagined things that weren’t there.
But I needed Lucky—well, not Lucky specifically, just his hands and his carpentry skills. I was on a budget, so I’d damn well be cashing in any favors I could to fix up the barn.
It would be the perfect place to house my brothers, otherwise known as the animals. And fixing up a guest room for my dad in my house was doable with a bit of spit and grit.
I held open the door for my cat as he zipped around my ankles. Even he seemed uncharacteristically feisty.
Did he sense that change was in the air?
No. No change. This was just a temporary speed bump. I could handle this. My brother needed me, and it just so happened I wanted to fix up my place.
If that meant I needed to deal with Lucky to get it done, then that was what I’d do. I’d make up a plan, get supplies together, and thank God I’d already started the ball rolling when it came to permits.
Now I just had to go inform Lucky it was time to pay up.
Two
I decided to kill two birds with one motorcycle. Queenie, my Triumph, needed a test ride to see if my tweaks on the engine had fixed the noise that was driving me crazy.
They had not.
In fact, it was freaking louder. I swung my leg off the bike and resisted the urge to kick it. That rarely solved the problem. Queenie was a refined sort. Brute force wasn’t her thing, and finesse wasn’t my finest quality.
I toed down my double kickstand as I flicked open the chin strap on my helmet and gave a disgusted huff before I tugged it off. The crisp fall air felt good, even if my hair was now all over the place. I should have put it in my usual braids, but my brain had been offline since Ezra’s call.
Dammit, I was normally a planner. I didn’t do things impulsively. I wasn’t even sure where to go to find Thor aka Lucky. He wasn’t quite as bulky as the screen version of the god of thunder, nor did he have the pretty factor, but he did have the hair and drinking aptitude. And to be honest, I wasn’t into pretty boys.
Not that I had time for them—or guys like Lucky—right now.
I had a barn to remodel in less than six weeks. I was pretty sure even the Property Brothers would give me grief about that, and they had a huge crew as well as the magic of television.
I was watching DIY shows by the dozen and still not working on my house. There was a small amount of shame for the fact that I had the Pinterest app on my phone, iPad, and a perpetually open tab on my computer at this point. I could pin like no one’s business, but doing the actual work?
Yeah. Fuck.
I was stuck in the planning stages, lost in a jumble of ideas that had no cohesive vision. I could design a car from the tires up, but ask me to pick a paint color and my pits tingled. Now time was up and I couldn’t make excuses any longer.
I stepped onto the sidewalk outside of Gideon Gets It Done’s shop. I was pretty sure that wasn’t where I’d find Thor, but John Gideon usually knew where his people were. As it was, I should have been at the shop, but I could juggle my projects for a few days if need be.
I’d called Dare to let him know I’d be out of pocket today. Not that he was my boss, but he liked to think he was. His brother Gage and I let him think so because it made our lives easier.
Tucking my helmet under my arm, I stepped inside. Macy was sitting on the counter with her legs wrapped around Gideon’s hips. His fingers were twisted in the belt loops of her jeans, and they were going to town like a pair of teenagers.
The sounder over the door was a screeching bat, which made both of them jump. I dropped my helmet and ducked. “What the hell?”
Macy’s peal of laughter made me straighten. “That’s your doing, I imagine?” I grumbled.
“Halloween season!” She slapped Gideon on the ass.
He groaned. “The sound effects are everywhere. Every doorway, every place of business between us. She’d add them to every project site if I let her.”
