I needed to knock.
I needed to wait.
Because we were making progress, and I would earn every step.
Chapter 19
Jasper
Humming quietly, Evie loaded the dishwasher. She had shoved me aside when I started, insisting she didn’t want my help.
Sure, I’d made dinner, but it was boxed mac and cheese. Hardly fine dining. The woman had been more grateful than I expected for such a simple gesture. Shit, now I’d wished I’d put in more effort. My siblings could all cook, but I’d managed to weasel my way out of kitchen duty growing up. It was one of the perks of being mom’s favorite. Unfortunately, that also meant I missed out on learning all her recipes.
While Evie worked, I busied myself wiping down the countertops. The kitchen was small but filled with charm. A set of shelves near the coffee pot displayed several mugs, and the scalloped curtains over the windows let just enough light in during the day. The framed pressed flowers that hung on the wall were cute, if not a tiny bit crooked.
It wasn’t showy, and it wasn’t perfect, but it was hers.
Little by little, Evie was peeling back the curtain and giving me a peek at her inner life. And like the obsessed man I was, I relished every detail, filing them all away in my mind. The efficient way she moved around this space. The little sigh ofrelief she made when Vincent latched. The way she played with her hair when she was lost in thought.
After turning on the dishwasher, Evie popped up on her toes and pushed down on the open window with a grunt.
“Ugh.” She steadied herself and did it again, pushing it harder with the heel of her hand.
“Stuck?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I’ve got it.” This time she gripped the sill hard and pulled with everything she had.
It didn’t budge.
“You okay over there She-Hulk?” I asked, setting the dish rag next to the sink.
She glared at me over her shoulder. “This stupid window always sticks when the temperature changes. It’s fine.”
I stepped back and propped a hip against the counter. I could fix the issue easily, but I knew better than to step in. This woman had pushed me to a level of patience I never knew I could possess. These days, I was approaching monk-like status. When I had more free time, maybe I’d start giving Zen life advice on TikTok.
She pushed again, the muscles in her jaw clenching.
Worried she was going to pull a muscle, I finally sidled over. “Evie.” At her side, I gently nudged her over.
The glare was back, along with a large sigh.
I wiggled the pane, thinking I could jimmy the lock and lift the window, and lifted up, hoping that if I pulled the frame gently, I could ease the stick, but this fucker was stuck good.
After a couple of tries and using damn near all my strength, it finally released, and I slid it into place and latched it.
“Fucking figures,” she growled.
“Wood’s swollen.” I stepped back, schooling my expression when really, I wanted to grin maniacally. She was adorable whenshe was frustrated. “I’ll sand the sill down tomorrow. There’s moisture stuck in the groove. Easy fix.”
“I can fix it.” She stepped in front of the sink again, her arms crossed like she was trying to box me out.
With a nod, I put my hands on the counter beside her, bracing myself, and peered out the window to the darkened backyard.
“I bought this house because I wanted something I could manage,” she said, turning and surveying the yard too. “Something small that I’d never have to share.”
I put my hand over hers. “You’ve done a great job. You’ve put a lot of love and work into this place.”
“I’ve tried.” She deflated. “But like everything else in my life, it never feels like it’s enough. This stupid window, the bathroom fan that whistles, the creaky front stairs, the damn bushes that need to be trimmed all the time.”
