“I’ll bet you do.” She looked him over out of the corner of her eye.
“Yoo-hoo!” Dorothy waved from the front of the truck. “Wynn?” She walked around the back and stopped short at the sight of Judd flexing for Wynn. “I … umm … I wanted to say hi.”
Wynn suddenly realized how close she was standing to Judd and stepped away. “Dorothy. How’s it going?” Her cheeks heated, and she pressed her hands to them in an effort to cool them off.
“So good. Did you see the entrance? I’m so in love with the way it turned out.” She flapped her hand in front of her chest.
“It’s so beautiful,” Wynn gushed in an effort to take the focus off her and Judd. She’d talk about pumpkins and foliage all day long if it would keep Dorothy from drooling over Judd. “I loved the gold accents.” Her hands went to her hips. “I wish I had half your abilities. I have no idea how I’m going to make this stuff look presentable.”
Dorothy’s eyes darted around, taking in the carpet and Wynn’s children lying spread-eagle on it, and then the items piled in the truck. “I have some time—do you want help?”
“Yes, she does,” Judd answered for her.
Wynn whipped her head around to look at him.
He gave her one of his scoundrel smiles in return and then spoke to Dorothy. “She won’t admit it—so I have to do it for her—but she could use a design consultation.”
Wynn glared up at him and at the same time felt her confidence drop three levels. If it had been anyone but Dorothy, she would have been on her knees begging for help. But for some reason, she didn’t want to look less-than when standing next to her. Judd comparing Dorothy’s best trait with Wynn’s worst one … that was a blow.
Dorothy trailed her hand along the side of the truck as she took stock. “This is beautiful. Did you make this?” she asked Judd.
“Nope. This is all Wynn.” He grabbed two of the step stools, one in blue and one in gray, and hauled them off the truck. “She’s the designer, builder, and finisher.”
Dorothy pushed herself up on the tailgate and grabbed an end table, setting it at the edge for Judd. “I’m super impressed.” She winked at Wynn, letting her know that it wasn’t Wynn’s workmanship she admired at the moment. When Judd turned away to put the table aside, Dorothy fanned her face.
Wynn’s heart sank. Here Dorothy was, helping her out and trying to score points with Judd—allowing her to continue felt dirty and underhanded.
Why did she have to be nice? Ugh! Wynn’s insides pulled in different directions, and she scrambled to keep it together as she unloaded items.
It took all three of them to muscle the bar-height farm table and matching benches down without causing damage to human, truck, or table. The price tag was almost as hefty as the eight-by-eight beams she’d used for legs. It took all three of them grunting mightily to get it off the truck.
“How’d you get this in there?” Dorothy asked as she swiped her brow. She didn’t have anything to worry about—she had a nice glow but no sweat.
Wynn, on the other hand, was drenched. “Anders helped.” She panted and then heard herself and clamped her mouth shut.
“Oh—how’s he doing?” She leaned against the table, looking like a poster girl for the whole festival.
Judd answered easily. “Great. His new shop is built. He’s already taken on several orders.”
“What’s he building?”
“Furniture, custom doors, and cabinets. You name it.”
She lifted one perfect eyebrow. “Is there some competition in the family?”
Wynn snorted. “Not likely. He uses walnut and applewood. I’m more of a pine and plywood girl.” Anders had all the tools—routers, jigs, and even a lathe. She didn’t have the patience to work for hours to turn a bedpost like he did, so their markets were completely different. Besides, being able to build with rough lumber was a passion Anders didn’t possess. Not many people could look at a two-by-four and see a coffee table.
“I’m going to get another load. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.” Judd shut the tailgate.
“We’ll have this set up by then.” Dorothy smiled at him like he’d been the one to discover pumpkin bread.
He dipped his chin and jumped into the truck. “Kids—wanna go hang out at Grandma’s?”
Laney and Miles cheered. So far, they’d been good about sticking close, but their patience was growing thin—especially since there was a whole festival to explore. Wynn blew them kisses as they climbed into the truck and waved goodbye.
Dorothy let out a happy sigh. “Well, that went well.” She winked at Wynn as she spun slowly to take in the assorted pieces. “I have to say; this table is a showstopper. It’s absolutely perfect.”
Wynn didn’t want to ask why Dorothy thought things had gone so well with Judd. She could imagine what the girl had in mind, and she didn’t like it one bit. She chose to focus on the compliment that Dorothy dished out. “Thanks so much. I’m so proud of it I could burst.”
