Sweet Nothings Read online

  Not to mention it looked like a horror story out of the early 1900s.

  “I’m sorry—” “Wow.” They both spoke at the same time. The shock in his voice managed to pull her back to him. Embarrassment spread over her features that she’d let him see the place like this.

  “I should have insisted you not move in until I at least got the place cleaned up.”

  He waved her words off before moving through the living space into the spacious kitchen. Once there, he turned in a large circle, taking in the room full of plain wood cabinets, the yellowed wallpaper with the burned spot on the wall behind the stove, the equally dated kitchen table, and the many boxes filling the space of the back bay window. The wall adjoining the utility room looked as if it might come crashing down any second.

  “You can leave now and I’ll call someone to come clean. We can try this another day.”

  “No,” he said. “This is fine. I can clean, no problem.”

  “You’re going to clean the house?”

  He shot her an odd look. “A little elbow grease and it’ll be good as new. No big deal.”

  If the man wanted to clean her house, who was she to stop him? She grunted, knowing she was beyond unpleasant, but unable to do more than silently acknowledge the fact.

  Then she stood there, taking in the house that had seen only the most rudimentary of renovations—four decades ago—as she listened to his footsteps wander throughout the rest of the place. She wished she knew what he saw when he looked at it. As his booted feet sounded up the stairs, she wondered if he could tell she was the one everyone had once felt sorry for.

  Poor thing, her own mother left her when she was only a teenager, and she and her grandmother were left to make ends meet in that falling-down place.

  “The house is really in great shape,” he called down from an upstairs room.

  Her jaw fell open. The man was delusional.

  She made her way up the stairs, which had more than one “soft spot,” avoiding the cat who once again ran between her feet, and crossed to stand at Nick’s side. He’d stopped in the room that had once been hers.

  “GiGi never put anything into remodeling this heap. What hasn’t already fallen down is well on its way.”

  “There are some issues, yes, but the main structure is good. And it’s got such history. It’s gorgeous.”

  “It’s a two-story box just waiting for a heavy enough wind to come knock it down.” She pointed to a spot in the corner of the room that had water stains all the way down the wall. “The roof has been leaking since I lived here.”

  “We can fix the roof. We can fix the sheeting that’s no doubt weakened from the leak.” He walked to the back window and looked out over the yard. “Imagine what that yard will look like filled with the right landscaping.”

  She stepped to his side, peeked at the cup he was carrying, and wondered if it didn’t hold more than coffee, then tried to see the backyard through fresh eyes.

  It was large. That could be beneficial. It was flat. There was a scraggly spot that had once been a butterfly garden. Some random large rocks where she’d played as a child, imagining them as a fortress or throne, but more often as a stove and tabletops where she’d cook a meal for her pretend guests. She looked straight down. One side of the back porch roof had totally collapsed into the screened-in room.

  “You’re out of your mind,” she muttered.

  Brown eyes cut down at her. He studied her for a long time, long enough to make her twitch and look away, then passed his cup over to her.

  The smell of coffee hit her nose and she looked up at him in surprise.

  “Clearly you need it more than me,” he said. “Take it, and then tell me what you really see when you look at this place. Not what you saw in the past, or what shape it’s in now, but close your eyes and tell me what you see.”

  She shook her head, but did take the coffee. “I see exactly what’s here. It’s a falling-down mess, out in the middle of nowhere, and no one will ever want it.”

  “Joanie, it’s three miles outside of town. That is not out in the middle of nowhere.”

  “For a kid it is. It’s a lonely place.”

  “Not if it’s filled with siblings,” he insisted. “It would be the perfect place to grow up. Ideal for raising a family. Enough space to have friends over on a regular basis, both adults and children, and exquisite views of the mountains from the front porch. You could sit each evening and simply enjoy the ending to a nice day.”

  “Oh good grief, you’re such a romantic.” She turned and headed back out of the room, dodging a weak spot that had been in the floor all her life, and turned up the coffee cup.

  He followed. “No I’m not, I’m simply able to take something raw and see the possibilities in it. Now tell me what you see.”

  She turned, halfway down the stairs, and scowled back up at him. “I see nothing but a house falling down, Nick. Honestly. And this isn’t lack of coffee talking. It’s an old home that is worth pretty much nothing, but if I can’t make at least a little out of it then GiGi will be kicked out of the nursing home and she’ll have to live with me. In my tiny, two-bedroom rental. And trust me, she and I don’t get along well enough for that. Even if she wasn’t sick, that arrangement wouldn’t be in the best interest of either of us.”

  Stomping the rest of the way down the stairs, she was relieved that she didn’t put a foot through any of the risers. By the time she reached the first floor, the caffeine was beginning to kick in. She faced him as he made his way down behind her, and she tried for an apologetic look.

  “Listen, I’m sorry I’m in a mood this morning. You were right, I’m not a morning person, but that isn’t hard to figure out, is it?” She laughed a little, then took another long drink of the heaven in her hands, the warm liquid easing her tension all the way down. “The fact is, I really don’t see anything when I look at this house. I’ve no idea where to start, but the last contractor who gave me an estimate quoted a price twice the loan I can get from the bank.”

