Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
J enna hummed softly to herself as she bustled around the kitchen, tidying up the few dishes from her breakfast. The rhythmic sound of hammers and saws drifted in through the open window. She loved opening the windows in the morning to let in the fresh air. Once the day warmed up, it was back to air conditioning.
It had been over a week since Nash and his crew began the renovations on her cottage, and Jenna was surprised by how quickly she’d grown accustomed to their presence. The once-quiet house now had a comforting hum of activity, a far cry from the stillness she’d first encountered when she moved in.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Nash appeared in the doorway, stepping forward as he saw her wrestle to open the cabinet with the broken door. He walked over and examined the cabinet door hinges. “Mind if I take a look at this?”
“Not at all. Go right ahead.” Jenna stepped aside, watching as Nash methodically worked to adjust the misaligned door. Replacing the screws in the hinge. Opening and closing the door. Adjusting things again.
She watched him work, his skilled hands moving with confidence and precision. There was an effortless grace to his movements that captivated her.
“A-ha, got it!” Nash declared triumphantly, stepping back to survey his work. “That should do the trick. No more sticking doors.”
Jenna smiled. “You’re a lifesaver. I dreaded having to wrestle with that every time I needed to get into the cabinet. I tried to fix it on my own, but I’m afraid I just made it worse.”
“Happy to help.” He offered her a friendly grin, his blue eyes sparkling with satisfaction. “If you’re done in the kitchen for a while, I’d really like to replace the pipe that goes to the dishwasher. I noticed there was a bit of moisture at one of the connections. Better to fix it now than wait for a full-out leak. Thought I might work on that next.”
“That would be wonderful, thank you. I sure don’t want to deal with a leak along with all the other repairs. Just let me fill the coffeepot. Going to make us a fresh pot.” And it wasn’t the worst thing having him hanging around here.
As Nash disappeared beneath the sink, Jenna busied herself making a fresh pot of coffee, glancing over at him occasionally. The easy camaraderie they’d developed over the past week was a welcome change from the isolation she’d felt when she first arrived.
“There we go.” Nash emerged, wiping his hands on a rag. “Should be good as new. Let me know if you have any more issues.”
“I will, thanks.” Jenna poured him a cup of coffee, black, just the way he liked it. He’d gotten in the habit of taking a coffee break with her mid-morning most days.
“Thanks,” he said, taking a sip. “Couldn’t do this job without my mid-morning caffeine fix.”
Jenna laughed. “I’m happy to keep you fueled up. Wouldn’t want you to run out of steam.”
Their eyes met, and Jenna felt a spark of something pass between them. She quickly looked away, busying herself by wiping down the countertops. A chore that she’d already done, but he didn’t know that.
“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” Nash leaned one hip against the kitchen counter.
“Well, I was hoping to tackle painting the back bedroom. I’d love to get that room all painted and set up. My sister wants to come visit, and I’m going to make that the guest room.”
“Sounds like a plan.” His gaze lingered on her, and Jenna felt her cheeks grow warm under his scrutiny.
“I, uh, I should probably get started then.” She hurried down the hallway to the bedroom.
She carefully covered the wooden floorboards with a drop cloth and set out her paint supplies. As she began rolling the paint onto the walls, she glanced out the window and saw Nash, who had joined his crew outside. She allowed herself a moment of watching him work, his muscles flexing beneath his t-shirt. Not that she really noticed, of course.
She sighed, acknowledging she was treading on dangerous ground, allowing herself to be drawn to this charming contractor. But there was something about Nash that made her want to take a chance, to open herself up to the possibility of…
Of what? That was the question, wasn’t it?
She turned back to the task at hand, rolling the pale-yellow paint on the wall. When she’d gotten the first coat on the long wall, she moved over to the wall with the closet on it. She’d have to concentrate while she cut in around the closet, then she could go back to rolling.
She dipped her paintbrush in the paint and carefully drew it along the trim of the closet. She stepped back to survey her work, and her foot caught on a loose floorboard.
Jenna gasped as she lost her balance and went crashing to the floor, taking the ladder down with her. Pain shot through her ankle as it twisted beneath her.
“Jenna!” Moments later, Nash came rushing into the room, dropping to his knees beside her. “I heard a crash. Are you alright?”
“I… I think I twisted my ankle,” she said, wincing as she tried to move it.
Nash gently examined her ankle. His brow creased in concern. “It’s probably just a sprain. Let me help you up.” He slid one arm around her waist, supporting her as he guided her to a sitting position.
Jenna leaned into him, grateful for his steady presence. “I’m so embarrassed. I should have been more careful.”
