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“I can understand that. Listen, we’ve just wrapped up a couple of jobs, and the few things still in the works are light enough that we can wrap up by three each day. What if we ask the guys to come here until six and put in a few hours with you? Yeah, it’s a favor, but if they’re petty enough to ask you to pay them, then they’re jerks. Besides, you’d do it for us.”
I open my mouth and then close it again. Iwoulddo it for them, and having just those few hours of help each day would behuge.
“Okay, I’ll ask them, but if they say no, I won’t hold it against them.”
“You might not, but I will.” He claps me on the shoulder as Apollo walks through the door. “Something going on there?”
“Something,” I confirm quietly as Apollo approaches. “What are you up to?”
“I heard your windows went in today. Thought I’d swing by and check them out. Hey, Rob.”
“Apollo,” Rob says with a nod. “They did a good job, once I reminded them which order June wanted them in. Then it was smooth sailing. I’m going to head home to the wife. Thought I might take her out for dinner.”
“I recommend Gordy’s,” I say. “I took Grandma and Cullen there for lunch, and the onion rings were especially crispy today.”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.” Rob smiles before heading to the door. “See you tomorrow, Boss.”
“See you. Thanks again, Rob.”
“Don’t mention it.”
When the door is closed behind him, Apollo reaches out and takes my hand in his. He doesn’t kiss me or pull me closer.
He just holds my hand.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“Completely different from what I thought it would be when I woke up this morning.” I tell him about Grandma’s bad mood and our lunch with Cullen. “I feel bad that she’s been lonely. I should have known.”
“You’re not a mind reader,” he reminds me. “Now that you know, you’ll make sure she doesn’t feel that way again.”
“That’s for sure.”
“You don’t happen to have any leftover onion rings that you brought with you, do you?”
“No.” I laugh and pat him on the arm. “Sorry.”
“I’ll get some sooner or later.” He takes a deep breath and looks around. “What else do you have on tap for today?”
“I’m going to put in some hours here. Now that the exterior is finished, I can really dig into getting these walls up and the kitchen framed in. Rob—” I shake my head and pace away from Apollo, still a bit shaken by my employee’s offer. “He says he’ll help for free and that the other guys will, too.”
“Okay.” Apollo tilts his head to the side. “Does that surprise you?”
“Well, of course, it does. I can’t ask them to work here for me for nothing.”
“It sounds like he’s offering without your having to ask, June. They want to help.”
“That’s what Rob said. I just didn’t expect it. I don’t ask for help like that.”
“Why not?”
I move to where there’s still blue tape on the floor, outlining where my kitchen island will be, and I walk on it like it’s a tightrope.
“Because asking for favors sets you up for disappointment. It’s just easier to do things myself.”
“Juniper.”
I look over at him and find him frowning at me.
