Chapter 5
Chapter Five
HUDSON
I went for an evening run because I felt restless. I couldn't stop thinking about Elena, and I was fairly sure I could still smell her from spending the day together in such proximity.
It was torture, and I had to do it all over again tomorrow. I'd go for a run, get rid of this excess energy, and if I was still thinking about Elena, I'd take care of that situation in the shower. I'd survive a gorgeous woman shadowing me.
I ran along the beach as the sun was just starting to set. It was my favorite time to go for a run.
I slowed when I came upon a woman helping an older lady onto the soft sand. "Can I help you ladies?"
Elena looked up at me and frowned. "Hudson? What are you doing here?"
"Going for a run," I stated the obvious as I jogged in place. The older woman next to her had to be her grandmother. "Are you Elena's mother?"
Grams grinned. "Oh, aren't you a charmer. I'm her grandmother."
I stopped jogging, my hands on my hips. "Grams?" At her nod, I continued, "Elena has told me so much about you."
Her lips twitched. "All good things, I hope."
"Of course."
"I'm glad we ran into you. It seems like we have a problem."
My heart stutter-stepped. "What kind of a problem?"
"Grams—" Elena began, but her grandmother kept talking.
"I need my porch redone. I used to sit out on it with my husband, but he passed a few years ago. It holds a lot of memories, but Elena thinks it's unsafe."
I glanced at Elena, who looked uncomfortable. "We can't have that. Can I take a look at it real quick?"
"Elena, can you show it to him? I'm going to look for shells." Grams moved away from us.
"Are you sure you're okay on the beach by yourself?" Elena asked her.
"You know, I managed just fine until you came home."
"Okay. Come on then." When I fell into step next to Elena, she said, "Sorry about this. I told Grams I'd ask you about this tomorrow. I know you do bigger projects than a porch, and your wait list is long."
"I can still take a look at it and see what we can do. I can't have your Grams missing out on her porch. It obviously makes her happy."
"You don't need to go out of your way—" Elena stopped in front of a screened-in porch that had seen better days.
"If I can help, I will." I frowned up at the sagging porch. "Who originally added it?"
"My grandfather. They spent a lot of time out here, sitting on the rocking chairs. It holds a lot of memories for her, and she hates not being out here."
I moved around, checking the roof, the supports, then testing my weight on the boards. "You're right. It's not sturdy."
"I know you don't do smaller projects like this, and it can take a while to find someone who will come out to the island. Do you have any recommendations for someone who could do it sooner? I want her to have her space back."
"I want that for her too. I can work on it at night and on the weekends."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that."
"You didn't. I offered."
Her brow furrowed. "I don't want you to work overtime."
"It's for a good cause." I stepped outside the screen door to admire the cottage. "I'll send you the estimate, and you can decide if you want to move forward."
"Are you sure you don't mind working double time?" Elena asked as I headed down the narrow path to the beach.
"We both know this would make your grandmother very happy. So let's do this for her and forget about all the other concerns." I paused on the path to face her. "Can you do that? Preferably before we talk to her? She'll want to know that you're okay with this."
Elena cleared her throat. "I can do that."
"Good."
We approached Grams, who was staring at a cluster of shells.
"Find anything good, Mrs. Perkins?"
"Call me Grams. I'm still looking." She drew up in front of us. "What did you think about my porch? Can you fix it?"
"I can if you don't mind me working evenings and weekends. I promise I won't stay late."
"I have to see the estimate, but if it's within our budget, I don't see why we shouldn't go with you. The Kingstons do good work."
Hudson held up his palms. "You don't have to decide right now. I'll send the estimate over, and you can get back to me. If you want to go ahead, I'll come back out and take more measurements and order materials."
"How long do you think it would take to finish?"
"Two weeks if I can rope my brothers in."
"Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that—" Elena began, and when I gave her a look, she changed course. "If it will get it done faster for Grams, we'd be appreciative."
Grams looked from me to Elena, chortling. "Well, I couldn't be happier about this arrangement. I get my porch and a few weeks of eye candy."
"Grams—" Elena choked out, her cheeks red. Then she said to me, "I'm so sorry."
I chuckled. "I don't mind. I know what people say about us."
"The most eligible bachelors on the island. You must be so proud of that moniker," Grams said, scrutinizing him.
"I have to admit, I'm not that excited about it. I don't need or want that kind of attention."
"You're not going out to the bars every night, are you?" Grams asked.
