Sleep obviously hadn't improved Scott's disposition from last night. At first, Rudy thought his quiet brother was grumpier than usual because he was losing the card game they played, but even after Scott's luck turned around, and he ended up winning, he was still as surly as ever. And when Kennedy suggested they play another round, he refused and insisted they go home.
It was the first time Rudy had ever heard Scott tell his wife no.
When they'd arrived last night, Rudy had half expected Eden to follow them through the door. But she didn't, and his chest constricted, trapping the air in his lungs, and his stomach plummeted.
"Is she okay?" The words had rushed out before he could stop himself.
He'd worried all week about her. He couldn't help it. She looked so beaten and fragile in that hospital bed. Her heart-shaped face had been so pale.
Kennedy had grinned at him with a knowing gleam in her eyes as she answered. "She's fine. She just wanted a quiet evening at home."
So Rudy had been the fifth wheel again, but it was probably a good thing Eden hadn't come. He found her extremely attractive, and even though he tried to deny it, he was interested in her. Getting to know her better would only make him fall for her though, and he couldn't do that, because falling in love wasn't in his plans right now. Besides, he'd be crushed when she returned to Spokane.
As he helped unload the two-by-fours, he contemplated asking out one of the few single girls in town. Maybe it would distract him from Kennedy's pretty friend. He'd given up dating a while ago, because he simply couldn't see himself settling down with any of the local girls. He'd known most of them since they were in diapers. They either felt like a sister to him, or they had personality quirks that turned him off big time.
Scott let out a string of swear words thirty minutes later when he accidentally hit his thumb with a hammer. And when the nail gun jammed up, he threw it on the ground and swore again.
Rudy let out a swear word of his own as he jumped out of the way.
"Hold up, son." Dad put a hand to Scott's chest to keep him from walking away. "What's the matter?"
Dad tolerated a little language better than mom did, but throwing the nail gun on the ground was not only mistreatment of the tools, it was also dangerous. Rudy would have been nailed if the jammed gun had decided to fire. He chuckled at his own pun.
"What do you mean?" Scott's voice was as gruff as it had ever been.
"I mean you're ornerier than a bear with a sore paw after someone stole his berries."
Rudy snickered at his dad's ridiculous analogy.
"Not only that, but you're putting us all in danger by throwing the nail gun around like that."
Scott's mumbled, "Sorry," was barely audible. He shook his head and looked toward what would be the backyard. "Eden's been staying with us for a full week."
"Yeah, so?" Dad set to work unjamming the nail gun.
"So that's a full week that Kennedy and I haven't spent any time together outside of work." Scott cast a quick glance at Rudy before lowering his voice. "And it's been a whole week without...you know what."
Rudy attempted to stifle a laugh but ended up snorting. He turned to find Austin's lips pinched together.
Scott's voice took on a whiny tone as he continued. "Kennedy has stayed up late every night talking to Eden or watching a movie with her."
Rudy couldn't help himself; he busted out laughing. Dad and Austin joined him.
Apparently, the only thing worse than a grumpy Scott was a sexually frustrated Scott.
His brother pulled off his glove and swatted him on the shoulder which only made Rudy laugh harder.
Dad was the first to recover. He scratched his stubbly jaw for a moment before putting a hand on Scott's shoulder. "Let me talk to your mother."
Rudy's brows furrowed. What was mom supposed to do about Scott's dry spell? She loved helping people, sometimes to the extent of meddling, but she was so sweet about it, you couldn't get mad at her. He sure hoped Dad didn't intend on Mom taking Kennedy aside and explaining her "wifely duties" or something else equally as antiquated.
As much as he didn't want to get involved with Eden, maybe he needed to take her out for an evening so his bear of a brother could lose this bite-your-head-off, grizzly-bear attitude he had lately.
CHAPTER4
Eden had just settled down on the couch with her book after another frustrating morning of job hunting when a knock sounded on the door. Before she could even get to her feet, it opened, and Alice Wheeler breezed in.
"Hello, dear. How are you doing? All healed up after your unfortunate accident last week, I hope."
