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“Oh my God, same!”
“I didn’t realize we had so much in common,” Troy said before he threaded his arm around the small of her back as they walked back toward the paint counter, taking a detour through the bathroom fixtures.
“I guess this must be a pretty terrible date compared to romance novels,” he said when they passed the toilets.
Megan burst out laughing and couldn’t help it when a snort came out, which only made her laugh more.
“It’s very”—she paused while trying to find the right word—“comfortable.”
Was she imagining it or did his cheeks get pink?
Troy reached around and rubbed the back of his neck. “Noted. I’ll do better next time. It’s not over yet, so don’t count me out, and I did need help with this renovation. It’s been a about a million choices.”
“I bet your dad has been having fun with it.”
“If you mean throwing his hands up and saying, ‘fine, do what you want’ before he launches into a story about someone who built the farm from the ground up while fighting off a bear at the same time.”
“Sounds like he’s taking it well,” Megan said with an easy smile, picturing Mr. Chapman doing just that in his overalls. “His health is still good?”
“Right as rain, as long as he listens. That’s the hard part. I came back from meeting the window people and he was trying to get on the roof.”
“Wow. That’s pretty terrifying.”
“He was fine, said he had done it for sixty years and had more business than me being up there.”
“I guess you can’t argue with that. My grandma was the same about a lot of things. Never went on the roof though.” Just the idea made Megan snort a little.
“You said she was a prim and proper lady?”
“To a tee. Hat in church, gloves when she drove, teatime at four. You should’ve seen her as my scout leader.”
“Oh yeah?” He sent another one of those lopsided grins her way.
“Yep. Ironed everything and kept cotton handkerchiefs in her pocket. She was good at it though. She could cook a mean beef stew over the fire, and her sleeping bag was always perfectly folded. Weirdly, she was also good at tying knots and could out-hike all of us.”
“Sounds like she had some spirit.”
“She did. One day I asked her why she would bother with all that when she insisted on hiring help for any ‘man’s work’ at home. She said that just because a manshoulddo it, didn’t mean a lady shouldn’t know how.”
Troy cleared his throat. “So what would she have said about our date to pick out paint?”
Megan’s smile bloomed at the thought while she tilted her head toward his, nearly resting on his shoulder as they walked down the aisles. “She’d be happy I had a gentleman caller.”
“But?”
“She would not be impressed.”
“Ouch. I’m zero for two.”
“Well. I loved her dearly, and miss her so much I can’t even tell you, especially around the holidays. Working at the firehouse makes it easier, since I’m not home alone or looking to be the extra chair at someone’s table, but I’m not like her, and I’m glad to be helping you pick out paint colors.”
Troy planted a kiss on her upturned face. “I’m glad you’re with me. Let’s go grab the samples and then head to dinner.”
As it was, tonight’s feast was at Joe’s Diner, which was familiar and comforting. The red leather banquettes squeaked as they laughed through shakes and two roast-chicken plates with mashed potatoes.
“I didn’t realize you knew so much about raising chickens, but I guess it makes sense with you on a ranch.”
“I’m hoping to get some more back eventually. Dad let most of that go a few years ago when it, ah, got to be too much.”
