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“That is not the nightstand we agreed on.”
“We never agreed on anything, Dev. Agreeing presupposes a conversation and a mutually accepted conclusion. You just pointed me to a website and said, ‘This one.’”
“Which this definitely is not.”
“No, it isn’t. Seriously, Dev. IKEA? I have standards, you know.”
Dev ran a hand through his hair. No way could he afford this, not with the specter of Port-a-Potties looming over his head. “Kenny.”
Kenny ignored Dev and turned to smile at Casey. “I spotted it at an estate sale and knew it would be a great fit for Harrison House.”
“An estate sale? Really?” Casey traced a swirl in the wood grain on the nightstand’s top. “It’s so perfect that it looks brand new.”
Kenny cleared his throat. “Well, that’s kind of my business. My grandparents named the shop Make It Do because of that old New Englander motto: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
“This isn’t just making something do,” Dev said, pointing at the little chest of drawers. “It’s beautiful. Way too good for Harrison House.”
Kenny rallied, propping his hands on his hips. “Are you saying it’s too good for Casey’s bedroom?”
Dev retreated a step. “N-n-no. Of course not. Nothing’s too good for Casey’s bedroom. I mean, for our guests.”
Casey shook his head, chuckling again, and Dev was reminded of water running over the stones in the creek behind his cottage. “You don’t have to make much effort for me. I’m not that hard to please. Although I think you’re wrong about it being too good for Harrison House.” His eyes widened and he flailed, scattering lilac florets on the floor. “I’m not saying that the nightstand isn’t gorgeous, because it is. I’m just saying that this house deserves all the love anyone can throw at it.”
Kenny held out both hands in a see there? gesture. “What have I told you? You see Harrison House through the eyes of familiarity, Dev. But other people see it as the remarkable thing it is.” Kenny stuck his nose in the air. “So suck it up. You’re getting a nightstand upgrade.”
Dev grimaced. “There’s a reason I asked for that specific unit, Kenny. There’s no way my budget can stretch to anything this nice.”
Kenny waved Dev’s protest away. “Same price as the soulless IKEA kit.”
Dev shared a conspiratorial glance with Casey. “He never charges people enough.”
Kenny glared at him. “My rates are perfectly fine.”
“They were fine for your grandparents. Your parents should have raised them years ago.”
“Let’s not talk about that. Make yourself useful, Iron Giant—”
“Oh, don’t,” Casey cried.
“—and carry the nightstand up to Casey’s room.”
“I can do that.” Dev glanced through the screen door at the luggage still sitting at the foot of the porch stairs. “I’ll haul your bags up too.”
“You don’t have to do that. I mean, I can’t ask the town manager to carry my beater suitcases.”
“I don’t mind.”
And I need to get my head on straight. Because as attractive as Dev found Casey, he had enough on his plate without adding a time-boxed relationship to the mix. In fact, the more distance he kept between them, the better. As of tomorrow, Casey would be Sylvia’s responsibility. Best begin as he meant to go on.
“Kenny, why don’t you take Casey with you and show him the sights of Home?”
“All two of them, you mean?”
“I mean, give him the nickel tour. Show him the Market. Your place. Ty’s clinic.”
“The shuttered Inn?”
Dev lowered his chin and glared at Kenny from under his lowered brows. “Kenny. Behave.”
