31. Ambrose #2
He snorted and rolled his eyes. “I’m glad you believe so, since I plan on watching over you for the rest of our lives. But are you really okay with how it went?”
“I already decided to make my own way, whether he agrees or not.”
“I guess that’s true. Maybe you just need to be like water wearing away a path, eh?”
“I certainly hope so. I’m feeling good right now. And I’ve been thinking all day about us working together.” Zeth’s hands squeezed mine, the worry clearing from his face. I picked up the wood and toolbox. “Want to head upstairs to board the window? Just until we can get it properly fixed.”
Zeth nodded, grabbing the remaining bag, and made his way upstairs. I followed his heels and came into the kitchen. The room was much cleaner than the last time I’d helped him. All the cabinets hung straight, the floor was swept free of debris, and the ceiling was in good shape.
I whistled as I stepped inside and set down the supplies. “It looks amazing in here.”
“Thank you. Todd helped me hang the fallen cabinet while Arthur sang tavern songs to entertain us.”
I made a disgruntled noise. “I’m sorry I missed that.”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t say that if you heard Arthur’s singing.”
I chuckled as I made my way to the window. Zeth’s wadded-up shirt still plugged the hole in the glass. “This window will forever be a cherished place, the spot where you decided you couldn’t keep your hands off me.”
“I was going out of my mind trying to keep you in my life.” He set the tool bag at our feet and took both boards from me. “I also needed someone handy with a tool.”
I leaned in close to brush my lips against his stubbly jaw. “Oh, is that what it is? You needed someone to fix things for you? Or you needed someone to handle your tools ?” I asked before grabbing a piece of wood from his arms.
“Both, if you don’t mind.”
“I suppose that means I could try and pleasure you while you work on repairs.” I chuckled as I placed one of the boards across the window to see how to angle it. At my side, Zeth set the other board aside, then leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
“I dare you to try.”
I eyed him invitingly before aligning the wooden piece to fit precisely between the window’s frame and up against the glass. “A dare,” I finally said. “You know neither of us can turn down one of those.”
“I know,” he said with such heated certainty that he made my knees go weak.
“Right.” I nodded as I wedged the other piece of wood in. “Work. Renovations. Pleasing you. Wonderful visions…”
Zeth chuckled softly, and I didn’t have to look over to know he was staring at me, those gorgeous eyes of his burning me up. But I glanced over anyway, and when I did, he threw me a crooked smile.
Damn.
I stepped away from the window, evaluating it, and realized the top piece of wood wasn’t cut as well as the one beneath it. It made me remember the chair I’d broken with a hammer only last month. “Hm, do you think my skills alone are good enough for us to get by on selling furniture?”
Zeth’s hand found my shoulder, and he nudged me to turn as he stepped in close.
“You just closed off my window when all I could do was stuff a shirt into it. I didn’t even see you take any measurements.
And your dining table was certainly sturdy.
” He winked. “So, you tell me. What do you think of yourself?”
I raised my chin and thought of all the things I’d made in the past couple of years, starting with a simple birdhouse.
And now I had a barn full of pieces ready to be sold.
I thought of the back room where Zeth’s family once washed clothes and imagined myself woodworking there under the tin roof.
Bringing this shop back to life with a new business would feel as if we were carrying on in their memory.
“I can do this,” I whispered. “You and me. Two peas in a pod. The Daring Duo. Us.”
“Us,” Zeth agreed adoringly. “You’ll make beautiful furniture, and I’ll go antique shopping in other towns.”
I crossed my arms. “And would you be bringing me with you?”
Zeth looped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. “You have all the best ideas, darling. Let’s spend the weekends on small trips, and dig through piles of junk for treasures to sell in our shop. I can’t wait.”
I moved in to kiss his neck. “Mm, that sounds wonderful. Let’s go to the shore first. My aunt has a cabin there.”
“Will we have the place to ourselves?” When I nodded with a lick of my lips, he hummed with a wicked gleam.
“I’d also like to put money into renovations,” I added, before we became too distracted.
Looking around the kitchen, I put my hand up, palm out, to mentally sketch out ideas.
“Fresh wallpaper in here and downstairs in the shop to liven it up, and some lamps. Perhaps polish all the floors too. I can build shelves to use for displays too. We can add the dining table to the list of things to sell at the Founders Day Fest next week. Hopefully, it’ll sell for a pretty cal. What do you think, my love?”
“Wait, sell the dining table? I was hoping to eat there next,” Zeth said with a husky breath.
I blushed, knowing well what he meant.
He ruffled my curls with a teasing, “Is that a yes?” When I tried to smack his hand, he captured mine instead and moved us around slowly, as if we were dancing.
I moved in close, enjoying his rumbling voice as he said, “You really did build a delightful table. It could be a nice addition to our kitchen, don’t you think? ”
“Zeth…” My stomach fluttered as I thought about what we’d done on that table just last night.
“It’s much too large for this room, and it’s the one thing that’ll bring us the most money.
But once we get this place going, I’ll make us a smaller table, and you can do all the naughty things you want to me on it. Promise.”
The way Zeth inhaled roughly, I knew he liked my idea.