“Thanks.” I look between them. “Before I moved to Laurel Creek, I never had any friends who didn’t want something from me.”
“Aww shucks, bring it in,” Nash says exaggeratedly with a deep laugh. He pulls me in for a hug, clapping me on the back, and the contact causes me to stiffen. I rarely have people try to hug me.
“Congrats, man! You’re gonna be a father!”
Hearing him say it out loud makes itthatmuch more fucking real.Holy fuck.
CHAPTER 23
Olivia
“Well, I guess a little bit at a time. Right?” I ask as I look around my house, my voice wavering. I didn’t expect that seeing my house still so barren would hit me so hard. I look around what used to be my kitchen. It’s stripped down to the studs and wiring, and half the kitchen floor is ripped out.
“It’s really not as bad as it looks,” Shane attempts to convince me. We’ve been here for about thirty minutes, and I’ve managed to both panic and talk myself down at lease twice about the state everything is in.
“It’s great that the old wiring and plumbing were redone before you bought it. If it hadn’t been done already, when we opened up those walls, you would’ve had to replace it to code.”
“That’s good, I suppose,” I offer with a small smile, trying my best to stay positive. Asher hasn’t shown yet, which tells me he may be hung up on a fire call.
We wander the space some more and Shane shows me how they’ll build out the drywall to make it meet the existing plaster. Sheila, the Heritage Committee member, has been morelenient than I expected and is allowing me to use drywall because it’s safer and more eco-friendly than plaster. I just have to make sure the finer details—floors, cabinets, and anything that can be made period appropriate, is.
“Sorry I’m late.” Asher comes through my front door with a light knock. I turn to face him as all the air inside feels like it’s been sucked through the door he came in. He’s not in his gear, but he’s still covered in soot and sweat. The bravery of being a firefighter command hits me, and I feel a heady mix of both desire and fear. Asher is gorgeous, of course, but the bubbling fear I feel … I shudder at the thought that anything could happen to him, at any moment, and there would be nothing I could do about it. A wave of nausea rises as I imagine my baby being left without a dad, just like I was once.
“Barn fire on Highway 12,” he says quickly.
“Everything okay?” I ask gently.
“Yeah, the owners are fine, but they lost part of the barn and two pigs. They’re at the beginning of their journey, just like you were.” He gives my shoulder a light squeeze and looks around. “But look at this place now.” He seems pleased with the re-studded walls, the exposed electrical wiring and pipes.
“Yeah, a real beaut.” I snicker as I follow his gaze.
“Nah, this is nothing. Go on, tell her,” Asher says to Shane.
“I already did.” Shane grins. “More than once.”
“It’s just because I don’t understand how to fix it,” I offer. “But I trust both your judgment. I just can’t wait for it to be done. Thank you so much for all the work you are doing.”
“No problem. Can’t wait to see what you do with the cabinets. We’ve found some flooring to match the wood you’re using.” Shane turns to me and pushes his blond locks off his forehead. “Wait till he finishes with your cabinets. Then you’ll see what a genius this guy is with wood.”
I bite my lip to keep from grinning.Definitely already witnessed that.
Asher clears his throat. “All right, I gotta head back to the hall but, tonight, let’s have dinner when you’re done with work?”
My mouth falls slack for a moment.
“You know, get to know each other better,” he adds, awkwardly hooking his thumbs into his suspenders.
“Okay, sure,” I answer.This open and compromising Asher is … new.
Neither of us say anything for too long, both waiting for the other to speak. Shane’s phone rings and he heads to the other room, which makes me feel the need to break the silence between Asher and me. I give in to the smile twitching at my lips.
“So … I hear you’re a real genius with wood?”
Asher shakes his head as he turns and heads to the front porch. I go with him.
“Aye.” He wags a finger at me. “Don’t you dare fucking flirt with me, Liv. I’m having a baby. My emotions are all over the goddamn place.”
I laugh as he pushes his sunglasses down to cover his eyes. He smiles at me even wider and then he laughs. A real laugh, not a chuckle. I realize it’s the first time I’ve ever really heard it. It’s a deep, clear sound that warms me from my toes up. It’s intoxicating. And, suddenly, all I want to do is make him laugh again.
