“We’ll take the world by storm,” Paris said as she picked up a stem of foliage. “One store at a time.”
“What are we?”
Paris smiled as she remembered the positive mantra they’d repeated when they started working with Kylie. “We’re positive, gorgeous, intelligent women who only need chocolate to be happy.”
Reaching into her bag, Jackie pulled out two Snickers bars. “Amen to that.”
And, with a smile that was just as content as Jackie’s, Paris tore off one of the wrappers and bit into the soft, gooey center. Except for when she was dreaming about her new business, life didn’t get much better than this.
Chapter 7
Richard took a metal bracket out of his toolbox. The shelving unit Paris had ordered arrived this afternoon. Instead of leaving it until tomorrow to assemble, he’d stopped by her house after work.
Paris leaned over his shoulder, watching what he was doing as if it was complicated heart surgery. “Do you think it will make a difference?”
“It will be better than what was there. The shelves were only designed for office storage.” He felt her curious blue eyes settle on his face. It had been a long time since a woman had stood so close to him. He’d forgotten the intimacy a softly spoken word could create. The awareness a woman like Paris could generate.
“Where did you learn to fix things?”
He tightened the screw and started on the next one. “My dad taught me. When I was little, I followed him around the house, watching what he did. He gave me my first tool belt when I was four.”
“That must have been fun. You’d never have to throw anything away.”
Richard’s lips twitched. “Mom wasn’t always happy. Dad wanted to fix things instead of buying new ones. They’re still using the same toaster they were given when they got married.” He attached the last screw and tried wiggling the shelf. “That’s better.”
Paris picked up a flower pot that was sitting on the veranda. “This is about the weight of the heaviest arrangement that will be on the shelves. I hope it works.” With the pot sitting on the shelf, she slowly moved her hands away. With a grin that made him feel weirdly proud, she said, “It works!”
He gave the shelf another nudge, just to make sure. Nothing moved. “Not bad for a set of three-dollar brackets. Are you happy with how it looks?”
She looked closely at the shelving unit. “It’s fine. You can hardly notice the brackets against the rest of the frame. I’ll order the other shelving units tonight.”
“How many do you need?”
“About five.”
Richard screwed another bracket into the next shelf. “Let me know when they arrive. I’ll put the brackets on for you.”
“It’s okay. I can do it.”
His eyebrows rose. “You’ll need a screwdriver.”
“Stay here.” Paris ran inside. When she came back, she was carrying a shiny, new screwdriver set. “Andrea gave me this as a housewarming present. It’s the best thing anyone has ever given me.”
Richard frowned. Either Paris set her sights low, or no one appreciated her for who she was. “That’s the first time anyone’s told me tools are better than flowers.”
“I’m surrounded by flowers at work. I prefer practical, no-nonsense gifts that last forever. Let me do the next bracket.”
“It will be easier with an electric drill.”
She tapped his chest with one of the screwdrivers. “Are you scared I’ll do a better job than you?”
“It’s impossible to improve on perfection.”
“Really?” Paris took a bracket out of the packet and sent him a superior smile. “As well as being incredibly practical, I’m a fast learner.”
“That won’t work.”
“Why?”
