Page 16 of Summer Heat
"I think he wanted some company, and he's so sweet to Maya."
Elena gazed over the crystal blue of the pool water. "He loves kids."
"I'm going to talk to Ivy to see if I can find something. I can't live with Shep forever, even if he says it isn't an issue."
Her brow furrowed. "Is he charging you rent?"
"I haven't even asked him about that. He assured me it wasn't an imposition, and that it would be easier for me to help him with the renovation if I was living with him."
"How's he coming with that?"
"Not great. But that's my fault. I was supposed to help him with design options. I've been so busy between work, Maya, and the issues at my house; I haven't given him the time I promised him."
"I wanted to talk to him about it because we'd like to use the house for the wedding."
I shifted so I could see her face. "You want to get married at Shep's?"
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I could walk down those gorgeous steps and get married on the beach. We'd have to rent tables, linens, and a tent, but it's doable."
"That would be gorgeous. What would need to be done inside the house for that to happen?" I asked, my mind running through the layout of the first floor. What would guests need access to?
She ticked the items off her fingers. "The first floor. The bathrooms. It would be a showcase of sorts."
"When are you thinking of doing that?" I asked, feeling anxious to get things started at the house.
"Maybe this spring or early summer? Hudson's been so patient about me taking that next step because of my grandmother. But he's waited long enough, and I want to be his wife." Elena held her hand in front of her, the diamond sparkling in the sunlight.
"You deserve the wedding of your dreams." I found out I was pregnant with Maya when I was dating Derek. We didn't have any plans to marry, and I didn't think that pregnancy would be a good reason to do it then.
Elena smiled, her gaze on me. "I'm excited to plan it. But Hudson's worried that Shep won't be able to get the renovations done."
"I don't know Shep much better than you. But it's possible that with me living there, we can make more progress. Especially if his brothers would be willing to chip in on the bigger projects."
"I think they would, especially with our wedding as the end goal."
"Shep wants to prove himself to his brothers. Especially for something as important as your wedding."
"Hudson has his doubts. And maybe that isn't fair. I don't know."
Shep was helping me out with a place to live, and it was time for me to follow through on my promise to him. I'd get him organized, help him order the materials he needed for the renovation, and motivate him. His brother's wedding and Shep's reputation were on the line.
Chapter Five
Shep
I was on edge, waiting for my dad to say something negative about me moving Kinsley into my house. Elena whisked Kinsley outside for a girl conversation, and I had a sense that they were talking about the living arrangements.
At Mom's request, I grabbed a cooler from the garage and filled it with ice, juice boxes, water, and soda. Mom must have been thinking we'd have a bonfire tonight.
I was almost done when the door opened, and Dad came outside. "I've got this covered."
Dad waved a hand at me. "I wanted to talk to you about Kinsley."
I stretched to ease the tension between my shoulders. "What about Kins?"
Dad raised a brow as he leaned against a work bench. "Do you think it's a good idea to move an employee into your house?"
I resisted the urge to grab my neck and squeeze it. "She needed a place to live, and I have a ton of space."
