“Of course, girl. You know we’ve got you,” Caroline replies.
“This is fun,” Lauren chimes in.
“I can’t wait to see it all finished.” Julia leans back on her hands, studying the camper.
“Me too. I probably shouldn’t have slacked off on it for so long. We’d be done by now.”
“It already looks so much better than when you first texted us photos,” she assures me.
“It’s getting there. Still a long way to go,” I say.
“Progress is progress,” Jess says from the cushioned chair Benson brought out for her in the shade of the garage. “It’s all part of running your own business. We can’t do it all at once, no matter how much we wish we could.”
“True.”
I paint for a while, getting through two more pegboards. Brushing my hands off, I check on the ones we’ve set aside to dry.
Mom brings Jess a fresh cold water. “Looking good, sweetie. I’m going to call your dad and see how long he’ll be with lunch.”
Cole pokes his head through the window. “Come help with this, Evie?”
I pop inside the camper. All morning I’ve bounced between working outside with the girls and helping him.
“Where do you want me?”
He shoots me a playful look while Benson’s back is turned at the opposite end of the interior. I purse my lips, but a smile breaks free anyway at the silent innuendo passing between us.
“Hold this while I drill.” A hint of flirtation tinges his direction.
“That’s what she said,” Benson replies automatically. “Or would that be what he said?”
Cole waggles his brows at me, mouthinglater. I cough to cover a laugh and steady the butcher’s block counter while he installs it over the new cabinets he built for me.
My teeth scrape my lip as I admire the definition of his bicep and the way his forearm flexes when he drills. He notices when he repositions to get the next screw lined up, smirking. Heat blooms in my cheeks when he adjusts his grip to make his veins stand out prominently in the back of his hand and his corded arm.
He checks that Benson is absorbed in painting before moving behind me, bracing his hands on the counter.
“Is it aligned right?” His hips press against my ass.
I tip my head back, holding my breath. The risk of being caught by my brother makes my pulse race.
“Yes.”
“Good girl.” The mutter against my ear is barely a breath before his voice returns to normal. “Keep it like that.”
I mourn the loss of him when he moves to install the other end of the counter. His smoldering gaze collides with mine before he ducks inside the cabinet.
Once the countertop is secured, I stretch my neck, rubbing stiffness from my muscles. He bats my hand aside and clasps my shoulders, massaging them. I close my eyes, enjoying the treatment. We’ll both use any excuse to touch each other if we can get away with it.
“Good work,” he says.
The corner of my mouth lifts and I twist to sass him. “Yes, I’m excellent at standing around looking pretty, aren’t I?”
“Don’t answer that,” Benson cuts in without looking over his shoulder.
I flip off the back of his head. “Who asked you?”
He spins, pausing when he realizes how close we’re standing. His attention zeroes in on Cole’s hands on my shoulders. My stomach clenches when he flicks a suspicious look at his best friend.
