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That took him by surprise. He hadn’t been expecting it. And he wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. Was being Jimmy Corona good or bad?
She turned and dragged a box of nails from the pickup bed, carried it to the pile of lumber and set it on top. “Take the tools, too,” she said over her shoulder. “Should be just about everything you need in there to get started on the fence.”
He took the toolbox out, set it in the backyard near the lumber pile and then returned to the truck for the long-handled posthole digger, pick and shovel, as well. “You thought of everything.”
She nodded. “Yeah. I want to bring some wallpaper samples over later.” She shot him a quick look. “Not for the kitchen. I don’t want to change a thing in there. But that family room in the back? The big one? That’s going to be the main part of the day-care center and I want it bright and cheerful and full of color. Is there a time when you and Ty wouldn’t mind too much?”
“Have dinner with us.”
She blinked and shot him a look of surprise.
“I owe you. Payback for dinner at your place. And for letting us stay here. And for... everything.”
“I see.”
Not enough. Okay then, he thought. A little more. Just not enough to send her panicking. “Kara, I’d like to spend some time with you.”
She lifted her head. And suddenly all her shyness was gone, all her uncertainty, all the color in her cheeks. She was dead serious now and she said, “Don’t play with me, Jimmy. I couldn’t handle it.”
Her words shook him. Gave him the eerie feeling she knew exactly what he was up to with her. Had Colby ratted him out before taking off on him? “I’m not playing.”
She studied his face for a long moment. He lifted a hand to cup her cheek and saw her catch her breath. But this time he leaned in before she could chicken out and brushed his lips very gently over hers.
When he lifted his head away she looked scared to death again. He stepped back, wondering how to ease her mind. But before he could think of a thing she said, “I... um... have to go.” And she turned to start for the pickup truck, only to trip on the way. She caught herself on the truck, though, to keep from falling down and then yanked open the driver’s door and got in. As she pulled away, she leaned out the window.
“Tell Tyler to enjoy the doughnuts. And that I’ll see him later.”
“Does that mean you’re coming to dinner?”
She nodded, waved and pulled away.
Damn. The woman was not going to be an easy sell.
Maybe Colby was right. Maybe he ought to chuck this whole idea.
* * *
Kara was a basket case by the time she pulled up to the front of Edie and Wade’s beautiful home on the hill above the falls. It was early enough that Wade hadn’t yet left for work, but too early for Edie to have any customers in the studio. Her work kept her busy. She took plenty of nature shots, sold them to magazines and calendar companies. Did senior pics and family portraits in between. It wasn’t the glamorous life she’d once led. But it had what that life hadn’t. Happiness. Joy. Love.
Kara hurried along the stone walkway, hit the doorbell and heard Sally barking happily on the other side.
Wade had the dog by the collar when he pulled the door open. He greeted his sister-in-law with a broad, welcoming smile that quickly died as he studied her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything.”
He slid an arm around her shoulders and led her inside. “No, not everything. Nothing’s ever as bad as you think it is, kid.” He called toward the stairway, “Edie, Kara’s here. We’ll be in the sunroom.”
“Be right down,” Edie called.
Kara followed Wade through the house into the sunroom they’d added last year. It was octagonal, completely glass and had the best view of the falls of any room in the house.
“Sit,” Wade said. “I’ll get you coffee. Or would tea be better? Have you had breakfast?”
“I don’t want anything.” She lifted her eyes. “Thanks, though.”
He took a seat beside her and studied her face. “So what’s wrong? Is everyone okay?”
“Everyone but me.”
