AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughed loudly. “You want me to get killed along with you, is that it?”
“No, I just mean that if things start to go sideways, I’m sure you will have a better idea of what to do.”
He watched me for a moment, and I remained still as he did. I knew he was thinking of more than just tearing down a wall, and I hoped he was considering kissing me again—or more.
“You really want to take down a wall tonight?”
“Yes!” I replied excitedly. “I’ve never done that kind of demolition before. I’ve removed and replaced toilets and vanities but never removed a wall.”
He shook his head. “You do remind me a lot of Kay.”
“That’s what bonded us. We met in a home repair store. I asked her opinion on something, and we got to talking. One thing led to another, and we became great friends.”
“I’m glad you are.”
“Me, too. So, what do you say? Want to play demolition man?”
“Sure, let’s do it.”
“You grab the sledgehammer, and I’ll put this food away.”
As he walked away, I watched his backside until he stepped around the corner. Why was I so attracted to this man? He was the complete opposite of any other man I’d been interested in. Most of them had been businessmen.
I packed up the uneaten food, put it back into the cooler, and then returned to the kitchen. Before Brad joined me, I dug around in the dining room where I was storing all my tools and found my work gloves and a hammer, along with protective goggles.
I heard him behind me and turned to look back as he eyed me from head to toe. “Good, you have goggles. I brought a pair in case you didn’t. Do you have a dust mask?”
“Um, no. I forgot to pick those up.”
He handed me one. “You should wear a dust mask with everything you do in here, especially tearing out or scraping. You have no idea what it is you are stirring up.”
“I’ll make sure to pick some up,” I told him as I adjusted it over my face. He was also wearing gloves, goggles, and a mask, and he held the sledgehammer out to me.
“The first crack is yours.”
I was grinning like an idiot behind my mask as I took the heavy tool from his hands. “What should I go for first?”
“You are going to want to start with the counter, strike it from underneath, so it pops off the counter bases.”
I tried to do it, and even though I was strong for my size, I couldn’t get the leverage to make the countertop pop. I handed the sledge back to Brad. “You do this part. I’ll tear down the wall.”
It took him two strikes to get it to pop, and then he was on the other side, working it off there. A few minutes later, the two of us hoisted the warped counter off the bases and down the hall to the front door.
The more we removed from the room, the more I grinned behind my mask. I loved that I could take part in this and be remodeling this kitchen on my own. Well, with a bit of help from professionals, but mostly on my own.
Brad and I worked for almost two hours on tearing all the cabinets and counters out. We even moved the old stove, sink, fridge, and dishwasher into the front hallway to be disposed of later. As we worked, we shared stories about our kids—mostly his. What they liked, what they didn’t. Favorite subjects in school, plans for the future, and so on. It was an easy conversation, and it made the two hours fly by.
I removed my mask as I stood back and scanned the room. “Wow, it looks better already.”
“It does,” he replied.
I collected two water bottles, and we took a break, both of us looking at our cellphones. I laughed when I saw the message from Kayley.You guys come up for air yet?
I turned around and took a picture of the empty kitchen, then sent her a message.We haven’t stopped since you left.After a moment, I sent the picture.
Holy smokes! Did you do that alone, or is Brad there with you?
We designed the kitchen, ate dinner, and then he stayed to help me do some demo.
