Page 44 of Love Story

That was why I spent the day filing, moving boxes, researching—anything to fill the hours until tomorrow morning.

Oh, and fixing fences by flashlight.

“Damn it.Shit.Fuck!”I yelled at the fence panel, which wobbled unsteadily and refused to remain upright no matter how hard I tried to shove it into place.“Stay up, you son of a—”

“Can I help?”

I spun around, my heart jumping into my throat, to find one of Sam’s friends—Conor—standing behind me, arms crossed and an amused smirk tugging at his mouth.How long had he been there?How much of my embarrassing tantrum had he witnessed?

“I was just passing and saw you were in a huge battle.”

Conor was the epitome of casual confidence, rocking a heavy jacket withCCFDstitched on the front.His blond hair was tousled as though he’d just pulled off a helmet, and his easy grin only added to the effect.At the bar, he was the one who had the best stories, turning his day as a firefighter into a comedy routine that left everyone laughing.He carried himself like someone who knew exactly who he was, making me feel all the more like a flailing idiot.

“Uh,” I stammered, trying to recover some dignity.“It’s the fence… it’s fighting back.”

“I’ll help you.”

“You know how to fix fences?”

“Yep.”His lips quirked, a hint of a smirk breaking through.He stepped closer, his gaze scanning the wobbly panel.“Mind if I give it a shot?”

“Be my guest,” I muttered, stepping aside and feeling outclassed.

Conor grabbed the panel and propped it up, making it look effortless.Pulling a tool out of his pocket—why did he have tools on him?—he got to work, tightening and securing the panel as though it was second nature.It occurred to me that I was a long way from the street and behind the house, yet he said he’d seen me fighting the panel.

“How did you even see me?”I blurted, and he glanced up at me.

“I was on my way to get coffee.”He waved at the path behind the house.“Shortcut.”

“Oh.”

“Anyway, figured I’d step in.You can’t let a guy lose a fight with a fence.It’s bad karma.”I huffed a laugh despite myself as he leaned on the now-sturdy panel to test it.“It’s solid now, but it should be, right?Prepare for the puns to start.I can’t have you railing against my work later.”

I rolled my eyes.“Oh, come on.”

“What?”He grinned, enjoying the moment.“Just trying to spread some good vibes.”

“Please stop,” I groaned, shaking my head.

“Don’t get so defensive,” he said with a wink.“I’m just trying to keep things upright—unlike this panel was when I found it.”

“Conor…” I warned.

“Fine, fine.”He threw his hands up, still smirking.“But don’t say I didn’t help mend fences.”

I stared at him, deadpan.“You’re unbearable.”

“And yet,” he said, patting the panel, “Harriet will be thanking us next time there’s a breeze.How did it happen anyway?”

I shrugged, feeling stupid.“No idea.Harriet just noticed it leaning and suggested I try to fix it.”

“In the dark?”

“Well, it wasn’t dark when I started.”I sighed, waving the flashlight around.“I appreciate the help.”

“No problem.”His tone was easy.“Paying it forward because I hear you’ve been helping Sam at the farm?”

I hesitated, unsure where this was going.“Yeah, why?”

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