Page 1 of Burly and Obsessed

CHAPTER 1

ANDREA

Andrea? May I ask your opinion on something?”

I turn to find Mr. Atwater, one of our most loyal customers at Heartland Hardware, clutching two sample cards of deck stain. His weathered face is creased as he looks at the sample cards, shaking his head. He’s always working on one project or another.

“Need some help choosing?” I wipe my hands on my blue apron and move to the counter.

“Can’t decide between Natural Cedar and Redwood.” He holds up the samples side by side, squinting at the subtle differences. “The wife likes one. I like the other.”

“Let me see those.” I take both cards and hold them up to the light. “Well, Redwood has more red undertones.” I tap the right sample. “But Natural Cedar will weather better with the amount of sunlight we get here. Remind me the kind of wood you have for your deck?”

Mr. Atwater scratches his gray stubble. “Pressure-treated pine, about five years old now.”

“How much direct sunlight does it get?”

“Full western exposure. Gets pretty hot in the afternoons.”

“Then definitely Natural Cedar. It’ll highlight the grain without going orange after a season. The UV inhibitors are stronger in that formula.”

“That’s what I needed to hear.” He nods with conviction. “I’ll take two gallons.”

I walk with him over to the shelves of stains, where I grab two gallons while Mr. Atwater tells me about his grandchildren’s upcoming visit.

“Twins this year turned seven,” he says proudly. “Boy and girl. Smart as whips, both of them.”

“Are you taking them fishing?” I ask, popping the lid of the first gallon, to make sure the color is right.

“That’s the plan. Their daddy—my son Smith—caught his first rainbow trout when he wasn’t much older.”

“The trout are biting like crazy this spring. My brother went fishing last weekend and we all had a feast from all he caught.”

“Your brother still running that crew up on the Ridge?” he asks while I check the second gallon.

“Yes, sir. Jax keeps busy.” I smile, thinking of my brother. “He’s getting married this weekend, actually.”

“To that pretty blonde lady?”

“That’s the one. Leesa’s been good for him. First time I’ve seen him take a Saturday off in years.”

“The right woman has a way of rearranging priorities.” Mr. Atwater chuckles. “Been married forty-two years myself.”

“What’s your secret?” I seal the lid of the second gallon and ring up his order.

“Separate bathrooms and knowing when to say ‘yes, dear.’“ He winks, handing me his credit card..

My phone buzzes in my apron pocket. I glance down to see Leesa’s name flashing on the screen. I ignore the call, and finish helping Mr. Atwater.

“Everything okay there,” he asks, nodding at the pocket holding my phone.

I flush slightly. “Don’t tell Jerry. I’m not supposed to have my phone with me, but with Jax and Leesa’s wedding, there’ve been a lot of calls and texts.”

Mr. Atwater chuckles. “I’m not so old that I don’t remember how it was. So many things to juggle. Worst-case scenario, order a bunch of pizzas. One of my nephews had to do that when the caterer didn’t bring enough food. His wife was upset at first, but the pizza was a hit, and now they laugh about it.”

I have him sign his credit card slip, then hand him his receipt and push the cans of stain toward him. “Hey, send me a picture of that deck when you’re done. I want to see how the Natural Cedar looks.”

“Will do. Give your brother my best wishes for his wedding,” Mr. Atwater says, waving as he leaves Heartland Hardware.

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