“Don’t be.” Nash’s voice was gentle. “I saw that floorboard was loose. I should have fixed it already. You shouldn’t have to worry about tripping hazards in your own home. “
“You can’t do everything all at once.”
“It obviously was a safety hazard. Should have been on the top of my list.” The look on his face showed he was clearly annoyed with himself. His arm tightened around her waist. “Can you stand? Let me help you over to the bed.”
Jenna nodded, and with Nash’s support, she gingerly got to her feet, wincing as she put weight on her injured ankle. He guided her to the bed, helping her sit down carefully.
“There, that’s better.” He knelt down and gently probed her ankle. “It’s starting to swell a bit. Let me get some ice for that.”
As he hurried out of the room, Jenna let out a shaky breath. She couldn’t believe she’d been so clumsy. And in front of Nash, no less. She’d been trying so hard to prove herself capable of handling this part of the renovation on her own.
Nash returned with a bag of ice wrapped in a towel. “Here, put this on your ankle. It should help with the swelling.”
Jenna gratefully accepted the ice pack. “Thank you. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“Don’t apologize.” He sat down next to her on the bed. “I’m just glad you’re not seriously hurt.” He reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “Can’t have you falling and getting hurt on my watch.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest. But it was probably just because of the fall—not because of his touch.
“I’m going to fix that board right now. Let me grab my toolbox.” Nash stood and left the room. The room that suddenly felt so very empty.
Come on, Jenna. Get a grip.
He came back with his toolbox and moved over to the loose floorboard, carefully starting to pry it up.
Jenna watched him work, admiring the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt yet again. She blushed when he looked up and caught her staring at him. He just gave her a little smile and continued working on prying the board.
With a final tug, he pulled the board loose. “Well…” He looked up at her, his eyes full of surprise. “That’s unexpected.”
“What?” She struggled to get on her feet.
“No, don’t get up. I’ll bring it to you.” He reached into the opening and pulled something out. He held up a wooden box tied closed with a now faded ribbon. “Looks like that was someone’s secret hiding place.”
He carried the box over to her and sat on the bed again with the mysterious wooden container between them.
“I wonder who left it there,” Nash mused thoughtfully.
“I don’t know.” Jenna traced a finger over a carving of a magnolia on the top of the box.
“Go ahead, open it,” he urged her.
With a gentle tug, the ribbon fell apart in her hands. She gently opened the box, peering inside. “Oh, look. Letters. And an old photograph.” Carefully, she lifted the photo, her eyes drinking in the details. It was a black-and-white image of a couple standing close together, their hands intertwined. Judging by their attire, it was likely from the 1920s. The man gazed down at the woman with a wide, affectionate smile, while she returned his adoring gaze.
“Anything on the back?” Nash peered over to see the photo.
She flipped it over. “No, unfortunately, not.” She picked up the stack of letters.
“You going to open them?”
“I don’t know… Someone went to great lengths to hide them.” And besides, hadn’t she sworn off investigating anything ever again? She didn’t need to be looking into who hid these items. She needed to be working on the house.
“Well, they’re yours to do with what you want.” Nash stood. “But I’m going to get that floorboard back in place and make sure it’s all even so we don’t have any more falling incidents. You stay put until I’m finished and I’ll help you out to the living room. I’ll clean up the paintbrush and put the top back on the paint can. I think your painting time is over, at least for today.”
She sighed. “You’re probably right. I should elevate my ankle and stay off of it for a bit.”
Nash worked on the board until it was back in place to his satisfaction, then he cleaned up her paint mess. He came over to the bed and held out a hand. She stood up carefully and started to take a step. A wobbly step.
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “Here, lean on me.”
She leaned on him, feeling safe and protected as he led her into the living room and settled her on the couch. She stretched out on the couch and put her leg up, adjusting the ice bag back on her ankle. “Thanks. For helping me. For cleaning up after me. And for fixing that board.”
“It was nothing.” He sent her an easy smile. “I’m just sorry I didn’t fix the board before you took your tumble.”
“It’s fixed now. I’ll try not to be so clumsy in the future. I’m… I’m glad you were here.”
Nash’s blue eyes held hers for a moment. “I’m glad I was here too.”
A connection tugged between them. Something more than just a contractor and his client. She didn’t know exactly what it was. But there was something there.
“I’ve got to get back outside and replace some trim. You going to be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
He nodded and walked out the door. She adjusted her seating position to try to see him out the window, but there was no sign of him from where she was sitting. Probably for the best. She couldn’t just sit here and stare at him all day. Though she had to admit it sounded like a lovely way to spend the afternoon…
Yes, she knew she was treading on dangerous ground, but in that moment, she couldn’t bring herself to care.