by Kim Law
Her grandmother just shook her head. “He didn’t leave. He was a good man. A proud man.”
Well, he may not have left GiGi, but he’d certainly left Joanie.
GiGi reached for the pictures in Joanie’s hand. “Show me what you brought.” Her tone was back to being tight and hard. She’d closed off.
Joanie stared at her for several seconds, wanting to push for more, but she knew her grandmother well. That stubborn tilt to her jaw was in place. She was not talking about Pepaw any more today.
Joanie let out a frustrated sigh and opened the pictures.
They spent the next thirty minutes with somewhat stilted conversation, going through photos that Joanie had taken from every angle of the house. There were even a few shots of Nick in there. She flipped through those quickly, but her grandmother stopped her on one.
It was of Nick from the night before. She’d taken the picture when she’d first gotten there, right before he’d gone off to shower. He’d been standing in the new third-floor room—which was nothing but studs and framing at this point—sawdust and sweat covering him, his eyes glowing as he’d explained every detail the room was going to have. He’d followed up the description by telling her what he wanted to do with her in that room once it was finished.
She gulped, seeing the ardor in Nick’s eyes, and hoping her grandmother didn’t.
“He’s good-looking,” GiGi said. “He and you would make pretty babies.”
This brought Joanie to her feet, spilling the pictures onto the floor.
“We’re not having babies, GiGi. He’s working on the house. That’s all.”
“Okay,” GiGi whispered. “I’m just saying he’s a pretty boy. He’d make pretty babies.”
Joanie realized her grandmother had grown tired. She was struggling just to keep her eyes open, and her shoulders had slumped down farther on the bed.
They’d been talking for well over an hour, and GiGi had been sitting up that whole time. Plus, she’d gotten upset. Twice. Joanie needed to go and let her rest. She rose and gathered the pictures, then set the packet on the bedside table. She’d get more printed out for the scrapbook, and leave these here for GiGi.
“I’m going to let you sleep now, GiGi.”
Her grandmother nodded and Joanie helped her down to a prone position. Joanie hovered another minute as if unsure what to do next, then leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, fighting her own tears at the feel of the paper-thin skin beneath her lips.
“I’ll be back Monday, GiGi. I’ll bring the scrapbook.” She pulled the cupcakes from her bag and set them on the bedside table, then turned to go, but stopped at GiGi’s next words.
“I had a pretty boy once.”
Joanie eyed her grandmother whose eyes were now closed. Was she talking about Pepaw?
She must be. There had been no other boy in her life, as far as Joanie knew.
Heck, maybe her grandmother really was losing her mind. Joanie just hoped it hadn’t been exacerbated by bringing up Pepaw.
Before she could come up with a response, she heard soft snoring from the bed.
With one last glance at her grandmother, Joanie stepped quietly from the room, holding a love in her heart she’d never realized was there. It felt right. They were going to fix this thing that had been between them for so long.
She was going to do right by GiGi.
Chapter Thirteen
Led Zeppelin pumped from the speaker of Nick’s docked iPod as he worked at loosening a board inside the shed. It was Saturday afternoon, and he was at the house alone. The guys he’d hired had been working ten-hour days for over two weeks, so he’d given them the day off. That didn’t mean he got one. Instead of working in the house, though, he’d decided to spend the early-spring day cleaning out the sheds in the backyard. Doing so would allow him to dump the junk before letting Joanie have a look, risking her dragging the majority of the contents home with her.
The woman had issues. She was as much of a pack rat as her relatives, but every time he tried to talk her out of something, she was so darn cute for her reasons for wanting to keep it that he caved. In the end, she was getting rid of most of the junk in the house. He’d just been surprised at how much she’d kept.
There were two sheds in the yard, and he’d already emptied the majority of the first one into the Dumpster. What he hadn’t been sure about, he’d piled up for Joanie to decide. This building, however, was proving more difficult. He’d uncovered a few pieces of furniture that looked as if they could be of value, several boxes of Christmas ornaments that seemed unique enough he couldn’t bring himself to toss them, and now was working his way through a haphazard stack of lumber, trying to get at what lay beneath.
He wasn’t sure what he’d find at the bottom, but the chains he’d caught sight of had given him a suggestion. If it turned out to be what he thought, it would be the perfect birthday present for Joanie.
The board came loose with a strong, two-handed yank, and he lost his footing, nearly catching himself as he stumbled backward, but ending up in the dust on the floor. Luckily, the board hadn’t released any of the other random pieces, and nothing rained down on his head.
He shoved himself up, exhausted, but knowing there was little time to spare. He’d already spent too many hours during the week with Joanie when he should have been putting in work on the house, not to mention that he needed to make a quick run to Nashville the next day. There were a few details at the office he needed to handle, and he should check in on his house. He lived in a good neighborhood, but a house sitting for weeks unattended could attract any kind of trouble.
His mind went to Joanie again, and of how every night with her he felt as if a clock were ticking down. It would be nice if she’d stay over once in a while, or invite him to her place. But he supposed her actions fit within the definition of what they were doing. Though he did have to admit the definition was starting to get to him.
