“Girls?”
“Ada and Edna Smiley. Camellia Hall was their family home for generations. The apartment hasn’t been used in a long time, but it’s larger than the motel room you’re currently in. You can take your meals with us. I’m not the best cook in town, but you won’t starve.”
It was the perfect solution and more than he’d hoped for. “All right. I have to admit the Dixiana is getting smaller by the day.”
She nodded. “Flo runs a good business, but Dover needs more options for visitors. It’s either the tiny cabins at the motel or the high prices at the Lady Banks Inn. I want to offer another option. Something more reasonably priced and comfortable than the formality of the inn.”
He extended his hand to seal the agreement. “We have a deal, then? Room and board in exchange for work.” She hesitated a moment, then grasped his hand. Her fingers fluttered in his palm. Did he make her nervous? He looked into her eyes and felt the jolt again, a strange kind of connection he’d never experienced before. She possessed an energy that vibrated through her fingers. And he found it intriguing.
She broke eye contact, tugging her hand from his. “You can move in as soon as you like. I’ll find the key and get it to you.”
“There’s still half a day left. What can I do next?”
“There are several doors that won’t shut and windows that won’t open, and the pocket doors between the two parlors are stuck.”
“I would have thought your contractor, uh, Floyd, would have taken care of this.”
“He would have, but it was one of many things that got cut from the budget. There were roof leaks, foundation repairs, termites, plumbing problems and electrical issues. Which didn’t leave any room in the budget for anything else.”
“How much work do you still need to do?”
“Small things here in the main part of the house. The original plan called for upgrades in the living quarters where Lily and I are. And a complete remodel of the tearoom on the other end of the house. I’d hoped to keep it running to bring in a little income, but that’s on hold now.” She motioned him to follow her. “Let me show you what needs to be done. None of the doors in the living quarters close completely.”
He gestured for her to lead the way, following her to the end of the hall to a door marked with a small plaque that read Private. It resisted when she pulled it open. “This one is the worst.”
He made a note to start with that door. He followed her through it, his mood lifting considerably. He’d managed to convince her to keep him on as handyman. The offer of room and board had been more than he’d expected. He could see how Lily and Tori interacted without it seeming like he was spying on them. Which was what he was doing. He’d manipulated her into keeping him around. Eddie’s warning surfaced again. A few days, that’s all, then he’d come clean. Once he was sure Tori was a responsible guardian, he’d explain everything. Hopefully, by then, they would have established a good relationship, and his request to take Lily to see her dad wouldn’t be an issue.
Tori stopped in the living area, which was one large room with a small kitchen tucked against the back wall beside a narrow staircase leading to the second floor. A comfy sofa was placed invitingly in front of a charming fireplace. French doors on either side led out to the wide porch. He was struck by how welcoming the small space was. “Nice place.”
“Thank you. This corner of the house used to be the servants’ quarters. It’s the perfect size for us. We’ll be spending most of our time in the main house, hopefully entertaining lots of guests, but this will be our own private retreat.”
A sudden image of him and Tori cuddled on the sofa flashed into his mind. He shut it down. “Do these doors work?”
“Yes, but the bedroom doors upstairs could use some work, as well.”
Reid’s gaze drifted to the far corner of the living room and the desk there. Something sparkled, and he stepped closer. Boxes of flashy jewelry cluttered the top. Several large pieces were spread out on a felt board and held in place with pins. “What’s all this?”
“My custom-jewelry business. I take old brooches, pins and necklaces and rework them into statement necklaces and sell them online.”
“A woman of many talents.”
“Right now all I want is to get ready for my guests.”
“Those bee bees Lily mentioned?”
She smiled, and Reid couldn’t help but notice it was brighter than the jewelry she worked on. Something about Tori made you feel welcome and accepted. His conscience flared. He’d spent years living a lie, pretending to be someone he wasn’t, but it had never felt like this.
Eddie was right—he’d been undercover so long he’d lost touch with who he really was. He didn’t want to lie to Tori any longer, because he was beginning to see the extent of damage his ill-conceived deception might cause. He suddenly dreaded the look of condemnation he’d see in her pretty eyes when he came clean. Oh, what a tangled web—it needed to come down today.
* * *
Tori hurried back into the main kitchen, stopping briefly on the porch to check on Lily. She was still sitting on the glider swing with her book. Tori studied her a moment. She seemed subdued today. Not her usual cheerful self. Was she missing Judy? Since bringing Lily here to Dover, the little girl had experienced several setbacks as she grieved. The incidents had rocked Tori’s already shaky confidence, making her question again if she was suited to raising her friend’s child.
Lily must have sensed her watching because she glanced up, then waved. Tori waved back, praying Lily would eventually accept her mother’s passing and embrace her new life here in Dover.
Reassured, Tori moved into the kitchen. The newly remodeled room met all the codes for a professional kitchen and, with the help of her decorator, still reflected its 1870 origins. The small breakfast room off the back connected with the sunroom and would provide a cozy dining space when there were few guests. The formal dining room at the front of the house would be used when the rooms were full, hopefully during most of the fall and winter. Today she planned on going through the three sets of fine china the girls had left with the house and decide which one would be her statement pattern.
Light tapping on the back door pulled her around. Shelley waved and stepped inside, followed by two little ponytailed girls. Lily skidded to a stop, vibrating with excitement.
“Can I show Emily my new bookcase?”
Her new lavender scalloped-edge bookcase had arrived a few days ago, and she’d spent an afternoon putting the books in just the right spots. “Yes, but Mr. Reid is up there working on the doors so don’t get in his way, and then come back down and play in the sunroom so I can see you, okay?”
Lily tossed a “’kay” over her shoulder as she and Emily dashed toward the living quarters.
Shelley settled on a stool at the counter. “Mr. Reid?”
“The handyman.”
“You hired him?”
“Sort of. We agreed he’d work for room and board temporarily. He’s going to stay in the apartment. This way he’ll be available whenever I need him.”
Shelley frowned and leaned forward. “You’re telling me you hired a stranger, who’s also going to live in your apartment? Tori, what were you thinking?”
“He’s not a stranger exactly. Floyd recommended him. He’s nice. A bit solemn and mysterious, but he does good work and he’s eager. He finished painting my floor without being asked.” Tori pulled a glass from the cupboard and filled it with the Smiley girls’ famous mint iced tea and set it before her friend. “It’s only for a few weeks. Once I have some funds