  He nodded. “There’s a lot of work to be done. I’ll need to bring in a few guys to help with different areas. Electricity, roofing, plumbing. I have licenses for all, but I can’t handle everything myself.”

  Worry settled in her and almost brought her to tears. She should just give up and go ahead and bring GiGi home. At least that way she’d save what little money she always managed to send as payment.

  “I can spot you for the extra labor.”

  “What?” She gaped at him. “I can’t let you do that. I’m already taking advantage of you by not paying you any labor.”

  The smile at his lips let her know that she was definitely taking advantage of him. “I can spot you. Plus, turning this house into what I see will go far toward giving my company a foothold in the town. You’ll be doing us both a favor.”

  Her mouth twisted, but she had to admit he had a point. If he could pull off making this place something other than the shambles that it currently was, it would be a walking advertisement for his business.

  “What’s your deadline?” he asked.

  Now she really was embarrassed. She peered out the front window as if something out there interested her. “I need it sold in two months, so… four weeks? Six at most.”

  And that was pushing it. It would mean it would need to sell pretty much the moment it went on the market.

  Nick remained silent for several seconds and then walked over and took the coffee from her. He turned the mug up, his head tilting back at such an angle her vision got caught on the ridge in his throat.

  Once the last drop was gone, he lowered his hand and locked his gaze with hers. “I sure hope you know how to wield a hammer.”

  Joanie’s eyes went wide. “That’s what I’m hiring you for.”

  He laughed. “Darlin’, I wouldn’t call what I’m about to do your hiring me. But that’s okay,” he held up a hand at her panicked look and hurried to finish, not wanting her to think that he was backin
g out of their agreement.

  The fact was, the whole situation excited him. He could turn this house into a masterpiece and she would bow down at his feet when he was done. The whole town would. And the idea of him doing most of the work himself instead of merely overseeing the details gave him even more of a thrill. It made him realize how much he’d missed being active on the job site. Plus, it would give him a definite extra two weeks with his brother before he headed back home. He couldn’t wait to get started.

  “To meet your deadline, sweetness, we’ll pretty much need to work round the clock.” And he couldn’t help but want Joanie there for part of it. She was fun to be around, even when she was grumpy. “I can’t hire men and expect them to be out here all hours of the night. Maybe hammering isn’t your forte, but surely you can pitch in. I could totally see you doing demolition.”

  He winked at her, picturing her, with her blond and pink curls, wielding a sledgehammer. The idea of her wearing her go-go boots while doing so popped into his brain and he realized that thinking of her helping was bringing on more enjoyment than he needed at the moment.

  Pushing the image from his mind, he looked over the dusty room. First things first. It might be February, but they had to let in some fresh air.

  “Tell you what,” he started as he began opening windows. Most were stuck but came loose with a quick rap of his fist along the sash. “You leave me to it for the day and then come on back after you shut down your store tonight. I’ll run into town for supplies and spend the day cleaning. That’ll give me time to formulate my ideas for what I see this place becoming.” He looked back at her. “Deal?”

  The caffeine had brightened her features but she still looked as if she’d rather be in bed. Which brought yet another unneeded thought to mind.

  She nodded. “I hate to leave you with all this yourself, though.”

  “That’s okay, I’m a big boy. I’ve cleaned a house or two before.” Far more times than most guys, he imagined. His mother hadn’t been big on cleaning up after herself.

  “As for me helping…”

  He lifted his brows when she stopped midsentence.

  She finally gave a slight shrug and continued, “I’ll do whatever I can, but I also have to sort through the contents in the house. I was hoping to do that after hours.”

  The thought that she would be there with him in the evenings shot a spurt of adrenaline through him. He’d been teasing about needing her help, mostly just looking for an excuse to get her to come around, but it looked like he didn’t have to bother. She would be there anyway.

  He couldn’t stop the grin, knowing it was similar to the goofy one he’d kept exhibiting every time he’d looked at her the day before. Something about her simply made him happy.

  “We’ll work it out. You come on back tonight and we’ll figure out a plan. Bring dessert. I’ll take care of dinner.”

  With a slight nod and worry lines creasing the space between her eyebrows, she bit her lip and took another long look around the room. “You really think you can turn it into something someone would want?”

  His chest expanded at the challenge and he crossed to stand in front of her, finally letting himself touch her as he’d been wanting to since he’d driven up and seen her standing so forlornly on the porch.

  He put a hand under her chin and tilted her face up to his. Her skin was soft against the years of calluses built up on his fingers. “I’m positive I can make something of it, sweetness. In fact, I predict it’ll be so nice you’ll want to keep it for yourself instead of selling it.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” She shook her head. “But I will be thrilled to get rid of it.”

  Chapter Three

  Joanie flipped the switch to turn off the OPEN sign and locked the front door. She was wiped. Customers had been nonstop all day—the extra business likely from having the van out the day before—and she was grateful. Really. But she could use a long bath and a relaxing Friday evening off.

  Only, she was going to get neither.

  Her cell vibrated and she pulled it from the pocket of her jeans. It was Lee Ann.

