“Wow.” She clasped her hands behind her back despite my words. “Star Wars?”
“Yep.” The client had sent collector’s items of oldStar Warstoys with specific instructions for how to place the X-wings and TIE fighters in the channel of epoxy between the slabs of walnut. Special orders were more stressful than pieces I made via my own inspiration, but this table had made me sweat a few times. My blood pressure wouldn’t return to normal until I got notice that the set had arrived to the buyer unharmed.
I hadn’t even taken pictures. If I put that shit on my website, then I’d get more requests. More preciousobjects to cover in epoxy. More stress. No, thanks. I didn’t do this job to worry about epically fucking up someone’s valuables.
“Impressive.”
“Thanks,” I said impassively. I was proud of the job, but a thousand what-ifs were running through my head and I wasn’t used to the pressure. I didn’t like it.
She pivoted to the chairs. I had four lined up against the wall, ready to be packaged. “Those are so cool.”
I watched her swivel from one side to the other. She had to be picturing how it’d all go together.
“Seriously. That’s some talent.”
“I’m glad you got to see it. It’s the last special order like this I’m taking.”
Confusion lined her brow. “Why?”
“No more working with someone’s family heirlooms.” I nodded toward the table. “Those toys were the customer’s dad’s collectibles. He passed five years ago.”
“That’s such a sweet way to remember a parent’s passion.” She crossed to me again and tucked her arms under mine. “You made him something he’ll treasure forever.”
The anvil was back on my chest. “I just make furniture.”
Her smirk was knowing, like she saw right through me to the way I’d cussed for eight minutes straight when I’d thought I’d fucked up an X-wing position. “Hamburgers tonight?”
“I don’t have any thawed.”
“That’s fine. I have a salad to make while they’re thawing.”
I hadn’t restocked the fresh veggie supply since she’d surprised me with groceries. She must’ve brought morelike last time, this time without shocking me fresh out of the shower. “Keeping me scurvy-free, one salad at a time.”
She swatted my ass. “I plan to keep those hips mobile too.”
Summer
Since it was early and Jonah was spending his Saturday in the shop, I stopped at the bar inside Copper Summit to chat with Autumn. She usually arrived early to take care of the books. When I walked in, our neighbor Jason was sitting at the bar. Autumn had her head bowed over a tablet as she poked around.
When she glanced up, her lips curved. “Hey, you. Been a while.”
I didn’t often go more than a month without coming home, but having Jonah to myself without the town’s opinions or my family hovering had been too alluring to pass up. Mama knew. Teller and Autumn. If they’d told the others, I hadn’t heard about it. “I know. I’m a bad aunt and sister.”
Jason craned his neck over his shoulder as I wove my way through the empty tables. By the end of the night, this place would be half full. During the summer, the bar would be packed, but early spring was only the beginning of peak tourist season.
“Look what the cat dragged in.” Jason cackled.
“I made the cat work for it.” I gave Jason a half hug. He smelled like fresh pine. His hat bumped my head andhe chuckled and righted it. Jason made a bad first impression. A guy in grungy clothing with shaggy whiskers and a dirty hat who was having a drink minutes after the doors barely opened. He was fond of announcing it was five o’clock somewhere when he arrived.
That first impression was wrong. Jason liked to have a drink and shoot the shit with Teller or Tenor, whoever was around. He ranched all day, called it early once in a while, and came to Copper Summit to wind down. He was usually gone by six after one drink only, sometimes staying until seven if he caught one of my brothers. Jason’s girls were sweet and he doted on them and his wife.
“I was just leaving.” He pushed away. “Glad I could catch you. You girls are always a breath of fresh air.” He strode out with strong strides that would also shock anyone who assumed he was a bar magnet, but Jason wasn’t that much older than Tate.
Autumn took the cash he’d left behind and shook her head. “That guy slips me a five like he’s Grandpa Bailey.”
I giggled and slid onto a stool. I spun to watch Jason get into his pickup and drive away. “Who’s got the fancy car? I thought for a minute Myles was escaping diaper duty to have a drink.”
Autumn snorted. “I think you’ll have to pry diaper duty out of his cold, dead hands.”
