The worn carpet from the nineties scratched the bottom of her bare foot as she gave him space to enter.Replacing the flooring in both houses was at the top of her to-do list. Hopefully, he could manage it.
“Nice place,” he said, rubbing the scruff on his cheek.
“Is it everything you expected?” she asked, half curious and half numb to what he might think about her and her home. It had been a long morning already, and it was barely daylight.
Zach’s gaze lingered a moment on her before he resumed his assessment. “No, but nothing about you has been what I expected.”
Of course she’d surprised him yesterday. She’d kept her intentions close to her heart until the time was right—until Zach could actually use his connections to help her find Anthony. Zach probably hadn’t expected her to offer him a place to live either.
Any of his other expectations? They didn’t mean anything to her. She wasn’t out to impress him. Truth be told, she understood expectations that missed the mark. She’d hoped to be well on her way to building a family by now, but that wasn’t the season she was in. It might not ever be at this rate. She hadn’t exactly gotten the whole dating thing down pat, and the thought of giving that kind of trust to anyone was terrifying.
Lauren grabbed the spare key off the small table beside the couch. “This is yours.”
Zach’s brow lifted, but he didn’t reach for the key. “You sure you want to do that? I could rob you blind.”
She’d considered that possibility ad nauseam, butthere wasn’t anything in this place she couldn’t live without. Material things didn’t mean much to her, and if someone took them, maybe they needed them more. Besides, a robber didn’t need a key if they really wanted inside.
“I’m not worried about it.”
Zach’s stare remained locked on her as he slowly shook his head. “You’re not smart all the time.”
Lord, I could use that patience, please.
“I’m too tired to be smart right now.” Striding past, she ignored his heavy gaze. “Let me show you around, so I can get on my way to work.”
“You still working at the library?” he asked behind her.
“Yep.”
“One-word answers. You’re not as chipper as you were yesterday,” Zach pointed out. “Not a morning person, I take it? Regretting the convict you offered to house?”
As if she needed a commentary of her morning. It was hard enough getting out of bed after a nightmare. Couldn’t he just let her wallow in her gloomy mood?
She led the way to the small laundry room at the back of the house and turned on the light. The orange glow did nothing to romanticize the outdated dark wood paneling, light fixture, and appliances.
“The washing machine had a major leak a few weeks ago, and I’d like to have this hardwood flooring torn up and replaced. Everything including the subfloor. Tools you’ll need are in the storage roomnext to this one. I think you can get it all torn out today, and I’ll pick up the new flooring during my lunch hour.”
Zach must have noticed the sagging floor between the joists as he stepped from one section to the other.
“I’ll get someone with a truck to help me with the lumber. There’s a metal bin in the back where you can put the—Don’t!”
She lurched out of the room as he jumped on a weak spot on the floor.
His grin took on a boyish gleam as he bounced again. “Feels like I might fall through.”
“Precisely!” Lauren spoke through clenched teeth. “That’s why you’re going to replace it.”
Zach’s gaze roamed the tiny room. “You’re telling me I get to tear something apart on my first day?”
“Yep. Your destructive tendencies get a chance to break free. After I leave the premises. You can move everything into the bathroom. My computer is on the counter in the kitchen. You can use it to search anything you don’t know how to do. Your breakfast is in the microwave. It may need to be warmed.”
Lauren turned to step past him through the narrow doorway, brushing too close to his broad chest. “I’ll be back around noon.”
Leaving her untouched coffee on the table next to her Bible and study guide, she made a direct path for the front door. She needed to get away from Zach Wilson so she could breathe again.
7
Lauren
