Finn’s expression softened slightly. “The worst part is over. From here on out, it’s just fixing what’s broken.”
There was something reassuring about his matter-of-fact confidence, as if water damage and reconstruction were just minor inconveniences rather than potential financial disasters. Ollie believed, at least momentarily, that everything really would be okay.
“So,” Finn continued, gathering his papers, “do you have any questions for me?”
Ollie skimmed the papers again, focusing on the practical details rather than the unsettling bottom line. “Not that I can think of. I trust your expertise.”
Finn nodded, seeming pleased by the vote of confidence. “We’ll take good care of your store, Ollie.”
“I have no doubt,” Ollie assured him. Even if he wasn’t friends with Jules, there wasn’t another company that was more trusted in town.
“I should probably let you get back to work,” Finn said eventually, standing and collecting his papers. “I know you have a store to run.”
“Such as it is,” Ollie agreed, gesturing to the cordoned-off sections and the industrial equipment dominating the space. “Not exactly the cozy bookstore experience people come for.”
“You’d be surprised,” Finn remarked, his mouth quirking into that almost-smile again. “People are drawn to authenticity. A bookstore recovering from disaster has its own charm.”
Ollie laughed, the sound surprising even himself after the stress of the past twenty-four hours. “Maybe we should market it that way. ‘Come see the bookstore that survived the great washing machine flood of 2025. Buy a book, take home a free water stain.’”
This time, Finn’s almost-smile bloomed into something fuller, transforming his serious face. “I’d buy that book. You might be surprised by how many people will buy damaged books at a reduced cost just to help a small business stay afloat.”
The simple statement, delivered with unexpected warmth, caught Ollie off guard. He found himself staring, momentarily transfixed by the difference a genuine smile made to Finn’s already handsome features.
Jules chose that moment to appear, their timing as impeccable as ever. “Sam and I finished reorganizing the mystery section. Anything else before I head to work?”
Ollie blinked, dragging his attention away from Finn’s face. “No, that’s great. Thanks for coming in early.”
For the first time in twelve hours, Ollie felt a glimmer of hope that everything might be okay. Now, he just needed to get through rebuilding without falling hopelessly in love with Finn O’Riley.
THREE
“So we’re looking at a complete ceiling replacement in the main area, plus electrical work and possibly some structural reinforcement,” Finn explained, spreading the sketches across the desk. “The good news is that the joists seem sound. The bad news is that we’re going to need to work in sections because Ollie’s scared shitless about closing the store while we work.”
Keaton nodded, studying the drawings with the focused intensity that had made Anderson Homeworks the most trusted renovation company in Maple Hill. “Timeline?”
“I think we can get it done in two weeks, assuming no surprises, but I’m building in an extra week for anything unexpected.” Finn tapped a section of the blueprint where the water damage was most severe. “We’ll start with the worst-damaged area near the back office, then work our way forward. That way, he can keep the front section open for customers while we’re working.”
“He?” Brendan asked, looking up from his coffee with a hint of a smirk. “You mean Ollie Jennings?”
Finn ignored his brother’s question, focusing instead on the task at hand. “I’ve drafted a materials list and preliminary budget. If we can get started tomorrow, we should be able to have the demo done by Friday. I’d rather not tear everything out before we’re ready to work on those sections, but we can’t risk mold damage on top of everything else.”
Keaton glanced between the brothers, one eyebrow slightly raised, before returning his attention to the plans. “This looks solid, Finn. I want you to take point on this project.”
“Me?” Finn looked up, surprise momentarily displacing his professional composure. He knew Keaton wanted him to take on a more hands-on role, but it made more sense to have someone who knew what they were doing on-site. “I thought Luke would handle it, since he actually knows what he’s doing.”
“Luke’s tied up with the Westfield restoration through the end of the month,” Keaton reminded him. “Besides, this job needs someone who can juggle the schedule, manage the client relationship, and keep the budget on track while we’re working around an active business.” He clapped Finn on the shoulder. “You’ve got the calm for this. Besides, you’re the only one who can wrangle both a budget and Brendan’s attention span, and I need him to be the crew chief on this project since it wasn’t something we’d planned on, and he’s the most experienced person we can pull off other jobs.”
Brendan grinned, unperturbed by the jab. “He’s not wrong. My attention span is directly proportional to how many coffee breaks we take.”
A familiar tightness formed in Finn’s chest—pride at the trust Keaton placed in him mixed with the weight of anotherresponsibility. But he nodded because that’s what he did. He stepped up. He made things work.
“I’ll handle it,” he said simply.
“Great. I’ll let Ollie know.” Keaton gathered his notes, already moving on to the next item on his checklist. “The crew can start first thing tomorrow. Eight sharp.”
As Keaton headed back to his desk, Brendan leaned across the table, his expression shifting from teasing to curious. “So, the bookstore guy. What’s he like? Luke said he was pretty torn up about the water damage.”
“Understandably so,” Finn said, carefully organizing the blueprints. “It’s his family’s business.” He hesitated, remembering Ollie’s tired eyes behind those glasses, the way he’d kept making jokes even while mopping up disaster. “He is resilient though.”
