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I squinted as I drove closer and saw that it was moving. “Is that a dog?”
The high-pitched squeal from the backseat confirmed my suspicion. Luna had wanted a dog since before she could talk, which she started doing at nine months old. But even as young as four months old, whenever she saw a dog she would coo and her face would light up as she’d reach her chubby arms for it.
As I pulled to a stop, Luna unbuckled herself from her booster seat and bounded out of the car.
“Luna!” I called out. “Stop!”
“He’s friendly.” A familiar male voice called down from the heavens.
I looked up, not sure of what I expected to see. My eyes widened when I saw Hank standing on my roof. And he was wearing a tool belt. His massive frame appeared even larger and more imposing from that angle. Hank Comfort was the epitome of ruggedly, tall, dark and handsome. The sun setting behind his back also magnified the optical illusion. He looked like some sort of construction man angel.
Luna’s giggle snapped me out of my momentary trance. I’d completely forgotten that she’d run up to a strange dog. I looked back at her and saw the dog licking her face. Luna had always wanted a dog, but I wasn’t allowed to have them in my condo thanks to a prickly HOA. I’d felt guilty about it and even considered moving.
“What’s your name?” Luna asked through her giggles.
“Sherlock,” Hank called down. “He’s my brother Jimmy’s dog.”
“Sherlock!” Luna hugged Sherlock’s neck tightly as the dog continued to shower Luna with affectionate, slobbery kisses.
It was clear the two had become fast friends, so I turned my attention back up to the gladiator on my roof. Lifting my hand to my forehead, I shielded my eyes from the sun. “What are you doing up there?”
“You had a leak.”
Hank had mentioned the night before that he wanted to work on some repairs, but I’d barely heard him because I thought he was going to kiss me. My brain had deleted the wanting to do repairs detail to make room for a constant loop of the moment I thought he was going to kiss me.
“Um, yeah, I was going to call someone about it.” As soon as I made enough money that I could pay them, that is.
“Now you don’t have to.” Hank smiled, really smiled, down at me before walking out of sight, hammer in hand. My insides did flips, my knees went weak, and I felt myself get light-headed.
Hank Comfort not smiling was next-level, record-braking, panty-melting sexy. Hank Comfort smiling was so dangerous he should have to register it as a lethal weapon. Because I was feeling like I might just keel over.
As I gawked up at the space that Hank had just occupied, I remembered what Billy had said, that I was the one to put a smile on his brother’s face. And what Mrs. Birch had said about me putting a pep in his step.
Were they right?
Was there something between us?
Could he possibly be feeling what I was?
I was still recovering from the smile-sighting when I walked up the porch steps to the front door in a daze and opened it. Luna and Sherlock were right behind me.
“Can Sherlock watch my movie with me?” Luna asked.
“I don’t know if he’ll want to go inside.” Before I even finished my sentence, Luna had jumped on the couch and Sherlock was curled up beside her.
I flipped on the movie and did my best not to think about the man that was up on my roof or what the implications were that he was there. He was being neighborly. That was it. Just like the trolley ride was not a date.
Nerves rattled through me like a loose penny in the dryer. They were dinging off the protective armor I had around myself. I paced around the living room, then the kitchen. I needed to call Ashley back, but I didn’t want to do it while Hank was here.
Unpacking. That would keep me busy and be productive. So, I started in on the bathrooms and my clothes. Unfortunately, unpacking boxes and putting away my clothes was not the distraction I’d hoped it would be. My mind was wandering to the man on the roof.
Why was Hank here?
Was he just being neighborly?
That was one plausible explanation.
Mrs. Birch had insisted that I not worry about the childcare rate when I pressed her on the subject before we left. She’d said that she had scholarships from investors, whatever that meant, and that even if she hadn’t, she’d watch Luna for free because she was such a “hoot.”
