Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [79]
“Can she swing a hammer?”
“The question is, can I change a diaper?” the worker replied. “And the answer is no, I can’t.”
Jake’s good-natured laugh echoed through the nearly vacant building, the crew heading home for the day. As Katy waited for him, she gazed around the kitchen. The island location was chalked off on the floor. Wires protruded at regular intervals through the walls. A piece of sharp sheet metal lay at her feet.
When Jake stepped into the room, like always, his dark good looks caught her unawares. When would she get used to the way the short sleeves of his T accentuated his muscles? The way his tool belt slung low, emphasizing his trim waist. “Hi. Thanks for coming over.”
She jerked her gaze off him, stared at the kitchen wall, pretending the building drew her interest more than his presence. “It’s like this place went up overnight. Everyone will be amazed on Sunday.”
“The framing makes a big difference, but it’ll still be a while till it’s complete. Over here’s the problem. He stepped around a stack of drywall. “We had planned on a countertop microwave, but actually we could fit one in the cabinetry right here beside the refrigerator. What do you think?”
She thought she shouldn’t be here, alone with him like this, if she wanted to continue to resist him. And surely she must. Shouldn’t she? He tilted his head. Waited.
Oh! She studied the space he’d indicated and considered the options between less counter space or less cabinet space. “I think we should take it up off the counter if that works.” And yes, I want to resist him. This could easily have been handled over the phone. Knowing that he had invented a reason to see her, a shiver of delight traipsed up her spine.
He stood so close that she could smell soap mixed with the leather from his tool bags. Or maybe I don’t want to resist.
“Listen, me and some of the guys have been shooting hoops over at Chad Penner’s barn.”
Chad was Jake’s lifelong friend, although Katy knew they hadn’t hung around much when he’d fallen away from the church. Chad had gone straight to work for his dad on their farm while Jake was at school. She frowned. Or maybe they had stayed in touch. What did it matter? Was she losing her mind? She tried to concentrate.
“Tomorrow night, they’re inviting their girlfriends to come watch. Afterward we’re going to roast hot dogs. Would you like to go with me?”
Yes and no. Both. But he wanted her to decide now. On the upside, she wouldn’t be babysitting. She did want to explore the possibility of a relationship since he’d explained everything. On the downside, she didn’t want to do it in front of an audience. “Who will be there?” she stalled.
Jake’s eyes darkened. “Not David, if you’re worried about him.”
“I’m not. I’m worried about you,” she snapped. She knew how to keep an argument going, these days. She didn’t know anything, though, about starting or ending relationships.
But her challenge was disregarded as he fixed his gaze on something beyond her. His hand went to his hammer, and he slowly eased it out of his holster. She sucked in her breath, her common sense telling her to be still. He slowly drew his arm back over his head. She closed her eyes. Then a second later, its clang caused her to shriek and open her eyes.
“Got it!”
Wheeling around, the tiny dead mouse caused another involuntary scream to slip out of her mouth, before she shivered and turned back to him. “Ew!”
He grinned and took her into his arms with a whisper. “Sorry about that. Don’t think the hostess committee would want him around, nibbling on the communion bread.”
“Ew!” she repeated. But she didn’t shrink back from his embrace. I can’t resist him. I don’t want to resist him.
The room was darkening. His voice was husky against her ear. “Give me another chance?”
She stepped away. Finally she replied, “Well, you were pretty tolerable on Saturday.”
But his touch wasn’t, it was deadly. Irresistible. As if he could read her mind, he took her hands and pulled her close again. But she bumped his tool bags and the sharp edge of a square dug into her