"That could work," Eve said excitedly to Angela.
I shot Cooper an irritated look, which he ignored. I hadn't planned on renting it to anyone yet. It wasn't ready.
Angela's nose scrunched. "I don't know. Rent on a full house is expensive, and I don't have any income from the shop coming in."
I was right in my assessment that she wasn't in a great place financially.
Cooper folded his arms over his chest. "I'm sure Hudson can give you a break, especially since you have a child. She needs a safe place to live. Isn't that right, Hudson?"
He'd made it nearly impossible for me to say no without sounding like a jerk. With the way I'd acted around her, she probably already suspected I was one. "It's not ready to rent."
"What needs to be done? Maybe I can help you with it?" Cooper said, his brow raised expectedly while he waited for me to answer.
"The Realtor was going to take pictures and write up a description." I wasn't ready for someone to live in the house, especially not Angela. I was already going to be seeing her at work for the foreseeable future. I didn't want to deal with her in my old home too.
Cooper gave me a look. "You don't need to do any of that if you're renting to someone you know."
"I suppose not." I didn't know Angela, not really. She wasn't from here. We didn't go to school together. All I knew was that she ran a lingerie shop, and her pipe had burst. I knew more about her body than anything going on in the rest of her life.
"Now I don't have to worry about you and Ayla," Eve said as she resumed folding panties.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Angela asked, picking up on my reticence.
I shrugged, my shoulders tight. "I have an empty house. You need a place to stay."
Angela tipped her head to the side, her hair falling over her shoulder. "What would you want for rent?"
It seemed like she was holding her breath as she waited for my answer.
Cooper waved a hand as if sensing her discomfort. "I'm sure whatever you settle on will be reasonable. Mom would want you to help a single mom out."
Mom had raised us to respect women, especially single moms. "I'll show you the space. Then you can decide if it will work."
"We'll get your stuff packed away and stored upstairs. Then Hudson will take you to see the place. I'm sure it's ready for you to stay there tonight," Cooper said.
"I really appreciate this." Angela's voice was soft.
I wondered if she wasn't used to accepting help any more than I was versed in offering it. I was a bit of a perfectionist, and I wasn't ready to rent it out. There was always something else that needed to be done.
Cooper had backed me into a corner, but he was right; my mother had taught us to help women out. This was the right thing to do, even if I didn't know her.
I wanted to avoid her because I was attracted to her. It wasn't a good idea to get involved because she was a single mother, and I was working with her for the foreseeable future.
"There's nothing else we can do until the space dries out." The doors were propped open, letting in cold air, but it was already smelling musty.
Cooper grabbed a box and threw it on the floor between us. "We can help them pack this stuff. Then we'll have more room to work,”
It would be less distracting too. "You want me to fold panties?"
Angela's lips quirked. "You have a problem with touching panties?"
"No," I retorted, not sure what the right answer was in this situation.
Angela grabbed another box. "I appreciate the help."
"We'll get done faster with more hands," Eve added, her focus on folding.
I tried not to think about the lace and silk I was folding or how often Angela tried these things on when she was here alone. Or how she looked wearing it.
