Page 186 of Hidden Nature

“Just finishing up for today. Take a look.”

She walked back with him to the main bedroom.

“You took out the wall! And you framed in for— Hey, CJ.”

CJ and her Orioles-orange hair stood in what had been the adjoining bedroom, hands in the pockets of her carpenter pants.

“Hey back. I’ll pick up what you need and start rough-in plumbing day after tomorrow. After noon, I figure.”

“That’ll work.”

She gave him a narrow stare before pointing at his Mets cap. “You gonna keep wearing that?”

“Well—”

“You’re not in New York anymore, hotshot. This here is Bird country. I’m overlooking it—for now—because you got Robo sticking to a job and liking it. Gave him a raise, too.”

“He earned it.”

Though CJ kept her scowl in place, the pride and pleasure showed through. “Seems like he did, so I’m overlooking it. But opening day’s coming. Once the season starts, I can’t be responsible for what happens to that cap.”

“So noted.”

“Day after tomorrow,” she repeated. “Good to see you, Sloan.”

“You, too.”

Sloan wandered the new space. “Well, wow. Big bathroom, big closet.”

“I’m still fiddling with the design, but I’m doing a coffee bar.”

“A coffee bar in the closet.” She spoke it reverently.

“Yeah. I’m either going to look for vintage doors leading in from the bedroom or make them. And switching the fireplace to gas in there. Maybe doing a small, interesting electric one in the bathroom.”

Because a fireplace in the bathroom qualified as a long-term fantasy of hers, Sloan felt a little thrill.

“It’ll be a hell of a space, especially when you add the upper porch.”

“Coming up on it, and going with a glass railing system. It’s all about the view.”

“You’re hitting all my feels, and you get top marks on vision. A hell of a space,” she said again, “but I thought you were finishing the main level first.”

“Changed my mind. I’ve lived here for nearly five months.” As he looked around, Sloan knew he saw it all finished. “I want a decent bathroom.”

She walked to him, rose to her toes for a kiss. “Though the size and scope of mine can’t compare, I can attest it makes a difference in your day. Where’s Theo and Tic?”

“At your parents’. I declined the dinner offer, but pushed Theo and the dog to accept. Your mom brought me over the pulled pork—and gave me some tips on where to look for the vintage doors.”

“Elsie Cooper’s tips are gold.”

In an absent move that had become a habit, Nash brushed a hand over Sloan’s hair.

“She mentioned pulled pork was a favorite of yours and that she’d brought plenty for two.”

When Sloan smiled, he leaned down, touched his lips to her curved ones.

“I took the hint,” he continued. “Your dad’s making hand-cut fries. You’ll have to settle for frozen.”

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