He hauled a few more pieces out of the building, then came up short when he realized he had company. A black, overcompensating-for-something sports car sat parked beside his truck. One he’d seen before when it had held Joanie and Brian, kissing as if the world were coming to an end and they didn’t want to go out breathing.
“Seems you’ve made progress out here.” Brian stood under the new roof of the back porch, the door to the house open behind him. “Looks good.”
Nick tossed his load into the Dumpster before turning to the other man. Did people just show up and walk through houses unannounced in Sugar Springs? He’d liked the place until now.
“I have. What are you doing here, Marshall?” He could be more polite, but the sight of him and Joanie kissing had left an impact.
Brian pushed off the support post, and headed toward Nick. “Pop sent me over to check out your work. Said you were looking to build some cabins on our property.”
The Marshalls had a six-room bed-and-breakfast, offered several year-round tourist activities, and had seventy-five acres backing up to the river that edged the county. They were looking to expand.
“That’s right.” Guess this meant he was going to have to be civil to the guy. He jerked his chin at the house. “Want a look around or did you already see everything?”
“I only walked straight through. You didn’t answer so I figured you were working. Heard the music out here and came on back.” Brian went silent while Nick bent to the speaker and shut off the song. “Also wanted to ask what your deal was with Joanie.”
Ah. The real reason for the visit.
“I’m pretty sure that’s none of your business.” He stared the man in the eyes, jealousy eating him up inside. This person had known Joanie a long time, and whether Brian wanted her in his bed or not, they had a closeness she and Nick didn’t share. That bothered him. “Did you want to see the house, or were you just stopping by to piss me off?”
A small smile graced Brian’s face. “That answers one question.”
“What’s that?”
“You don’t simply take people’s bullshit.” He headed for the still-open back door. “Good deal. That’s what Joanie needs. And yes, I want to see the house. Got a beer? I’ll take one of those, too.”
Nick scowled at the man as he walked away, trying to figure out if the comment meant that he was for Nick and Joanie being together, or against. Or maybe he was just screwing with him. Didn’t matter, anyway. He followed and got out that beer.
“You think you know what Joanie needs, do you?” Nick asked.
Cat jumped up on the counter and Brian scratched him behind the ears. When Bob, who couldn’t yet master the height, purred at his feet, Brian leaned down and scooped him up, too. “Nice cats.”
How could Nick hate a cat guy?
“What do you want, Brian? You want to know about me and Joanie? Yes, I’m seeing her. I’m crazy about her. I wouldn’t do a thing in the world to hurt her. Is that what you want to hear? Tell that to her and I’ll punch you in the throat.”
He began leading the way through the house.
“And if I were to ask her the status between you two?” Brian asked. “Would she say the same thing? Because I have to tell you, no one has seen you out with her. Other than drooling over her at Cakes. You’re there on Thursdays as if it’s your business to protect her and her legs from every other man in the county.”
“I’m there on Thursdays because I want a cupcake.”
Nick was impressed he got that out with a straight face. Marshall had it right; he was there, ready to go Rambo on any guy who got too close. Not that it mattered. All Nick could do was sit back and watch. Joanie would do exactly as she wanted to do, and he could either get with the program or stay away.
They headed up the stairs, Nick answering questions about the house as they went. When they reached the third floor, Brian checked out the space in detail.
“You do nice work,” he finally declared. “Good eye. Doesn’t look like you skimp on quality. I’m impressed.”
“What’d you think I was doing out here? Building a pup tent?”
Brian gave him his smile again and it pissed Nick off. The man was a good friend of Joanie’s, he was what most women would refer to as “hot,” and he would clearly do favors for Joanie whenever she asked—such as keep her out all hours of the night just to piss Nick off. Did that mean Brian had once had one of her sex-only relationships?
He knew people had pasts. Hell, he had a past. But he didn’t like the idea of this man discovering which thong Joanie wore each day. Or peeling them off her.
“Take it easy, Dalton.” They headed back downstairs, Brian leading the way. “I’m not your enemy here.”
“You’re not anything to me.”
Brian stopped on the stairs and gave him a measured look. “Hurt Joanie and I will be.”
Terrific. An ex-lover who had her back. Exactly what he needed. Then he wondered if that would be him some day.
Most likely. At least he wouldn’t have to be a year-round fixture protecting her.
“I won’t hurt her,” Nick confirmed. “It’ll be the other way around if it’s anything.”
What a pansy-ass thing to say.
Calm blue eyes watched him for another ten seconds before Brian’s face shifted and the pleasant demeanor was back. He laughed out loud and continued downstairs. “I suspect you might be right. She’s not one to get caught.”
“No one said I was looking to catch.”
Marshall laughed even louder, a sound which only irritated Nick more. Because he knew Brian was right, even if he hadn’t voiced his thoughts.
Nick wanted to catch her.
Wasn’t he already well on his way to falling in love with her?
Joanie passed a couple twenties across the counter and waited for her change. It was just after lunch on Monday and she and Lee Ann were having their usual girls’ day. Only instead of milkshakes or pedicures, Lee Ann would be helping her make the scrapbook for GiGi.