"Grams—"
"I'm too exhausted at night to go out most of the time. Unless my brothers want to get together. But I don't think I''ll meet the right person in a bar. I think she'll just fall into my life when I least expect it." I felt Elena's gaze on the side of my face.
"I like this one," Grams said to Elena, who looked like she wanted to disappear entirely.
"Well, I'm going to continue with my run, and I'll get that estimate to you as soon as possible."
"Thanks, Hudson," Grams said, her tone filled with amusement.
I took off at a jog, wishing I could hear what they were saying now. I bet Grams was giving Elena a hard time, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. It was rare for me to smile and even less likely when I was running. But there was something about Elena and her grandmother that softened my heart.
They had a unique connection, and Grams was a trip. I'd restore her cottage so she could retain her memories. She deserved that when she was still mourning the loss of her husband.
I calculated the estimate in my head using general numbers since I hadn't actually measured. Then I gave her the family discount. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to just charge for materials. I wanted to do this for Elena and her grandmother.
Elena had given up her career in Boston to come home and take care of her grandmother. I wanted to do anything I could to make their lives easier and brighter.
I hadn't thought much about meeting a woman, but when her Grams mentioned going out to the bars, it was natural to say that I wouldn't meet my future wife there. Those women wanted a night with a Kingston, nothing more. We were bragging rights. And sure, maybe a few wanted us to wife them up, but that had never been my style. I wasn't in a hurry for anything.
I liked having a project to concentrate on, and this was something to keep my mind occupied. If I felt uncomfortable with Elena following me around at work, then she would feel the same while I worked in her home.
I had a feeling Grams would keep things fun, and I'd get a glimpse into their lives. Turnabout was fair play.
Satisfied I'd done the right thing, I turned around and ran back toward Elena's cottage and my house. This time, they weren't on the beach. I wondered if they were talking about me and were excited about having a new and improved porch.
At home, I showered and got to work on the estimate. When I was satisfied with it, I sent it to Elena. Dad didn't know that I wasn't charging for labor, not when I was the only employee working on it. There'd be times I'd need help, and I could always get a brother or two who'd be willing to assist.
* * *
The next morning, I grabbed coffees and packed extra waters and a sandwich for Elena. When I pulled up to the house we were working on, her red car was already parked at the curb. I stopped at her driver's side door, and she smiled before getting out.
"You got coffee?"
"I don't normally but thought you might like some."
"That would be great. Thanks. I overslept this morning and barely had time to throw together breakfast for me and Grams."
"How's she doing?"
"Good. She's mainly independent. I just like to help out when I'm there."
"You're a good granddaughter."
She looked away from me. "Oh, I don't know about that."
I balanced the food in my hand and unlocked the door, pushing it open so she could precede me inside. "Did you get the estimate?"
"I did, but it seems lower than what we expected."
I shrugged and then fudged the truth so she'd accept it. "I gave you the family discount. Dad insisted since you're doing the article on the family."
"Well, thank you."
I raised a brow. "Do you want me to move forward?"
"Grams is so excited to sit on her porch again."
I raised a brow. "She's not excited about the eye candy?"
Elena laughed. "That too. I'm sorry about her. She can be outspoken."
"I don't mind. I think she's great."
"Yeah?" Elena asked as I handed her the coffee.
"Your Grams is one of a kind. I can see why you wanted to live closer to her."
"I think she needs to live in that cottage, and I intend for her to be able to stay for as long as she wants." She opened her coffee lid and poured one cream in, stirring it.
I took my coffee upstairs where we stopped working yesterday. "Are you ready for more drywall installation?"
"My arms are sore, but I'm limber and ready to go, boss."
I looked her over; she looked fresh in light-wash jeans with rips that I was fairly positive were there on purpose, and a white T-shirt she'd tied at her waist. Her hair was braided in two plaits, one on either shoulder. She grabbed her hard hat and put it on her head. I never thought much about what it would be like to work with a woman. We rarely had female crew members, but working with this one was distracting. She was adorable in that outfit. She should have been the one getting a glossy spread in a magazine. Blond hair, blue eyes, and curves in all the right places. "What do you think about using the screwgun today?"
She blanched. "I don't know anything about tools."
I grinned. "You can't hang around a Kingston and not learn. Come on."
She walked slowly over to me as if she was nervous.
"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you," I assured her when she reached me.
"Has anyone ever lost a finger?" she asked, her gaze lifting to meet mine.
"From a screwgun? Not that I know of." I moved a piece of drywall into place, then marked where we put the screws.
