Amaya was already halfway to the door by the time Ryan retrieved his supplies from the back seat. He hurried up the path and was climbing the porch steps when Aelin opened the door.
Her hair was swept back into a clip, and she wore soft cottonpants that were cropped at the ankles with an oversized sweater. She looked like she’d just uncurled herself from the couch where she still had a good book and a cup of coffee waiting for her.Relaxed. Well-rested.It was possibly hotter than the towel.
“Thanks for bringing her over.” Aelin frowned and peered into the bag. “You brought me . . . electrical wire?” She grinned at her joke, then glanced past him and saw his tool kit sitting on the edge of the porch. “Ummm . . .”
“I thought I could take a look at the garage pad. If you don’t already have someone coming to fix it.”
Aelin blinked, and she shifted her weight. “You’re more than absolved of your unintended crime. If that’s what?—”
“No, I don’t mind.” He glanced down at the bag, suddenly feeling like an idiot.
She worried her teeth over her lower lip. “You don’t have anything better to do on a Saturday morning?”
Definitely an idiot.“I’ll just . . .” He pointed to the car and turned to go, but Aelin rushed onto the porch.
Her hand brushed his before she snapped it back to her side. “I don’t have anyone coming to look at it.” She curled her toes on the deck boards. “I just—that’s really nice of you to offer. I’m not used to people doing nice things without . . . you know.”
A slow heat crept up his neck. “I’m not—I wasn’t trying to?—”
“No, I know.” She put up a hand. “This is a me problem. It turns out, when you’re married to a selfish prick for twelve years, you tend to wear narcissist-coloured glasses.”
Ryan nodded, not sure what to say to that. Aelin continued in a rush. “You aren’t one. I don’t think. I’m pretty good at spotting the signs.”
“Good to know.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she pulled the sleeves of her sweater into her palms. “So. Do you need me to open the garage?”
Ryan drew a breath and turned to the side of the house. “Notyet. I’ll take a look.” He took the bag and set it down on the steps next to his toolbox, then flipped the latches to open the lid.
Aelin hovered for a moment. "Do you need anything? Water? Coffee?"
Ryan looked up. "I'm good, thanks. This shouldn't take too long."
"Right. I'll . . . be inside if you need anything." Aelin walked back into the house.
Ryan glanced back over his shoulder just in time to catch her through the side window. She leaned up against the inside of the door and planted her palm to her forehead.
He snorted and dropped his eyes back to the toolbox. At least he wasn’t the only one.
_____
At ten forty-five, Ryan snapped the casing open and turned while Aelin punched in her garage code. He wasn’t sure if it would work or if she’d have to reset it, but as soon as she hit enter, the pulley ground to life.
Her eyes lit up. “It works! What was wrong with it?”
Ryan picked up one of the sections of wire he’d replaced. “The wires were corroded. Did you have gutter issues on this side of the house?”
Aelin considered the question, then stepped back to look at the roof. “You know what, we did. There was a leak in the garage on this side. Hail damage. But that all got replaced last year.”
Ryan threw the wire back in the bag with the rest of his trash. He’d already checked the other outlets, and they all seemed to be working fine.
“I can take that.” Aelin reached for the bag, and he let hertake it. She passed him on the porch, and he caught the scent of her coconut shampoo.
Aelin pulled the door open. "The girls made lemonade, and I promised I’d bring you in to try some."
Ryan wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. "Sure, that sounds great." He followed her inside, set his shoes on the mat, and walked to the kitchen.
“Dad!” Amaya looked up from the table, her hands kneading something that looked like jello. “Bailey had all the stuff to make cloud slime. Her mom is making us grilled cheese for lunch.”
