Page 19 of Seeking Happily Ever After

“Stephanie’s back.”

Travis laughed at his bluntness, but Nick wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly why Travis’s attentions had been on the cabins. Stephanie had hired him after a recommendation from Faith and Hope, her twin half-sisters who’d grown up in Glacier Falls, and she’d hired him first. Nick also knew that despite how sweet Steph was, she could also be pretty tough when she needed to be. Which was also why he hadn’t told his friend that he’d hired her contractor for his own project.

“Say no more,” Nick said. “I know how she can be.”

Something flashed in Travis’s eyes, but it was gone again as he replaced his hat on his head. “I think I’m figuring that out,” he said.

Something about the way he said it made Nick look twice at the man. He wasn’t totally oblivious, either. As preoccupied as Nick had been with his own life, he hadn’t missed the way his friend flushed a little when she talked about the contractor working on her cabins, or the way they’d danced a month ago at the party Hope and Levi Langdon held for their new baby boy. There was definitely something going on between them.

“So I’ve been spending a bit more time over at Lynx Creek,” Travis was saying. “Just finishing up on some of the details. I know Stephanie is going to have a few things she wants changed or fixed up.”

“She is pretty particular,” Nick agreed.

“She knows what she likes.”

Doesn’t she ever?

Nick had to swallow back a chuckle as he shook his head. “So what are you doing here then?”

The other man’s broad smile split his face. “I’m glad you asked.” He started to walk toward the garage and Nick followed, pushing the stroller. “I got notification that an order had been delivered and if it’s what I think it is, I’m dying to see it for myself.”

“What?”

For the life of him, Nick couldn’t think of what he might have ordered for his house that would be so exciting that the man couldn’t wait a few hours to see it. Of course, he wasn’t a contractor.

Travis punched in the code to lift the garage door and walked straight over to a pallet that was stacked high and wrapped securely. He pulled a pocketknife from his pocket and started opening the shipment.

“I’m not going to lie, Travis. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did we order some sort of robot or something for the remodel? Because that’s the only thing I can think of that would be as exciting as you’re making this out to be.”

Travis laughed as he sliced through the wrapping. “Sorry,” he said. “I keep forgetting that not everyone gets worked up for…” He stripped back the protective materials to reveal a…window.

“Windows?”

Travis laughed. “Not just any windows, Nick. These windows block exterior hot and cold and are soundproof. They’re top of the line.”

Nick couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh. “I’ve got to say, I’m glad you’re so excited with them. As long as they’re the best.”

“They are.”

“Then I’m happy.” He glanced down at Amelia, who was starting to stir from her nap. “Only the best for her, okay?”

“You got it.”

“Okay.” He turned to leave. “I should get her home. But I totally understand it if you need to keep Stephanie happy while she’s in town.” He paused at his choice of words. Despite himself, he chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry, that’s not what I—” He looked at Travis, who was watching him with a completely unreadable expression. “Well, as far as Steph goes,” he tried again. “You do what you feel is best. I can be flexible, to a point. But I am going to need a solid move-in date soon.”

Remembering the meeting he’d just had only concreted his need for the house to be completed. Especially if Susan was going topop infor a visit.

“I’ll nail it down ASAP.”

Nick started his walk home. Any sense of calm he’d had while he’d been distracted by his new home vanished the closer he got to his vehicle, and he realized for the first time what having apop-invisit from his caseworker would really mean.

The one-bedroom guest house at ElkView was about to get a whole lot cozier.

“I wasn’t sure if I should knock.” Charlotte put her biggest, brightest smile on her face when Nick answered the door. “I mean, we are engaged to be married, right?”

After her meeting with Steph, when she’d once again remembered the predicament she’d put herself into, she’d run through a million different scenarios for how she could possibly approach things with Nick.

She didn’t even know herself what she was going to say until Nick answered the door to his guest house at ElkView.

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