I gestured for her to stand in front of me. Then I wrapped her fingers around the handle. "All you have to do is hold it like this and pull the trigger until the screw is where you want it."
"This sounds very naughty," Elena said surprising me.
"Tsk-tsk. Are you talking dirty to a contractor?"
She laughed and looked up at me. "I think you're talking dirty to me."
"Just don't write about this in your article."
She wiggled her butt slightly, and she rubbed against me. I stilled, barely daring to breathe.
She moved forward again, thankfully, and asked, "Are you going to help me?"
I wrapped my larger hand around her smaller one, waited for her to get in position, and then pulled the trigger. The tool jumped to life, vibrating in our hands. It was unexpectedly erotic. My mind jumped to running a vibrator over her clit, and I nearly groaned at the vision.
"Was that okay?" Elena shifted slightly so that her back was pressed to my front.
I wasn't going to survive this instruction session. Noting that her screw was properly placed, I stepped back and handed her the tool. "I'll hold the board in place while you screw."
She blinked at me. "Is that an innuendo?"
"Mmm. I don't even have to try that hard." Which was something I'd never thought about before. But then again, I don't show my crew members how to operate a tool by standing behind them and wrapping my hand around theirs. This was completely out of the norm, and my dick was hard.
I couldn't let the guys see that if they wandered to the second floor with a question. I held the board while she attempted the second one, her hands less stable around the vibrating tool this time. "Hold it steady. You can do it."
Her face screwed up in concentration, her teeth biting her lower lip as she tried again. This time she held it mostly steady, and the screw went in. "A little crooked but not bad. You'll get better each time you try, and by the end you'll be an expert."
"So I'll be able to drywall Grams's house?" she asked seriously.
"Do you need that kind of work done there? I'd want to help out to minimize the dust and inconvenience. Grams shouldn't have to put up with months of home repairs."
"That's sweet of you, but I was joking about that. I have no intention of doing my own home repairs."
"By the time you're done shadowing me, you'll have a decent amount of knowledge. It doesn't hurt to know these things."
"Will you build your own house one day?"
"The options on the island are fairly limited." They were strict about land and new builds. "I bought my house on the beach a few years ago. It's bigger than I need for now, but I can grow into it."
"You live on the beach near Grams?"
"Not too far." I might go for a run more often now that I’d caught Elena walking with her grandmother. I enjoyed their banter, and Grams was a character. It had nothing to do with my chances to see Elena in a bikini.
Elena refocused on driving screws. When she stepped back, her face was flush, and her arms hung by her sides. "It's a lot of work holding up the tool and holding it steady."
"Your arms hurt?"
"A little."
"I'll do the next one, and we can alternate." I checked her screws, and they were decent. The last ones were installed better than the original ones.
"Are you sure it's okay that I do some of the work? Won't the owners be upset if they knew an amateur was building their house?"
"You're under my supervision, and you signed all the necessary releases. I choose my crew."
She placed her hands on her hips. "I'm a part of your crew now?"
"You drilled in a board, so yeah, you are."
She grinned, and I was momentarily stunned by her radiance.
"Boss, can you take a look at this," Ralph asked.
I blinked away the thoughts, and said, "Yeah, sure." I needed some space from Elena. I was supposed to be annoyed that she was here at all. I thought making her work would bring out the worst in her. That she wouldn't want to work hard or that she'd be worried about breaking a nail. But it was the opposite. She didn't mind getting her hands dirty, and I was enjoying spending time with her.
I walked into the living room where a few men were getting ripping out the old drywall.
"I think we need to get the electrician out here to take a look at this,” Ralph said, pointing out the outdated wiring.
“Go ahead and call them. We’ll need to get this taken care of before we can put up the drywall.” I took a few steps back. “If that’s all?—"
Ralph gave me a cocky grin. "I’d be hurrying back if I had a gorgeous woman holding my screwgun for me too.”
I didn't like the sound of that. "Be respectful. She's here to write a magazine article about the company."
"Let's be honest, boss. It's about you, not the business," Jimmy said.
"It's to bring positive publicity to the company. I suspect we will be busier than ever after it's published."
Ralph shook his head. "I think you mean you'll be busier than ever, batting away the eligible women who want to snag you."
I grunted. "You have me confused with my brothers. I'm not interested."
I watched them work for a few more minutes, getting my wits about me. I needed to focus on the job, not Elena Perkins, or I was going to fall behind at work.
If my crew members were commenting on it, then they'd already noticed my loss of focus. I needed to be a good example.