“These are some impressive photos you got here,” said Bert Wheeler, the photo technician at the local pharmacy. Joanie had brought in her memory card that morning, and of course Bert would have checked out every photo as they’d printed.
Bert was nearing retirement age and was what some would call the “curious sort.” Joanie would call it nosy. But then, if she really hadn’t wanted her pictures to be seen, she would have printed them herself. If she had any idea if her printer worked. Or had ink.
It was easiest just to bring them in. Plus, she didn’t mind him looking. It was simply part of life in Sugar Springs.
“Nick does good work, doesn’t he?” Joanie pulled the photos from the pack and leaned on the counter in front of Bert, flipping through them as she’d done with GiGi two days before.
After her and Nick’s conversation Friday night where she’d learned he had yet to secure a contract for another job, she felt inclined to point out the good work he was doing to anyone who would listen. Bert talked to most of the people in town in any given week, so he was a good one for Joanie to preach to about the value of the job Nick was doing.
“You should drive by there, Bert,” Joanie urged. “It’s not just the inside that looks different.” In fact, the whole thing was starting to look pretty stunning. She wished she could keep it. For her and for GiGi.
It was way too big for the two of them, but she loved what Nick had done to the kitchen with the slightly rustic look that fed into the living room and the walnut flooring he’d picked out to go down. She would have never guessed she would like the rustic look, but it fit when she looked out the windows and saw the mountains in the distance.
Then there was the back porch. With its electricity and three walls of insulated windows, it was now more like an extension of the house instead of an afterthought. The right furniture could provide a comfortable year-round escape. And of course, the room on the third floor would be a dream come true.
She could go on and on. The front porch. Who could resist those rockers? As the temperature had begun to inch steadily up over the last few days, she’d found herself spending several evenings out there, doing nothing more than relaxing and enjoying the ending of the day.
The fact that Nick had been by her side hadn’t gone unnoticed by her either. She liked being with him.
But she hated how much she was liking it.
“I drove out that way last night,” Bert was saying. “Me and my Betty.” He whistled then. “Mighty fine-looking house. We ain’t looking to move, but I’ll sure be interested in seeing the inside once it’s finished.”
This pleased Joanie and made her want to run to tell Nick. “It’ll be going on the market by the end of the month, and Jane plans to do an open house that first weekend.” Jane was the Realtor they were working with. She’d been out to the house the other night to take a quick look around, and was thrilled to get the listing. Joanie was both happy to list it with her, and sad at the same time. She would hate to see it go.
She flipped to another picture as Bert leaned in closer, his head right next to hers, studying each one as if he hadn’t already seen them all. She glanced up at Lee Ann, who stood a few feet away, watching her.
What? Joanie mouthed.
Lee Ann merely gave a shake of her head. Nothing, she mouthed back.
“I found this one interesting,” Bert commented as Joanie flipped to the next photo without looking. “In fact, I called Reba when I saw it. Told her I believed she might be wrong.”
“Which one?” Joanie looked back down. What would Lee Ann’s mother have to do with one of her pictures?
Then she saw what Bert was talking about.
It was of Nick. One she’d forgotten about taking Saturday night after she’d returned from Knoxville. He’d just come from the shower, a white towel slung around his hips, his very fine chest in all its naked glory, and one of those grins that melted her insides in place on his strong jaw. The smile was so good, that her body got a little revved just looking at it now. While at the same time, h
er brain screamed at her to ditch the picture.
“Yep,” Bert continued. “Told her I didn’t believe you two had an issue in the bedroom at all. That is not the look of an unsatisfied man. Trust me. I’ve worn that look a time or two, myself.”
Joanie cringed at the image his words conjured.
She turned the photo face down and frowned at Bert. “Of course we don’t have issues in the bedroom. Who’s…” She stopped, remembering what Lee Ann had told her about the rumors after her and Nick’s “sex” conversation at Cakes. The bet had been that she wasn’t doing something right in that department. She narrowed her eyes. “People are still talking about that?”
“Yeah. Especially seeing that you’re out there so late every night.”
“I have work to do out there,” she explained. “That doesn’t mean we’re running around doing… things… every night.”
He picked up the picture and waved it at her. “That ain’t all you’re doing, sweetheart.”
Lee Ann moved to her side and took the photo from Bert. Joanie was just about to thank her for stepping in to help when Lee Ann murmured, “Oh yeah. I’ve seen this look before. You’re right, Bert. This is one happy man.”
Joanie snatched the picture from her. She then realized that with Cody and Nick being twins, Lee Ann probably had seen that exact look. That didn’t mean she needed to agree with Bert.
Joanie gathered up the now scattered photos and shot her friend a dirty look. “Are you about finished?”
Lee Ann shrugged. “Just about.” She handed over a ten-dollar bill. “Put me down for April fourth.”
With that, Lee Ann left the store without another word, leaving Joanie to gawk back and forth between the door her friend had vanished beyond, and Bert. Bert opened the cash drawer and stashed the bill inside.
“What did she just bet on?”
Guilt passed across Bert’s face. “I uh… believe I’m supposed to keep this one quiet.”
Joanie shook her finger at him. “You’re betting on me, in front of me, and you won’t tell me what it’s about?”
