Page 31 of The Cold Ride

“Yes,” I murmured and hugged him tight, never expecting he would help me with James.

Wyatt released me with a kind nod. Then he, Lucas, and Aiden mounted their Harleys, putting their helmets on before starting the engines. And when they did, the loud roars disrupted the silent morning. James and I stood in the driveway, waving as they motored off.

“What’s next on the remodel?” James asked the moment it was just the two of us.

“The electrician should be here in about an hour. The HVAC guy will be here before noon. And I’m expecting a delivery from the hardware store this morning too. Since we’re speeding along and making progress. After that, the next step will be putting drywall up.”

James shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “I’ll help out wherever you need me to.”

“I appreciate it. Truly. I know you’re on leave and deserve time to kick back and relax.” And I didn’t want to take advantage of his generosity.

“I’d rather stay busy. Besides, you need the help.”

I did need his help, more than I wanted to admit. “Thanks just the same.”

“Where do you want me?”

In my bed probably wasn’t the answer he was looking for as we headed up the walkway to the house. But it was where I wanted him most. It likely was a bad idea to even consider it. And instead of dragging him inside and having my way with him, I said, “If you could grab the boxes of electrical outlets and light switches. They’re in the garage. And then help with the electrician while I deal with the HVAC guy. The whole furnace needs to be replaced because of the water damage.”

“Got it. Lead the way.”

He followed me into the garage. “Where are you planning on storing the drywall? It needs to be kept away from moisture.”

“I figure here in the garage will be the best place for it. Before the delivery gets here, I need to move my car out into the parking lot.”

“I can do that once we get these inside,” James offered without hesitation.

He was being so agreeable. It was freaking me out a bit. But then, I’d noticed the chip that had been on his shoulder when he first arrived was gone. In its place was my James. The one I’d leaned against on the beach after telling him my sad life story. The one I’d fallen in love with and never gotten over.

“All right. That would be great.” I wasn’t going to turn down the help. I might be experiencing inner turmoil with my existential crisis, but I wasn’t stupid. If he didn’t want to do it, he wouldn’t offer.

We carted boxes with the electrical stuff into the lobby. That seemed to be the best place to store items we needed to work on the rest of the house. And it would be easy for the electrician. James moved my car out of the garage.

After that, the morning sped. James worked with the electrician as he went through testing lines and replacing wiring in the basement. They replaced all the outlets and light switches that had been damaged and installed the new ceiling lights in the basement.

While he was occupied, I handled the HVAC guy. Luckily he was able to get in and install the new furnace before lunch.

But my mood had soured. I made us lunch, just some quick sandwiches and salad.

“Something wrong? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

Sighing, I took a seat at the table across from James. “Yeah, we’re going to have to wait to get started on the walls in the basement. The HVAC guy showed me the vents in the basement. They’re all going to have to be replaced with the crud in them from the flooding. The ones on the main floor and above are fine. But all of them in the basement have to be replaced.”

He winced. “Sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

“Not unless you can go back in time, change Mother Nature, and ensure the damage never happened in the first place.” I laughed sarcastically.

“Huh.” He kept munching on his roast beef.

“What? Spit it out, James. I’ve never known you to hold back.” He was staring as if he’d never seen me before.

“I’ve just never seen this side of you before. You’ve always been passionate and thrilled to be alive. But you’re down, and it’s throwing me for a loop. Even when I would think about you, it was always as the former and not the latter.”

Shows what he knew. “I can have bad days too, you know. You’re not the only one who can be a grump.”

“Is that a fact?” He regarded me with a strange light in his eyes and followed me over to the sink with his plate.

After setting the dishes in the sink, I rounded on him. I didn’t understand why, but his calm demeanor pissed me off. Or maybe I’d taken one too many blows in my life, and they had all stacked up inside me. And now I was like a geyser, fuming mad.

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