Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
J enna answered the knock at the door the next morning, surprised to see Nash standing there. She blinked from the glare of the bright morning sun.
“Ma’am.” He dipped his head in a nod.
“Jenna,” she gently insisted.
“Hard habit to break.” He flashed her a sheepish smile. “Anyway, I realized I didn’t get your phone number, so I couldn’t text or call to let you know I have some estimates ready. Hope this isn’t too early to stop by.”
“Not at all. I’ve been up for hours.” She self-consciously tucked an unruly strand of hair behind her ear, painfully aware of the slash of dried paint on her t-shirt. What must he think to always find her in such disarray?
He stood there on her front step, shifting from foot to foot.
“Oh, come in.” She stepped aside, and he walked in. “I was just doing some touch-up painting. Found some left-over kitchen paint and I’m touching up some dings in the wall.”
He nodded again and held out some papers. “I could go over these with you. Some things are absolutely necessary for safety reasons, but others are more optional, depending on your needs and your budget.” He handed her the bid he’d prepared.
She took the papers, trying to hide her apprehension about what the numbers would reveal. She walked over to the window, scanning down the page. She finally looked up at him. “It’s a bit more than I’d planned on,” she admitted, biting her lower lip.
“I understand.” He crossed over to where she was standing. A scent of freshly cut wood clung to him. “We can trim it down some. Leave that wall for now, if money’s tight.” His calloused finger traced a line on the bid. “That would hold costs down.”
“I did think taking the wall down was a good idea, but budget-wise, it’s probably best to leave it.”
“I appreciate your honesty about what your budget is. The items on page three are just suggestions. We could see how things go with the necessary work, and then if you want to add on more later, we can. Just check the number at the bottom of page one.”
She looked at the number, relieved it was much more in line with what she’d hoped to spend. And maybe she could tackle some of the smaller projects herself. She glanced up at him. “This sounds reasonable. We’ll start with the items on the first page.”
He nodded. “Sounds good. I could start the beginning of next week if that works for you.”
“So soon? That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to get the place fixed up and make it feel more like home.”
“Afraid there’ll be the usual construction chaos while the work is being done.”
“I’m sure there will be. But I’ll just keep in mind the outcome will be worth it.”
“If you could pick out the color you want the house painted, and the trim color, that would be great. And just let me know. I’ll buy it with my discount. My phone number is on the top of the bid. Text or call anytime if you have any questions.”
“I really appreciate this.”
“It’s no problem, ma’—Jenna.” His eyes twinkled as he corrected himself.
She smiled. “I’ll see you on Monday, then?”
“I’ll be here with some of my crew and we’ll get things started. I’ll try to make sure the job doesn’t run on too long.” He gave her a warm smile that reached up to his eyes.
“That would be great.” Her heart did a double beat for no reason that she could fathom as she tore her gaze from his bright blue eyes.
She walked him to the door and watched as he swung up into his truck. He waved once, and the engine of his truck rumbled as he pulled out of the drive.
Wouldn’t be the worst thing to have him hanging around the cottage for a bit during repairs.
Late that afternoon, Jenna stood in the paint aisle at the hardware store, surrounded by an overwhelming array of colors. She could go with white—a safe choice—but she longed for some color on the house. Many of the cottages that lined the beach were painted in bright colors, but a pale shade suited her better. But which one?
She held up different shades, trying to envision how they might transform the weathered exterior of her new cottage. A soft yellow, perhaps? Or a muted blue to complement the ocean breeze?
“Need some help?”
She turned around at the familiar voice to find Nash standing there with a warm smile on his face.
“I’m having trouble deciding on the perfect color,” she admitted, waving the fistful of color cards she held toward the display. “There are so many options.”
Nash stepped closer, his broad shoulders brushing against hers as he surveyed the colors. She tried not to focus on the faint woodsy scent that surrounded him or the way his shirt stretched across his muscular back.
Get a grip. She concentrated on the color display.
“Well, you definitely want something that complements the beach setting,” he mused, plucking a few swatches from the array. “These cooler tones might work nicely—maybe a pale aqua or soft gray?”
Jenna considered the colors he’d selected, holding them up one by one. The gentle blue-green hue did seem to capture the essence of the ocean. “I like this one,” she said, her finger tracing the swatch labeled ‘Sea Glass.’
A smile tugged at the corners of Nash’s mouth. “Sea Glass it is, then. It will look perfect. And we’ll get your home all fixed up.”
We. A tiny hint of a thrill went with her. Nash would be with her as she whipped her cottage into shape. Just as quickly, she realized that maybe by “we” Nash meant he and his workers. Not the two of them. Yes, that was probably what he meant. He might even want her to stay out of the way.
She bit her bottom lip, uncertainty teasing her.
Seriously, woman. Get a grip. Since when are you so tentative?
She cleared her throat, still clutching the sea glass color swatch in her hand. “Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. It felt like such a big decision.”
“Picking a house color is a big decision. It brings out the personality of the house.” He grinned self-consciously. “Well, I feel like houses have personalities.”
The fact that he believed that warmed her heart. She hoped he’d help turn her cottage into a home that felt like hers.
His eyes lingered on her face, then he nodded. “I should be going.”
She nodded in return. Was she going to pick up his nodding habit? He turned away, and a void surrounded her, as if a piece of her new life was slipping away. Why was she thinking such foolish thoughts? She shook her head.
Nash stopped at the end of the aisle, turned, and walked a few steps back toward her. “Say, I was just getting ready to head to Sharky’s for dinner. The seafood place on the boardwalk. Would you care to join me?”
