Page 11 of Rules to Love By

Marcus had a very organized mind and didn’t need Eli’s advice on that score. He might be new to being a handyman, but he was not new to breaking down a task and outlining the sections, supplies and timelines.

He was also disconcertingly willing—eager, even—to let someone else take charge.

“You know,” Eli said, placing a hand over the page where Marcus had been meticulously outlining a projected timeline, “this isn’t my area of expertise. I’m just making suggestions.”

“Good suggestions.” Marcus pulled the paper free.

“But if you had other ideas, or something won’t work—”

“It all works. On paper, at least. Some things might change if we run into problems, but we won’t know that until we get into it.”

“I mean, this is your job. You don’t have to let me call all the shots.”

Marcus twisted the cap on the end of the pen. “Do you think if I thought something wouldn’t work, I wouldn’t say so?” The edge to his voice bit.

Of course he would be miffed at the insinuation that he didn’t know what he was doing.

“I don’t—nah.” Eli waved at the page and leaned back. “Of course you would. Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He pulled in a slow breath and let it out again, setting the cap firmly on the end of the pen. “It’s fine.” And he smiled. There was no guile there. No hooded expression or overtly projected sexual allure. Just ocean-deep black eyes framed by enviable lashes, set off by full lips and, surprisingly, one deep dimple.

Then he bent his head again, humming as he went back to his outline and lists.

Eli was as content to sit and watch as Marcus seemed to be working on what amounted to a project outline.

When he was done, he spread everything out. “I think this should give your dad an idea of what this entails.”

Eli fingered the edge of one page. “You think?” He knew Marcus was waiting for him to look at the scrawled writing and approve. He lifted his gaze from the black-on-white details to Marcus.

Undeterred, Marcus turned the first page to face Eli. “Project outline. Shelves, painting, electrical—we’ll have to at least give those lights a makeover. They may need to be replaced.” He turned another page. “Materials list with estimated prices. Those will depend a bit on where he wants to source things. In the city would be cheaper than here at the Home Hardware, but it’ll take longer.”

“He’ll get everything he can here. Count on it.”

“You’re sure?”

Eli grinned. “Since he’s sleeping with the store owner? Yeah. Pretty sure.”

“Right. Anyway.” Marcus focused back on his sheets, turning another one. “Timeline. It’s all there. I even did a timeline with both of us and with just me.” He fidgeted. “In case you… get busy. Or whatever.”

Eli glanced at the papers again, then narrowed his eyes as he looked back to Marcus. “You forgot one thing.”

“Did I?” He frowned at his work. “Materials. Timeline… no. It’s all there.”

Eli leaned across the table, hand flat on top of Marcus’s on the papers. “You doing this job for free?”

“What? No.” He scowled. “Oh. Oh! Shit.” He flopped back in his chair. “Damn it. That was dumb.” He yanked the sheets out from under Eli’s hand and uncapped the pen again, preparing to start scribbling out some of his work.

“Hey, take it easy.” Eli stopped him, a hand over his tightly clenched fingers circling the pen. “This is good work, considering you’ve never written out your own job proposal before.”

“Right. And how many independent contractors do you know who forget to pay themselves?”

“Sometimes it’s the most obvious things we overlook exactly because they’re so obvious. And don’t forget”—he pointed at the pages after letting Marcus free—“to include inspections and a permit. He’ll have to get those if we do electrical. We can talk to Ozzy about what we need certified people for.”

“Right. Of course. This is why the college student should be doing this, not the guy who barely graduated high school.” He pushed the papers at Eli.

It was all Eli could do not to squirm in his chair, but he held up his hands. “You’re doing fine. Just add another page with all of this summarized and include your final quote. You can do a separate page for the stuff we have to find out about, like inspections and certified subcontractors.”

For a long minute, Marcus glared at the papers strewn over the table, his face darkening with every breath until Eli could see the hand clutching the pen begin to shake.

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