Burly and Obsessed (The Men of Silver Pine Ridge #4)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

ANDREA

A ndrea? May I ask your opinion on something?”

I turn to find Mr. Atwater, one of our most loyal customers at Heartland Hardware, clutching two sample cards of deck stain. His weathered face is creased as he looks at the sample cards, shaking his head. He’s always working on one project or another.

“Need some help choosing?” I wipe my hands on my blue apron and move to the counter.

“Can’t decide between Natural Cedar and Redwood.” He holds up the samples side by side, squinting at the subtle differences. “The wife likes one. I like the other.”

“Let me see those.” I take both cards and hold them up to the light. “Well, Redwood has more red undertones.” I tap the right sample. “But Natural Cedar will weather better with the amount of sunlight we get here. Remind me the kind of wood you have for your deck?”

Mr. Atwater scratches his gray stubble. “Pressure-treated pine, about five years old now.”

“How much direct sunlight does it get?”

“Full western exposure. Gets pretty hot in the afternoons.”

“Then definitely Natural Cedar. It’ll highlight the grain without going orange after a season. The UV inhibitors are stronger in that formula.”

“That’s what I needed to hear.” He nods with conviction. “I’ll take two gallons.”

I walk with him over to the shelves of stains, where I grab two gallons while Mr. Atwater tells me about his grandchildren’s upcoming visit.

“Twins this year turned seven,” he says proudly. “Boy and girl. Smart as whips, both of them.”

“Are you taking them fishing?” I ask, popping the lid of the first gallon, to make sure the color is right.

“That’s the plan. Their daddy—my son Smith—caught his first rainbow trout when he wasn’t much older.”

“The trout are biting like crazy this spring. My brother went fishing last weekend and we all had a feast from all he caught.”

“Your brother still running that crew up on the Ridge?” he asks while I check the second gallon.

“Yes, sir. Jax keeps busy.” I smile, thinking of my brother. “He’s getting married this weekend, actually.”

“To that pretty blonde lady?”

“That’s the one. Leesa’s been good for him. First time I’ve seen him take a Saturday off in years.”

“The right woman has a way of rearranging priorities.” Mr. Atwater chuckles. “Been married forty-two years myself.”

“What’s your secret?” I seal the lid of the second gallon and ring up his order.

“Separate bathrooms and knowing when to say ‘yes, dear.’“ He winks, handing me his credit card..

My phone buzzes in my apron pocket. I glance down to see Leesa’s name flashing on the screen. I ignore the call, and finish helping Mr. Atwater.

“Everything okay there,” he asks, nodding at the pocket holding my phone.

I flush slightly. “Don’t tell Jerry. I’m not supposed to have my phone with me, but with Jax and Leesa’s wedding, there’ve been a lot of calls and texts.”

Mr. Atwater chuckles. “I’m not so old that I don’t remember how it was. So many things to juggle. Worst-case scenario, order a bunch of pizzas. One of my nephews had to do that when the caterer didn’t bring enough food. His wife was upset at first, but the pizza was a hit, and now they laugh about it.”

I have him sign his credit card slip, then hand him his receipt and push the cans of stain toward him. “Hey, send me a picture of that deck when you’re done. I want to see how the Natural Cedar looks.”

“Will do. Give your brother my best wishes for his wedding,” Mr. Atwater says, waving as he leaves Heartland Hardware.

I raise my hand to wave back, but my phone buzzes again.

“Hey, Leesa. What’s—”

“Andrea! Thank God you answered!” Leesa’s voice crackles with panic. “We have a serious problem with the wedding.”

My stomach drops. “What happened? Is Jax okay?”

“He’s fine, but I have to go deal with the caterers.” Her words tumble out in a rush. “The VA Center is completely bare! I was going to decorate today, but I can’t. Can you help?”

“When do you need help?” I ask, trying to figure out how long it will take me and just how much decorating needs to be done.

“Now? I’m standing in an empty reception hall with boxes of decorations, but no idea how to get it all setup in time.” The desperation in her voice makes me wince. “I’ve got string lights and fabric and centerpieces, but nothing’s coming together. The flowers come on Friday.”

I bite my lip. The reception hall at the VA Center is huge, and transforming it from a community space into a wedding venue is no small task. The beige walls and industrial lighting need serious softening.

“That’s a big job, Leesa…”

“I know it’s asking a lot.” Her voice softens. “But you have an eye for decoration. Remember how you decorated The Lodge for Christmas? I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I laugh despite my concern.

“Please, Andrea? I’m drowning here.”

I sigh, knowing I’ve already made my decision. Leesa will be my sister-in-law in three days. Family helps family.

“Let me talk to my boss. I’ll call you right back.”

“You’re a lifesaver. I mean it.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t seen what we’re working with.”

We finish our call and I look around the store for Jerry. I spot my manager helping a customer select plywood sheets in the lumber aisle. His salt-and-pepper hair sticks up in all directions, the result of his habit of running his hands through it when thinking. I wait until they finish before approaching him.

“Hey, Jerry. Got a minute?”

