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“Don’t thank me yet. I have an ulterior motive. A favor to ask, I guess.”
“Anything you need.” After everything Clark was doing for Toby, I’d happily mow his lawn or strip—
His wallpaper.I was thinking of stripping wallpaper, and nothing else, for fuck’s sake.
“I’d like your house to be part of the Live History Tour in May.”
I blinked, yanked from the turn of my thoughts, though this was nearly as unsettling. “The house isn’t really fit for an audience. Would this tour just walk by or…”
“Ideally, we’d stage a re-enactment here.”
At my horrified look at our surroundings, Clark chuckled. “Don’t panic! It could be staged on the side porch. No one has to come inside, though it would be amazing if the great room was restored and they could see just a bit of it.”
“I don’t know...”
He nodded. “Yeah, it’s only a few months away. I understand if you don’t want to commit to the interior. But would you be open to staging something on the porch? I’d like to add Ball to the list of historical figures for Toby to play. I thought staging it here might be extra fun for him, you know? He hasn’t been very engaged in the project yet. But I don’t want to overwhelm either of you.”
“This is for Toby then.”
“Well, yes, but full disclosure, I love this house, and I went down a little research rabbit hole when I learned you lived here. So…it’s for me too.”
He bit his lip, a guilty expression on his face, and it was so fucking adorable I would have given him anything right then.
“Yeah, okay. I can handle the porch.”
His face brightened. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m working on it anyway, right?”
“Right,” he said, beaming. “And I know a couple of guys who can help you with some landscaping. And if you’d at least consider opening the great room, maybe we could find some volunteers to help with the wallpaper and floors…”
His excitement was contagious, and I laughed. “One step at a time, okay? I don’t have a ton of time to devote to the house, and I’m not sure how I feel about asking other people for help. It’s supposed to be my project, you know? I wanted to rebuild a home for Toby, and it hasn’t exactly gone the way I envisioned. Toby wasn’t thrilled about moving in here. But I still… I want it to be my hands that turn this into our home.”
Despite his enthusiasm of a minute ago, Clark didn’t look disappointed. “Yeah, of course. You should do that. One day, Toby will appreciate how special that is.”
“You think?”
“I know he will. You’re a good dad, Hunter. Good times are ahead for you both. I’ll help you however I can. I hope you know that. Anything you need. Anything at all, okay?”
Clark smiled, his face so soft and sweet that my heart suddenly ached. I rubbed at my chest, floored by this generous man.
“Thank you,” I said, voice husky. “It’s hard to believe I’m doing anything right sometimes, but knowing you believe, that makes it easier.”
Clark squeezed my arm, and it wasn’t at all like the fondling little touches of the interested women in town. It was comfort, understanding, and reassurance all rolled into one.
Even after Clark walked out, that touch stayed with me, warming me from the inside out.
CHAPTER10
CLARK
Trivia was just gettingready to start when Beckett nudged me. “Look who showed up again this week.”
Wes chuckled. “Looks like it’s Clark’s lucky night.”
My heart lurched, and for one ridiculous second, I thought they meant Hunter.
Then Beckett laughed. “Oh, man. You’ve got yourself an admirer, Clark!”
