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“Over there.” Wes pointed to the other side of the carriage house.
Gavin grabbed a corner and handed it up to Wes who tugged and pulled until he had the roof covered. From the ladder Gavin helped adjust the tarp, then Wes climbed down, now soaked to the skin.
He ducked under the overhang by the door. “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem.” Gavin gave him a nod and took off toward his truck.
Wes watched the man rush off. He didn’t like the way Avery’s brother made him feel, but maybe that was his own problem. His own demons—God knew his father had left him with plenty.
Chapter18
Avery slipped into her raincoat and darted out her office toward the carriage house, her heart beating faster than the movements could account for. The spongy lawn gave way under her steps as she ducked her head under the rain that fell from a formless gray sky. She had thirty minutes till she was due at her folks’ place for supper. Just enough time to check in with Wes, change from her scrubs, and grab the mac and cheese keeping warm in a Crockpot.
Water dripped from the blue tarp covering the carriage house and pooled on the ground below it. She hadn’t really checked on Wes the past couple of nights—Katie’s words at the coffee shop haunted her. It was true that Wes would be gone soon—based on their agreement he was free to leave tomorrow, debt paid.
But Avery couldn’t deny the strong connection or the tension that crackled between them. And the memory of his smoky gaze, his thumb sweeping across her lower lip, still sent a shiver down her arms.
So after her discussion with Katie, Avery had made a decision: there was no sense pushing her luck. This week she’d only enjoyed his company in small measures—and definitely not in the privacy of her apartment.
But because of the pouring rain, Wes had been more or less trapped in the small confines of the carriage house day and night. She felt bad about that. From her bedroom window she’d seen the work lights burning late at night. He must be bored silly. He’d never borrowed any of her books, and Avery was hesitant to invite him back upstairs.
Avery ducked under the overhang and knocked. A full minute later Wes opened the door, and the smell of paint fumes wafted out on a cool breeze.
He ushered her in out of the rain. His faded red T-shirt sported dust and splotches of paint. “I’m starting to think I should be building an ark.”
She still wasn’t used to that clean-shaven face or the defined angles of his jaw. No wonder her staff had begun to take their lunch breaks on the back deck, despite the oppressive heat. “Welcome to Riverbend’s wettest month.”
“I wasn’t expecting this. July is bone dry in the Midwest.”
Avery tore her attention from his face and took in the work zone. “The walls are great.” The trim still sported blue painter’s tape, but the soothing shade of gray contrasted nicely with the white trim. Wes had also torn down the wall between the living room and kitchen, opening up the space. He’d framed the new wall that would separate the bedroom from the living space. “You’re making good headway in here.”
“I’d love to get the drywall up over that framing, but I’m waiting on an inspection.”
“How long will that take?”
“As long as the building department wants it to. And so far, they don’t seem to be in any hurry.”
“Well, I guess that wall will be Gavin’s problem then. As of tonight, your debt is officially paid off.”
He blinked at her. “Right. I know we agreed to that. But I don’t feel right about leaving you with a tarped roof. And honestly, I don’t relish the idea of hiking in the pouring rain—we’ve apparently got a few more days of this.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize—” Avery wasn’t sure what to say. They were square now, and she couldn’t really afford to pay him the going rate.
Wes held up a hand. “I don’t expect compensation, except maybe room and board?”
“That’s not fair. Maybe the exterior hasn’t progressed as you’d hoped, but you’ve made a lot of progress on the inside.”
“I don’t mind. Materials are expensive, and I’d like to help you get that second doctor on board.”
She felt a pinch in her heart. “That’s awfully kind of you.”
“It’s been rewarding, being productive again after weeks of hiking. Working with tools—that’s kind of my sweet spot.”
Now she really felt bad about avoiding him the past couple of days. He was living in a small, dusty work zone. And she had no idea what he’d been doing for food—had he walked to the grocery in the rain?
She checked her Fitbit. She had to get going and—She could invite Wes to her parents’. It would get him out of this space, provide a good home-cooked meal, break up the monotony. There was no doubt her parents would welcome him. Itwas a rule she’d learned early on: everyone was welcome at the Robinson table.
“I’m on my way to my folks’ place for supper—you should come along.”