He turns, adjusting his glasses. “What’s up, Andrea? Problem?”

“No, personal stuff. I hate to ask this, but I need the afternoon off.”

Jerry’s bushy eyebrows rise. “Everything okay?”

“My brother’s wedding is this weekend, and Leesa needs some help decorating. Something came up with the caterers, but she hasn’t decorated the reception area yet.”

“The wedding’s at the VA Center, right?” Jerry asks, leaning against a stack of two-by-fours.

“Yes. It needs a complete transformation before Saturday. You’ve seen what it’s like in there.”

Jerry smiles and nods. Like many of the men in Jefferson, he’s ex-military, too. “And she called you because you’re the artistic one in the family?”

“I don’t know about artistic.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I did study interior design for a while in college.”

“I remember. You helped redesign our seasonal displays when you started working here. You did good work.” Jerry scratches his chin. “Take the rest of the day. We’re slow.”

Relief washes over me. “Really? I was prepared to negotiate.”

“Family comes first, Andrea. I can handle things here.” He gestures around the quiet store. “Besides, Wednesday afternoons are always quiet.”

“Thanks, Jerry. I owe you.”

“I’ll come in early tomorrow to finish setting up the Labor Day display.”

“No need. Take tomorrow, too, if you need it. But I expect pictures of your handiwork.”

I give him a quick hug. “You’re the best boss ever.”

“Don’t let that get around,” he laughs. “I have a reputation as a hardass to maintain.”

I grab my sandwich from the fridge and text Leesa.

On my way.

* * *

The VA Center looms ahead, its red brick exterior solid and institutional. It’s a functional building, not what most people would think of as a venue for a wedding reception, but my brother is a vet, and the VA Center is important to him.

Before I can grab my purse, the front doors burst open. Leesa flies down the steps, her blonde hair escaping from where she has it pulled back.

“You’re here!” She crashes into me with a hug that nearly knocks me off balance. “Thank you so much for coming.”

“Of course I came.” I return her embrace. “What are future sisters-in-law for?”

Leesa pulls back, her forehead creased from stress. “I’ve been freaking out. The caterer called this morning, saying they couldn’t get something for one of the main dishes, so now I have to go and taste a couple of replacement options.”

“Ugh,” I cringe. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure this place looks amazing for you. Let’s see what we’re working with.” I follow her up the steps, looking around and thinking it’s going to take some magic to make this place look magical for Leesa and my brother.

Inside, my optimism falters. The main hall stretches before us, cavernous and stark. Fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow over beige walls and metal folding chairs stacked in the corner. A bunch of cardboard boxes are scattered near the stage.

“Those are the decorations I ordered.” Leesa gestures toward the boxes. “Tulle, string lights, table runners. The flowers arrive Friday.”

“Leesa, this is a lot for one person.” I turn to face her, suddenly unsure about this. She hadn’t even started decorating the reception hall. “I know you have a lot of faith in me, but I don’t think I can handle all this alone.”

She bites her lip. Then, her expression shifts to something more calculating. “I may have already thought of that.”

“You did?”

“I’ve enlisted some extra help.”

Relief washes over me. “Thank goodness. Hanna and Lindy?” I think of our friends, the girlfriends of two guys on Jax’s crew, who helped throw the bridal shower with Leesa’s best friend Clara.

Leesa’s smile turns mischievous. “Not exactly.”

“Then who?” The way she grins at me makes me pause.

Her eyes sparkle. “I called Ace. He should be here any minute.”

The air leaves my lungs in a rush. “Ace? As in, Ace Lincoln?”

“Do we know another Ace?” Leesa looks entirely too pleased with herself.

“Does Jax know you invited him?”

“Jax is busy working with Damien up at the cabin they’re building for Ghost Security. Jake is stopping by, so Jax needs to be there. Besides,” she pauses, stepping closer to me. “What Jax doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

My heart hammers against my ribs. Ace Lincoln. Here. With me. Alone.

I turn away to hide the flush spreading across my cheeks. My crush on Ace has been building for three years and is as intense as a forest fire. I’ve spent three years relishing the moments when he flirts with me, but not how my overprotective brother chases him off before we can talk to each other alone.

“This is a setup.” I narrow my eyes at her.

“This is a wedding emergency.” Leesa’s faux-innocent look doesn’t fool me for a second. “But if two of my favorite people happen to spend some quality time together while solving it, who am I to complain?”

“Ace has never shown any interest beyond flirting. He’s nothing more than a joker.” I busy myself opening a box of decorations. I try to minimize what I think of him. The truth is, I’ve been attracted to him since the first time I laid eyes on him. He has the tall, lean, muscular body of a runner, and my core flames to life whenever I see him.

“I’ve seen how he looks at you when Jax isn’t around.” Leesa drops her voice. “Trust me, there’s interest.”

Before I can respond, the sound of tires on gravel cuts through the room. Leesa peeks out the window.

“Speak of the devil. Your partner has arrived.”

My pulse skips. “He’s not my partner.”

“Not yet.” Leesa heads for the door with a wink. “But weddings have a way of bringing people together.”