Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [36]
“Is he? The big-brother type?”
“He’s the type to avoid. Lil hired him behind my back. I’m still ticked. But he does need the work, too.”
“Sounds like you’re making excuses for him.”
She tilted her head. “I don’t mean to. Guess I’m just repeating what Lil said, trying to deal with the situation.” She suddenly straightened. “We’re headed in that direction, aren’t we?”
“Yep. You have a key?”
She grinned. “In my purse.”
“Then let’s check out his work. Maybe we can get something warm to drink from Elizabeth before we head back.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” She knew she should avoid dark, secluded places with a date.
“Just a quick look. Elizabeth will see us turn in the drive and be expecting us.”
That was almost like having a chaperone, and it was considerate of him. She stole several long, contemplative glances at him. “Okay.”
At the doddy house, David worked the key in the lock while she held a lantern they’d found inside the sleigh. She felt a naughty elation, checking out the place alone after Lil and Jake’s conniving. Well, not exactly alone.
“Watch out for the plastic on the floor,” she warned.
He took the lantern from her. “I see it and a few other obstacles, too. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to trip you like I did on our last date.” He skirted her around a pail filled with a few tools and nails and a roll of electric wire.
Sweet of him to take the blame for that. If it weren’t so personal, she’d ask him if his knees still bore bruises. If he’d limped the next day. She bit back a smile. If he’d gotten a new tire.
Jake had torn off most of the kitchen’s old plaster and started the wiring. As they walked through the house, she noticed holes in the other walls and some in the ceiling.
“He’ll drop the electric down through the walls and put switches and outlets there.” David set the lantern on the floor. They stood in the center of the darkly lit room. It grew quiet, the seclusion of their surroundings conducive to a feeling of intimacy. He captured both her hands, and she warmed inside. His voice was low and kind. “Do you know when you’ll move in?”
Her breath caught at the intensity of his hazel gaze that bore into hers, drawing her in as though he meant to kiss her. She felt embarrassed when her voice sounded too breathless. “I don’t know how long the work will take.” She wet her lips, glanced at the walls. “Doesn’t look like they started the plumbing.” She looked into his eyes again. “Guess I was too angry to ask the important questions.”
His thumb caressed her hand through their gloves. “Can I help you move?”
She swallowed, nodding. “Thanks.” She drank in his quiet confidence and floated to a higher plane. Not that she was needy. But her toes tingled with anticipation of what he would do next.
He kept caressing her knuckles. It was almost like he was waiting for her to make the next move, but she wasn’t sure what he wanted from her.
Finally, he said, “Katy Yoder, will you”—he paused, showed his dimple. His face was now freshly shaved, and he looked younger than he had earlier that morning.
“What?”
“Share a hot chocolate with me?”
He really was a tease. She bit her lip, caught up in the flirtation. “You’re practicing for the day you pop the big question to some lucky girl, aren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“Yes, I will. I’m so thrilled you asked,” she played along. “Only, that wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. You definitely need more practice. Aren’t you supposed to go down on one knee or something?”
“Already did. Both knees. In front of all our friends, too.” Grinning, he released one of her hands and scooped up the lantern.
A cup of hot chocolate and a shared blueberry muffin later, they were headed back down the snowy road. “The horses always go faster on their way home, don’t they?” she asked.
He squeezed her shoulder. “Wish they’d go slower. Will I get to see you again?”
“You did offer to help us move.”
“Before that.”
Moved