“As long as he won’t pee on anything.”
“No, he’s good about that.” Max chose that moment to pee on the tree. “And he just went. Let’s go, Max.”
Josiah turned and I followed him to the front door with Max trotting along beside us. We went in and our steps echoed in the empty space. A few spots in the ceiling had bare light bulbs hanging precariously and the floor was made up of large, rough-looking boards. But despite how unfinished everything appeared, it had a certain charm.
I took slow steps toward what had probably once been the kitchen. “Wow, I didn’t know a house could look so naked.”
Josiah chuckled, a low noise in his throat that brought the tingles back with a vengeance. Getting a laugh out of him felt like a hard-won victory.
“It doesn’t look like much now,” he said. “But it’s going to be nice.”
“Tawny oak would never do.” I gestured to the floor. “Not that I really know what tawny oak is, but it doesn’t sound pretty.”
“It’s over there.” He pointed to a large stack of long rectangular boxes. “My dad was here when the delivery arrived and he didn’t realize it wasn’t right.”
I looked at the picture on the top box while Max sniffed the perimeter. It wasn’t a terrible color. Kind of a light brown. But it didn’t seem to fit this house. “I assume the color your wanted is darker?”
“Yeah, a richer brown.”
“Do you pick the colors yourself?”
“Mostly. If I’m not sure, I ask my sister, but I can usually tell what will work and what won’t.” He pointed to the opposite corner of the house. “The kitchen will be over there. We took out a wall to open things up and create more space.”
“It’s hard to imagine what it would have looked like with a wall there.”
“Too dark and closed off.”
I wandered to where the kitchen would be. The walls looked like large portions had been repaired. “What happened here?”
“I got in a fight with the cabinets.”
There wasn’t a hint of humor in his tone but one corner of his mouth hooked ever so slightly.
“Who won?”
“Me.”
I laughed. “I can see that. And the wall was collateral damage.”
“Yeah, it’s not ideal.” He ran his hands over a seam. “More work but there wasn’t much I could do.”
“What’s it going to look like when it’s done?”
His eyes brightened a little. “I’m thinking walnut cabinets. Rich without being too dark. We’ll do an island here and I might paint it for a pop of color. And a statement light fixture. Something bold enough to be interesting without making it look cluttered.”
“Wow. That sounds amazing.”
He rested his hands on his hips and glanced around. “It’ll be a hell of a lot better than when we bought it.”
“I bet. And a lot less naked than it is now. I’m excited to see it come together.”
“Yeah.” His mouth hooked in that almost smile again. “Me too.”
I glanced around, looking for Max, but I didn’t see him. “Max? I think he might have gone upstairs.”
“That’s okay, it’s just as empty.”
“He’s like a toddler. Out of sight and quiet is dangerous.”
Josiah led the way up the stairs. The walls were intact but the floor looked just as unfinished. A small landing led to a short hallway with several doors—bedrooms, a bathroom, and what was probably a closet. We found Max sniffing a few tools in one of the bedrooms.
“There you are, Max. Silly dog.”
Josiah leaned against the door frame. “So, you work at the newspaper?”
My heart did a little skip at his apparent interest. “Yeah. It’s – interesting. I’m still figuring things out.”
“Have you always been in journalism?”
“Not exactly. It was my major in college but I’ve done a few different things, mostly in PR and marketing.”
“Then how’d you end up at the Tribune?”
“Weird, right? The truth is, I got laid off from my last job and couldn’t seem to find anything. I fully admit, I took this one more out of desperation than because it’s my dream job.”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s not bad. Sandra is a hoot. Lou is kind of grouchy but I don’t really blame him. Trying to keep a dying newspaper alive is bound to get old.” I shrugged. “It’s just temporary, anyway. I’m still looking for something else.”
“Here in town?”
“I sure hope not.” I laughed but the expressionless mask he wore threw me off. Did he not think it was funny or was that just his face? “Tilikum is fine but I never planned to move back to this area.”
“Hm.” He turned and headed for the stairs.
“Come on, Max.”
I followed and Max came down after me. He caught the scent of something and started following it around the perimeter of the room.
Josiah glanced at him. “Your dog is kind of weird.”
That made me giggle. “Oh my gosh, I know. He’s a total weirdo.”
“Cute, though.”
“Isn’t he? Come here, Max.” He zipped over to me, dropped to the floor and rolled onto his back. I crouched to give him a belly rub. “You’re the cutest weirdo, aren’t you good dog? Yes, the goodest dog ever!”
I realized I probably looked like as big of a weirdo as my dog. But Josiah just looked at us with that almost smile that made my stomach tingle.
“Anyway.” I stood and smoothed out my shirt. “He’s a lot of fun. Thanks for letting us see the house. I’ve been curious about what it looks like inside.”
He nodded and his eyes lingered on mine. For a second, it looked like his gaze flicked to my mouth. But I might have imagined it. Still, my nerve endings fired, my lips tingling, and I had an almost insatiable desire to know what it would feel like to kiss that big, bearded man.
Thankfully, he turned away before I did something awkward, like move in closer hoping he might kiss me.
Kiss me? What was I even thinking? He probably wasn’t even interested in me. Not like that. Sure, he’d been nice to me, but that didn’t mean anything.
I followed him outside, sternly telling my silly heart to be quiet. I didn’t need to start wishing for things I’d never have. And Josiah Haven was certainly one of them.
CHAPTER 14
Audrey
The light in the office restroom was surprisingly flattering. I washed my hands and glanced at my reflection. My skin didn’t look half bad. Maybe the at-home mask that my dog had tried to lick off my face last night had helped.
My hair, on the other hand, was in a state.
I dried my hands and tried to fluff my listless locks. It had been ages since I’d had a haircut. Trips to the salon had been one of the first things to go when I was unemployed. Now the ends were dry and it had no shape.
I came out of the restroom and went back to my desk.
“Are you okay?” Sandra asked. “You look uncharacteristically melancholy.”
“Do I?” I sat up straighter. “I’m fine. I was just lamenting my sad hair in the mirror.”
“You have pretty hair.”
I held up a strand. “I haven’t had a haircut in forever.”
“I can help with that.”
“You do hair too?”
She smiled and picked up her phone. “No, but I know who does. You have to see Marigold Martin at Timeless Beauty. It’s right up the street. She’s a magician.”
Before I could reply, Sandra was already talking to someone.
“Hi, it’s Sandra… I’m great, how are you?… Wonderful. You don’t happen to have any openings soon, do you? My friend Audrey needs you in her life.” She paused for a moment. “Let me check.” She lowered her phone. “She had a cancellation. Can you do noon?”
“Today?”
She nodded.
“Oh. Yes, I think so.”
She put her phone back to her ear. “She’ll take it. Thanks, Marigold! You, too.”
“Wow, thanks, Sandra.”
“Problem solved. And trust me, you’ll love Marigold.”
The rest of the morning ticked by with agonizing slowness. I didn’t know why I was so excited. It was just a trip to the salon. But it had been so long and it felt like a win, just knowing I could afford it.
Finally, lunch hour arrived. I stood and shouldered my purse.
“It’s just up the street that way,” Sandra said, pointing. “You’ll see it. Have fun.”
“Thank you, I will. Bye, Ledger.”