Her eyes welled up with tears. “I don’t think I can stand it.”
He kissed her forehead, hugged her to his chest, and then let her go. “I’ve got to work. I’ll be back, though. And if you need anything, call me.”
He left her there, sniffling, because he didn’t know what else to do. He only knew that they’d had a moment, and he didn’t want to linger and ruin it. The hurt in Maggie’s eyes was as real today as it had to be in high school. She truly had loved him. The knowledge was empowering and devastating at the same time. All those wasted years when they could have been sharing and building a life together.
Yes, he’d struggled. He’d floundered through—but maybe he wouldn’t have if she’d been with him. He’d given up the one stable thing in his life to save her from him—and he’d paid a price for it. He’d believed he was the only one paying for it. Typical eighteen-year-old boy. But that didn’t excuse him.
He’d make it up to her—if there was such a way to do so.
He strode into the front yard to find James. “We need to change the schedule. I want the master suite done in two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” James gave him a what-gives look. “I mean, if we put every guy on it right after the siding, maybe we could get it done that fast.”
“It’s for Maggie.”
James huffed. “I suppose, if there’s more doughnuts involved …”
Cash punched his arm. “I’m sure she’s already cooking up a storm.” The way she’d lit up when the guys enjoyed her cooking was something else. The woman was a wonder. If he wasn’t careful, she’d adopt every one of these men. She already had them wrapped around her finger.
“I’ll take a look at things and start making phone calls right after lunch.” James bent down to plug a saw into the generator.
“I’ll call the electrician now.”
James nodded, his thoughts already heavy with the list of things that needed doing.
There wasn’t much Cash could do out here. He’d planned on working on the bookshelves in the library today. As it was a vanity project, there were some things around here he wanted to lay claim to, and the study was one of them.
That could wait. He wanted to do something special for Maggie. Getting the front porch done and putting up a swing so she had a place to sit in the evenings and watch the sunset would be just the thing. And if he happened to find her out there, he’d just have to sit a spell and rock awhile.
Chapter 11
Time seemed to flow like a river—constant and smooth—atthe homestead, as Maggie started calling the old house.
It was a beautiful two-story colonial. The wood exterior was coming along nicely, and the crew should have it wrapped up by that evening. She couldn’t wait to see the finished product.
A pile of green shutters sat in the back of Cash’s truck, waiting to be installed. He had a fine touch for detail and an eye for quality.
That’s enough complimenting him, she told herself.
The boss man didn’t need any encouragement in the confidence department; that was for sure. Not that she minded. A man who was comfortable in his manliness was hot.
Triple jalapeño sauce hot.
Since his apology, he’d been nothing but compliments and helpfulness. She hadn’t washed a dish after dinner since then. Which she didn’t mind at all. Cleaning up the kitchen after cooking all day wasn’t on her list of requirements for a husband, but she’d take it.
Not that he was really her husband. He was—by law. But he slept in a different room. A room that was right across the hall with only a hundred-year-old doorknob to keep them apart.
Every time he touched her, she wanted more. Wanted to lean into him and let him hold her. So far, all he’d done was touch her cheek a couple times and kiss her forehead. She shouldn’t want his kisses. She shouldn’t want to be nearer to him. He was a heartbreak in a black tee shirt.
Shoving those thoughts aside, she focused on the shopping list in front of her. She had no less than seventeen recipes to test over the next week and wanted to make sure she had all the ingredients so she didn’t have to waste time driving back and forth from town.
It looked like she had a complete list, so she gathered her purse and tucked the list inside.
Cash came in just as she was on her way out. “Where ya going?”
“I need to pick up some supplies. Do you need anything?” She bit her lip. Offering to run errands for him felt wife-ish.
One side of his mouth lifted in a sexy smile as he thought about it. “No, but I was thinking about your car.”
