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She hurried over to her. “Gran, what’s wrong?”

Gran sucked in her lips and shook her head. She dropped her gaze to her hands still curled around Sadie’s phone. “I screwed up.”

“Screwed up? How?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Apparently, I missed a payment and my homeowner’s insurance lapsed. I don’t know how it happened. I’m so careful about paying all of my bills on time.”

“Oh, Gran.” Sadie knelt in front of her chair and wrapped her arms around her. “Don’t worry about this for another minute. We will get it figured out.”

“But without the insurance, I can’t afford to get the railing and patio fixed.”

“Again, don’t worry about it. We’ll figure something out.”

A soft knock sounded on the screen door.

Sadie turned and found Asher in the doorway, watching them.

How much had he heard?

Without waiting for an invitation, he opened the door and stepped inside. He glanced at Sadie, then his eyes lingered on Gran. His mouth downturned. “I’m sorry for eavesdropping—your window was open—but I heard about your insurance, Hetty. I promise, you don’t have a thing to worry about. Since the tree came from Quinn property, my uncle’s insurance will cover any damages. And I’ll fix your railing. You won’t have to pay a penny.”

Gran lifted her head, her eyes much brighter than a moment ago. “Asher Quinn, you are a godsend.” She pressed a hand against her chest. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. I can pay for the materials and give you a little for your time.”

He made a face and waved a hand. “No, absolutely not. I want to do this for you. We have plenty of lumber at the ranch, so I’ll find something that works. Won’t cost you a cent.”

Gran reached for her chair remote, pushed herself to a standing position, and grabbed her walker. “Come here and let me hug you.”

Asher crossed over to her in two long strides and gathered her in his arms. He held on a little longer than Sadie expected. Then he released Gran and looked at her with such a gentle expression that Sadie’s heart panged.

Gran gripped his muscled forearms. “What’s your favorite pie?”

He gave her a mock scowl. “Well, Michigan blueberry, of course.”

Gran laughed, a beautiful sound that appeased Sadie’s soul and loosened the tightness in her chest. “Blueberry, it is.”

Behind them, the music switched to a song that sent chills skittering along Sadie’s spine. She turned toward the kitchen and raised her voice. “Ugh. Alexa, stop the music.”

Gran frowned at her. “Sadie, what in the world is going on with you?”

Sadie jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “The music. In the kitchen. I hate the song that just came on.”

“What one was it?”

“‘Dark Side of Midnight’ by Phoenix.”

Gran’s mouth formed an O as she glanced between Sadie and Asher. “Oh, Phoenix…”

Asher shot her a look she couldn’t quite read. “You don’t like that band, I take it?”

“Can’t stand them.” Sadie wrapped her arms around her waist.

His mouth tightening, he gave her a curt nod as he disengaged himself from Gran’s arms, straightened his ball cap, and headed for the door. He looked at Gran. “I’ll see you later.”

He headed out the door, and Sadie stared after him. “He’s one difficult guy to understand. That’s so nice about him fixing your railing though.”

Gran hobbled over to her, leaning heavily on her walker. “Love, it’s the little things that show us who a person really is.”

Yeah, she was beginning to see that. The Asher she’d met that morning was much different from the guy around her grandma.