Page 17 of Only One I Ever Wanted

“Well, you said I could post it.”

He tipped his head back. Then suddenly, text notifications started from his phone.

“I did tag your work account,” I said with a shrug. I saw the work order on the counter. Sully’s strong, slanted printed handwriting filled the bottom of the form. The amount at the bottom wasn’t nearly enough for the hours he’d been there. “Hey, make sure you charge Gene for all you did today.”

“I did.”

“You definitely did not. I think rerouting plumbing or whatever you were doing down there to get an extra shower was worth more.”

“Not how it works around here. You’ve been gone too long, Nora.”

“Evidently,” I mumbled.

His phone buzzed and jangled again, and he pulled it out, silencing it. Didn’t stop the buzzing, however.

“Thanks for your help. How about I make you dinner for a thank you?”

“I’m paid.” His eyes wouldn’t meet mine.

“Yes, but I’m an exceptional cook. You can bring your son over and he can sit in the purple chair. I even have a couch now.” I gestured to the kitchen table. “Seats all over the place.”

He pressed his lips together. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

I grinned up at him. “We’re friends, right? At least we used to be.”

“Sure. Friends.”

“I’ll invite the new Chief of police.”

He frowned.

“Didn’t hear yet? Your mom falling down on the job?”

“More like I’ve been distracted.”

“Remember Parker Olsen?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Park is the new Chief?”

Surprised he knew her nickname. “I didn’t know you knew her.”

“Yeah, not that well. But we were lab partners for chem and bio. Last I heard she was in Chicago. I know her brother pretty well. He helped me with transferring the business over from Dad to me.”

“So, how many of the brothers are working for you?”

“Just me, mostly. Kai and Cash help out sometimes during the summers when I have bigger jobs.” He swore and dug out his phone. “This keeps up my battery will be…” He trailed off, swiping. “Holy shit.”

“What?”

“What the hell kind of video was it?”

I laughed. “I am quite handy with editing software. Not that I had to. You have exceptional raw materials to work with.”

He glanced at me, one eyebrow spiking. “Exceptional, huh?”

Was I blushing?

I felt like I was.

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