Keegan had walked in on Ethan and Beau a couple of times during the time he’d been working here. It wasn’t that he cared what they did when they were alone, but he’d learned the hard way that Ethan expected to be left alone if he was caught—quite literally—with his pants down. None of thatoops, you caught us, better get dressedstuff for Ethan. No, sir. Which led to the awkward part, having to leave and come back, timing it perfectly. And then pretending you didn’t get an eyeful.
“What brings you by?” Kaden asked, getting to his feet as he crumpled his paper sack and tossed it into the garbage.
“Just checking in. Thought I’d see if you needed me to get anything.” Her brown eyes scanned the interior of the building. “Or maybe y’all needed some help.”
Keegan chuckled. He had learned early that Autumn did not have a problem getting her hands dirty. In fact, he was pretty sure she enjoyed it more than running the business.
So when she offered, he did his best to take her up on it.
“Got one machine that’s givin’ us trouble,” he said, shooting a quick look to Kaden, warning his brother to shut it.
“Yeah?” She sounded relieved and more than a little hopeful. “What’s the problem with it?”
He motioned to the backhoe that continued to give them shit.
“Is that the same one we worked on before?”
“Yep. Seems to want to hang out here forever.”
Autumn tossed her cap onto the toolbox, grabbed a wrench, and strolled away.
Knowing that was his cue, Keegan followed. “Changed out all the plugs and wires again.”
“But we tuned it up the last time it was here.”
“We did. And here it is again.”
“Mind if I give it a look?”
“Be my guest. You got a lot of experience with heavy equipment?”
Autumn glanced over, her brown eyes smiling. “I know a thing or two, yeah. Helped my daddy out growin’ up. He sells farm equipment.”
Well, that was damn good to know. One day he might need the contact.
“That why you decided to venture into this business?”
She shook her head, her short hair swinging as she tinkered with something. “I got tired of the corporate world. My old life, really. Figured this was right up my alley. Fresh start, I guess.”
“You sure an office job’s what you want?” he asked when she continued to focus on the engine.
Her head turned and a smile formed. “Why do you think I’m in here, cowboy? Figure if I keep showing up, y’all will put me to work.”
“If it’ll get me in good with the boss,” he said with an answering smile, “you’re more than welcome to take over.”
A couple of hours later, they called it a day. Before they headed back to the house, Keegan called Kylie, asked if she needed them to pick up the kids from the daycare. She thanked him for the offer, but evidently Gage was handling it.
Without anyone else to lend their assistance to, they fell into their regular routine of heading home. Keegan was the first to hit the shower, then went to the kitchen to rummage for dinner. While he poked around, never quite making a decision, his brother showered, then joined him. It took Kaden all of a minute to pull out what he wanted because, evidently, he’d planned on steaks and potatoes early that morning.
As soon as he saw the slabs of red meat, Keegan dragged out the small indoor grill his brother had purchased a couple of months ago.
“I think Autumn’s gonna eventually work her way into the shop,” he said absently as he got it set up, snagging the seasoning rub when he was done.
“Nah. I think she likes it as a hobby, but she’s enjoyin’ the rest of it,” Kaden said.
“You know this how?”
“Because I talk to her.” The tone implied theduh.
