They said goodbye and Tori took Lily’s hand as they left the building, her thoughts still with the victims of the flood. She counted her blessings each time she thought about the people who had been forced from their homes. It put her problems into perspective. She faced a multitude of obstacles in getting her new B and B up and running, but it was nothing compared to losing everything.
On the ride home Lily regaled Tori with stories from school, funny things she and Emily had done, and speculated on the book waiting for her at home.
Tori was relieved to see that Reid’s dark blue truck was still parked at the curb when she pulled into the drive. The thought did cross her mind that she’d left a stranger in her house without a second thought. Then again, Floyd had sent him, so he must be trustworthy and qualified.
Lily scurried ahead through the gate in the picket fence into the backyard. “Where’s my book?”
Tori stopped on the walk when she saw the handyman sitting on the porch steps. He looked relaxed and at home. She started to smile, but his gaze latched onto hers and she caught her breath. He was studying her, sizing her up. She could sense his probing intellect reading her.
She sucked in a breath and shook off the sensation. She was being silly. The man had a commanding presence to go along with his chiseled features. His jaw had been cut with a straight edge, his nose even and strong over a generous mouth. The air of intensity and mystery about him was both intriguing and unsettling.
She stopped at the steps. Lily was already there staring. “Lily, this is Mr. Reid. He’s going to be helping around here for a while.”
“Are you going to fix things? ’Cause we have lots of things that are broken.”
Reid glanced at Tori, and the look in his eyes startled her. His mouth softened; his dark probing eyes warmed as he looked at her little girl. “Then I’ll do my best to fix them all.”
Lily flashed her brightest smile. “Good, ’cause we have bee bees to get ready for.”
Tori smiled and rested her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “She means bed-and-breakfast guests. B and B. I want to have the house ready by the middle of next month. Will you be available during that time?”
He looked at Lily. “I think I can work it out.”
“Aunt Tori, where’s my new book?”
“On the kitchen table.”
The girl bounded up the stairs and hurried inside.
Reid met her gaze with raised brows. “Aunt Tori?”
His tone and gaze suggested there was more behind his question than mere curiosity.
“Lily is my ward. I became her guardian when her mother died. Aunt Tori just sort of happened.” She faced her handyman and sensed his probing gaze again. He was gauging, trying to figure her out and making a mental list of her good and bad points. She looked away, flushed and uncomfortable. When she glanced back, the probing look was gone and his gaze was unreadable.
Or was she merely being overly sensitive? It was happening more and more since she’d brought Lily back to her hometown. She questioned her decisions, second-guessed every move and read something negative in others’ comments and expressions too often.
He stood. “I finished attaching the hardware. Is there anything else?”
She had a long list, but for some reason she wasn’t ready to hand him another project. She took her phone from her purse. “If you’ll give me your number I’ll call you when I need you.”
He took the phone from her hand and their fingers brushed, drawing their gazes together. Had he done that on purpose? He punched in his number. “Call anytime.”
“We haven’t discussed your pay.”
“There’ll be time for that later.”
“Where are you staying?”
“The Dixiana Motor Lodge. Not far.”
Reid nodded and stepped past her, leaving a waft of his tantalizing aftershave in the air. She watched him as he walked away, his slow, easy gait in keeping with his controlled demeanor and his economy of words. She’d never met anyone who stirred so many questions. Nor someone who had caused her nervous system to quake so unexpectedly. A sudden shiver chased up her spine. Had she done the right thing in hiring him?
In the kitchen of the main house, Tori saw the gleaming new cabinet hardware Reid had installed. He’d even placed the old handles in a small box. At least he was considerate.
Picking up the box, she started toward the table where she’d been collecting items to take to the attic later. She glanced at the sunroom and blinked. The unfinished patch in the corner was painted. The evidence of her faux pas was gone. Had the handyman done that? How had he managed? More important, how thoughtful of him to have finished it. She’d have to thank him. His credentials shifted her opinion up a notch. He’d completed the task she’d requested neatly and had even gone the extra mile on the floor. Maybe she’d found the right man after all. She needed someone she could depend on if the house was going to open on time.
Floyd had come through again. He’d sent her a skilled worker to take on all the minor repairs. It was an added bonus that he was easy on the eyes. Which didn’t matter a wit. Handsome men were a dime a dozen. All she was interested in were his skills.
Despite that, she still wondered about the odd sense of connection that had passed through them earlier. Her imagination. That’s all it was. She’d merely been reacting to being rescued like a damsel in distress.
She was no damsel, and she didn’t need to be rescued. But she did need a man who could fix things.
Reid strode along the tastefully decorated hallway of the Hamilton Haven Nursing Facility in Hammond, Louisiana. It reflected the high level of care they provided and reassured him he’d selected the perfect place for his brother, and it was located only an hour from Dover, which made visiting easy.
Stopping at room 107, he tapped on the door before stepping into his brother’s room. The early-morning sunlight streamed through the window, and the scent of fresh linens brought into contrast the difference in Eddie’s living conditions since they’d reunited. Reid had tracked him to a small charity hospital in Baton Rouge. He was receiving adequate care for his conditions, but the room was dark and depressing and did little to ease his brother’s pain. Eddie had tried to talk him out of spending the money, but Reid insisted. He’d failed his brother in so many ways. The least he could do was make his final days as comfortable as possible. But nothing could make up for his neglect over the years. If he’d been a better, more understanding brother, Eddie might not be dying.
As Reid came in, Eddie greeted him with a feeble smile and raised his hand in greeting. Reid grasped it gently in his. “How’s it going, little brother?”
“Good. I have everything I need.” He shifted a little on the bed. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Everything all right?”
Reid had been heartsick when he’d found his brother suffering so. The doctors had told him Eddie had two, maybe three, months before his body gave out. That was six weeks ago, and time was running out. He had to make things right—give his brother the one thing he wanted more than anything else.
Reid took a seat in the recliner beside the bed, leaning forward with his arms on his knees. “I found her. I found your little girl.”
Eddie closed his eyes and nodded. “Thank you, Lord. Tell me about her.”
“Her name is Lily and she’s a little beauty. Long, dark brown hair and big brown eyes.”
“Like Mom’s?”