Surprise flickered through her. She hesitated, unsure if it was wise to spend more time with him given her crazy thoughts. But the thought of eating alone in her cottage held little appeal. “Sure, that sounds nice.”
They went outside and walked together down the boardwalk, heading to the restaurant. “I remember going to Sharky’s when I came here as a girl. I’m surprised it’s still here.”
“It sure is. Though the original Sharky is long gone. But we still call whoever runs it Sharky. A town gets set in its ways.” He grinned.
Jenna relaxed as they walked along. The early evening sun was softening and splashing rays across the water. A pair of seagulls flew past, calling noisily to each other. It was all so peaceful here. A slower pace. She was pleasantly surprised at how rapidly she was getting used to it.
They entered Sharky’s, and she was pleased that not much had changed. The rustic wooden interior and lively atmosphere greeted them. The scent of grilled fish and fried seafood filled the air, making Jenna’s stomach rumble. They took a table near the back.
As they perused the menus, Jenna stole a few glances at Nash. His strong jawline was dusted with stubble, and his eyes held a depth that intrigued her. She wondered about his past, about the stories that lay hidden beneath his relaxed exterior. So far, he always seemed calm and collected. She wondered if anything ever ruffled him.
He caught her staring and gave her an easy smile. “Made up your mind?”
She blushed. Was he asking what she thought of him or what she wanted for dinner?
“Lots of great choices on the menu,” he added.
Okay, he was talking about the food. “I’m going to have the fried grouper sandwich. I hope it’s as good as it used to be.”
“Oh, it is. Not much changes here at Sharky’s.”
The waitress came and took their order, and a silence fell between them. She wanted to ask him questions about his life and get to know him better. She couldn’t help it. Her background as an investigative reporter always made her want to ask questions. But she’d left that life behind, she reminded herself.
Nash leaned back in his chair, relaxed, and stretched out his legs. “So, Jenna. Tell me about yourself.”
“I… uh… what do you want to know?”
“Where you grew up. Any family? What’s your favorite color?” He sent her an impish grin.
She laughed. “Favorite color is yellow. Favorite food is a toss-up between apple pie and pizza.” She shrugged. “I know, far apart on the food chain and not healthy, but there you have it.”
“Have to admit, it’s hard to beat a slice of apple pie.”
“I grew up in Wisconsin but ended up in San Francisco because my sister, Marly, lived there.”
“What do you do for a living?”
And there it was. The question she always dreaded now. “I am…” She swallowed. “I was an investigative reporter.” That career was over. She still freelanced some articles for different news outlets, but nothing that required more than simple research. No digging deep. No uncovering secrets.
“That sounds interesting. But you’re not anymore?” He cocked an eyebrow questioningly.
“No, that’s behind me now.” She wanted to just leave it at that, so she changed the subject. “My sister, Marly, is a bit peeved that I left San Francisco, but she knew I needed a change. She was surprised I ended up here on Magnolia Key, though. But she has fond memories of it too. I’m sure she’ll come visit soon.”
“That will be nice.”
“Probably, but she’s a bit bossy and opinionated. I guess older sisters have that right.” She smiled.
She figured it was her turn to ask him a few questions. Nothing prying or deep. Nothing like when she was trying to uncover the secrets of someone’s life for an investigative piece. Just some friendly banter, right?
“So, how about you? Family? Favorite color?” She smiled at him, turning the tables.
“Lots of family. My parents still live here on the island. Took over the construction business from my dad.” Nash laughed. “He still comes to some of the job sites. Guess he’s checking up on me. I have two sisters and a brother. They live on the mainland though. And my older sister is bossy, just like yours.” He winked.
The waitress came with their meals, interrupting their conversation. Jenna dove into her grouper sandwich with gusto. Nash was right. It was still wonderful. They chatted about the town as they ate their meal. An easy camaraderie that she welcomed. It made her feel a tiny bit less like an outsider to the island. Having a nice meal with a local.
When they finished their meal, Nash insisted on paying for both of them. “No, you don’t have to do that,” she protested.
“My pleasure. Just a little welcome to the island dinner.”
They headed outside as the sun was beginning to slip below the horizon. Brilliant colors lit up the sky. She motioned toward the display. “This is what I remember about Magnolia. The sunsets. They are spectacular.”
“I admit, the island does like to show off its sunsets.” His lips tipped up in a smile.
“Well, I should head home.” She stood on the boardwalk beside him.
“Can I walk you back to your cottage?”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine.”
“My momma wouldn’t forgive me if she found out I didn’t walk you home. And she’s probably already heard that we just had dinner together.” He broke into a wide grin. “My momma keeps pretty close tabs on me even though I’m a grown man. And news travels quickly on the island.” He winked.
“I sure wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with your mom.” She put on a serious expression, smothering a grin.
“You wouldn’t.” He met her serious expression, but his eyes twinkled.
They slowly walked back to her cottage, and he followed her up the steps to her door. She unlocked the door and turned to him. “Thank you for dinner. It was nice to have company for a meal.”
“My pleasure. And I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.” He turned and walked away. She stood on the porch and watched until he disappeared down the road before she went inside and flipped on the light.
The mess she’d left greeted her. A bucket of murky cleaning water sat near the bank of windows. The papers with the work that needed to be done and the bid from Nash rested on the coffee table. A smattering of tools sat on the bookshelf. She’d started lightly sanding some nicks on the bookcases to get them ready for a new coat of protective finish. The wood was a wonderful, worn cherry, and they looked to be custom made.
She ran her gaze around the cottage. So much work to be done.
But then, Nash would be here to help her. The thought comforted her and helped keep some of her overwhelm at bay.