  “Hey,” Joanie answered, flipping out the main lights in the store. “I’m just closing up for the day. What’s up?”

  “You have a date tonight,” Lee Ann accused.

  Joanie froze. “No I don’t.”

  She hadn’t so much as thought about dating for months now. Nick’s face came to mind and she grinned, admitting to herself that what she’d thought about doing with him would not be considered a date.

  “I beg to differ,” Lee Ann started. “I’ve heard it from three different sources. You and my hunky brother-in-law-to-be are apparently having a date. He’s cooking for you. Not to mention living with you.”

  “He is not living with me. He’s at the Barn.” GiGi and Pepaw had named the house during the early years of their marriage, though no one knew why it had gotten that name. It had been their little secret.

  Joanie could almost see her friend shrugging. “Close enough. He’ll be all up in your space, and if he’s going to be renovating the house—which I also heard from several sources, none of which were you, by the way—then I assume you’ll be constantly in the middle of things, cleaning out Georgia’s accumulation of junk from three-quarters of a century of living there.”

  Not to mention the years GiGi’s parents had lived there before her.

  “Oh wow.” Joanie pulled a red-cushioned chair out from its matching bistro table and sat down. The enormity of what lay ahead was overwhelming. “There’s a century’s worth of stuff out there, Lee. I’ll never get through all that.” She shoved the corners of a handful of napkins back in the dispenser. “And you didn’t hear about it from me simply because I haven’t had time to call you today. This place has been packed. I’d planned to call later and beg an emergency girls’ day.”

  Until Joanie had sold the salon, she and Lee Ann had made Monday afternoons their time for pedicures and much needed girl talk. She’d kept the business closed just for the occasion—along with handling the administrative stuff she hated so much—and though she would be doing the same with Cakes, each Monday so far had been too full with getting the business off the ground.

  “Girls’ day,” Lee Ann said, making the idea sound as appealing as a tropical getaway. “Yes. Just name the time and place.” Joanie could hear occasional clicking on the other end. Probably Lee Ann was at the computer in her photography studio, touching up some shots. “And of course you’ll get through Georgia’s stuff,” Lee Ann continued. “Cody and I will help. The girls, too. Though they’ll probably spend more time bugging Nick than being useful. They’re crazy about their uncle.”

  Forcing her heavy limbs to move, Joanie rose and scooted the chair up under the table, imagining Nick entertaining his nieces. She suspected he would love that. “Tomorrow night?” she suggested. “Ditch Cody and the girls. Let’s make it a real girls’ night. Want to go to the Bungalow?”

  “Perfect.”

  “And by the way,” Joanie added as she continued through the room, “the Barn is a disaster. I’m not sure it can be fixed.”

  “Nonsense,” Lee Ann chided. “Nick’s a genius with his hands. You’ll be thrilled with the outcome.”

  The thought of Nick’s hands brought to mind other things Joanie bet he could do with them. Which had nothing at all to do with this conversation. She needed to get a grip.

  Or get laid, apparently.

  She rolled her eyes at the direction her thoughts had taken, and returned her mind to the topic at hand. “I’ll be thrilled when the nursing home quits calling for money.”

  “They called again?” Lee Ann asked.

  Joanie nodded, even though Lee Ann couldn’t see the action. She stepped behind the counter and began pulling out a selection of cupcakes to box up. “That’s why I jumped at the chance to get Nick’s help,” she added. “I have two months to sell the house and settle the charges before they kick her out.”

&n
bsp; “Oh. Wow. That’s fast.”

  “Yeah. So you really think he can do it? Turn it into something worthwhile?”

  “Of course. He’s brilliant.”

  Joanie’s mind wandered back to Nick. And his hands. And shoulders. And legs. She really had to stop thinking about him like that. They were working together. That’s all. Two people, helping each other out. He was just a nice guy.

  And a really good-looking one.

  “Uh-oh,” Lee Ann said. “You keep going quiet. What am I missing?”

  “Nothing,” Joanie mumbled, pushing the six-foot-plus vision of lean muscle from her mind. Her friend was too perceptive. She wedged another cupcake into the nearly full box.

  “Oh,” Lee Ann drew the word out. “I get it. Nick. You like him.”

  “Of course I don’t.”

  “Come on. I saw the way you looked at him at Christmas, remember?”

  She had looked at him at Christmas. She’d shown up at the mountain cabin Lee Ann had rented, and Nick had answered the door, spatula in hand, and smelling like warm chocolate chip cookies. If she’d had a glass of milk at that moment, she would’ve been tempted to take a big bite.

  After watching him throughout the day, though, she’d determined that he was a man who needed a wife and kids. The type of guy who would burrow into a woman’s heart until she went dumb for him. The type women would twist themselves inside out for. Just to please him.

  Given how her family had a habit of coming out on the wrong end of men’s charms, she wanted no part of someone like him.

  “What you saw,” Joanie explained patiently, “was appreciation for a hot guy. Casual flirting.”

  She couldn’t help it. She was a flirt. Everyone knew that.

  A beat of silence passed before Lee Ann asked, “Then what’s going on now?”

  “Nothing,” Joanie answered. She licked icing off her fingers. “Why do you ask?”