Page 21 of This Time Around
“Yeah,” he said softly. “I hear you.” They stared at each other for a moment, and Allie started to lose herself in those silvery blue eyes.
“So anyway,” Jack said, breaking the spell. “I did a lot of handyman work in my time away from college. Drywall, roofing, painting. That sort of thing. I’m also a pretty decent carpenter. And while I hammer out all the final details of moving my company out here, I have a little bit of free time on my hands. I might as well give you hand with the B&B.”
Allie swallowed, not sure what he was offering. What sort of price tag came with a favor like that? “Jack, you can’t?—”
“Allie, you want to know the best thing about not marrying you?”
She blinked, then shook her head. “What?”
“That you don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do anymore.” He smiled. “Now what time can I come look at the place?”
Jack wasn’t sure what the hell had gotten into him offering to help Allie with her grandma’s B&B. He hadn’t slung a hammer to do anything but hang pictures since Paige was still in diapers. He already had plenty to do moving his damn business and setting up in a new city, not to mention everything involved in getting his daughter ready to start at her new school. Besides that, his reunion was happening this week.
Did he really need another thing on his plate?
Hell yes, he thought as Allie opened the door looking flushed and lovely and holding a big gray cat in her arms.
“Mrrrw-ow,” said the cat.
“Hi there,” said Allie, looking a little embarrassed.
“Good morning.” He nodded at the cedar trim above the window. “Please tell me those aren’t bullet holes.”
“Those aren’t bullet holes.”
“Termites?”
She shook her head. “Woodpecker. At least that’s my suspicion, based on internet research.”
“No kidding?” He whistled low and surveyed the damage again. “Impressive that a bird could do all that.”
“Impressive might not be the word I’d choose. I’ve been online all morning trying to figure out how to put a stop to it. I don’t suppose you have any sticky resin like Tanglefoot or Roost No More in that tool belt?”
“’Fraid not. How about a roll of duct tape?”
“I’ll pass, but thanks.”
She stepped aside to usher him in, and Jack caught a hint of her perfume. It was new, not anything she’d worn in college. A little like Chardonnay, with hints of oak and vanilla and honey and melon. Jack’s stomach flipped over, though it probably didn’t have much to do with a craving for wine.
“Thanks so much for coming,” Allie said. “Careful. The cats are everywhere. This one keeps trying to get out the front door.”
“Maybe they’ll go after the woodpeckers.”
“Not a bad idea, but I don’t think they’re very street smart. The cats, I mean. Jury’s still out on the woodpeckers.”
Jack closed the door behind him and Allie set down the gray cat she’d been holding. It scampered a couple feet to the right and took a swat at another cat that had a mottled-looking coat. That one had splotches of tan and orange and white and looked a little like a disco ball.
“Hey, disco kitty,” he said, bending to scratch behind its ear. “Mind if I take a look at your house?”
“Disco kitty?” Allie laughed. “How did you know that’s BeeGee?”
“Lucky guess.” He turned in a slow circle, breathing deeply. “You know, I’ve gotta admit, I expected it to reek of cat pee.”
“I’m glad it doesn’t. I think Skye’s done a good job keeping the litter boxes tidy, plus there’s a catio with a huge garden where a lot of them go.”
“I’m not sure whether to ask about Skye or the catio, but both sound intriguing.”
Allie bent down and scratched the mottled-looking cat under the chin as another cat—this one a black and white tuxedo—came up behind her and head-butted her calf. Jack did his best not to stare at Allie’s ass while she was bent over, but he wasn’t having much luck. He felt a mix of relief and disappointment as she stood up and turned to face him and the tuxedo cat trotted off with its oversized paws making a soft thumping sound on the travertine floors.
