“Yeah, of course. The coffee table I’m getting, but I want a set of shelves too.” She pointed to the wall where he had a variety of different styles on display. She glanced up at the ceiling. “Probably two sets. One for the living room and another for the bedroom. Then, the chair.” Her eyes widened, and her gaze shifted to him. “Ooo, and I want a wood piece like you did for the auction.”
The auction. Ethan had mentioned it to him when they met to discuss a new construction job. He understood the history behind the foundation and how much it meant to his friend. To all of them. When Ethan went into further detail about Roxanne being nervous about the lack of donations at the beginning, he didn’t hesitate to offer something up. He’d made plenty of donations over the years to countless organizations. But this one was different. It was especially personal. Not to him but to his friends.
He folded his arms, leaning against his workbench. “Why didn’t you bid on it at the auction?”
Kenzie scoffed. “I did, but I was outbid.” A playful gleam lit up her eyes. “And from what I hear, by like a couple grand.”
What the fuck?
A couple grand? Who the hell had that kind of money to drop on art? It was a good piece made of old oak. He was always selective in choosing the perfect wood for every project. He’d spent weeks on it, fitting in time when he could. He’d been proud of the finished product, but the thought of anyone paying thousands of dollars was outrageous. If he’d sold it on his own, he could’ve gotten around three hundred.
“Yeah, well, they overpaid.”
“No,” Kenzie snapped and shook her head, disapprovingly. “Jonah, it was amazing.”
He felt as though he were getting a scolding from his mother. A small ache burned in his chest. Those days were long gone. But it was a sweet reminder.
He pushed off the bench and shrugged. “It wasn’t anything special.”
“To the person who bought it, I’m sure it was.” She tilted her head. “You took a hunk of wood and created this awesome, beautifully unique piece of art. Don’t downplay that, Jonah. You’re really talented.” She lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers. “Hell, I almost lost a finger practicing whittling wood with the knife you gave me.”
Whittling wood.He lowered his chin and bit back a smile. She didn’t understand the magnitude of how funny she was.Yeah, she and Bogs are a perfect fit.
Kenzie had asked him to teach her. That had been a first. He’d given her an old knife he’d started out with years ago. Jonah expected her to lose interest once she realized it wasn’tas easy as it appeared. But she didn’t. She wasn’t bad, just a bit clumsy.
“You cut off a limb, and I don’t think Bogs will appreciate it.”
She giggled, shoving her notebook in her bag and pulling out a few slips of paper. She met him in the middle of the workshop and handed them to him. He’d asked her for a few designs she liked, and from there he’d start on her table. It was important to understand a person’s style before embarking on the project. He flipped through the pictures, noticing what the first two had in common. Kenzie had an eclectic style.
“What do you think?”
He nodded. “I’m gonna keep these, and I’ll come up with some designs. Then we’ll pick out the wood and I’ll get started.”
“I’m so excited.” She clasped her hands, practically bouncing on her toes.
He always enjoyed his clients' enthusiasm about upcoming projects. However, most weren’t as animated as Kenzie. She brought a new element not only to his business but to his life.
He pinned the pictures onto his project board and grabbed another pair of gloves. She was glancing around the workshop, showing no signs of leaving.
“You hanging out?”
“Um …” She tucked her hands in her pockets, rocking back on her heels with a strange glint in her eyes. “No, I gotta run.”
“Okay.” He said staring back at her. Again, she made no move to leave.
She cleared her throat. “Don’t you want to know where I’m going?”
Jonah raised his brows. It was none of his business, and he hadn’t thought to ask. But there was something in her tone that made him think she wanted him to.
“If you want to tell me.”
“I’m meetingRoxannein an hour.” She paused. “You know? Ethan’s sister.”
Jonah was well aware of Ethan’s sister, Roxanne. Maybe too aware? He didn’t know her well. Aside from a casual introduction and seeing her a few times, his contact with her had been limited. But heknewRoxanne Barrett. The woman was impossible to forget. And to ignore. Though he tried. When he was invited to a barbecue at the Garrison’s house, he’d made an effort not to stare at her, watching her every move. He failed. Most guys would. Stunningly beautiful with long dark hair, bright blue eyes and a body most men would describe as a perfect ten.
And way out of my league.
“Alright, well, talk to you soon.” He stretched the gloves over his hands, prepared to finish his project. As it stood, he’d be working for the next few hours to meet the deadline.
