Page 9 of Crossing the Line (Small Town Love #7)

Hank picked up quickly. "Bixby! What's up?"

"Well, remember those plans you said you'd let Janice look at-"

"Oh? I thought you were saying it was going to be built today?"

Bixby wasn't sure how to explain, but Hank was apparently a few steps ahead of him.

"Let me guess..." Bixby swore he could hear Hank smiling. "That asshole from the pub canceled on her."

Bixby held the phone away from his ear and looked at his eyes narrowed. "How did you know?"

"Well," Hank sounded very pleased with himself, "I asked around locally and while people like the way he looks, there are quite a few people who were either cancelled on or had something negative to say about the finished project.

So, I thought I'd help out my old friends with some foolproof plans. "

"Foolproof?" Bixby snorted. "That's something coming from the best contractor and construction expert in four states."

"Four?" Hank sounded like he'd been wounded. "It's five states."

"Yes, King of Construction, my apologies."

Hank laughed out loud! "You don't have to mock my greatness."

"I've got to keep you honest." Bixby was stifling his own laughs. "I'm not sure who she'll find to build it. Maybe you can help us find someone."

"Well, let's cross that bridge after we've built it." Hank chuckled at his own humor. "Is Janice at home right now?"

"Yeah. I just talked to her over the fence in our backyard. I think her friend is bringing over the chicks today and-"

"Oh! Chicks?"

Bixby heard the unmistakable sound of Hank's wife, Jennifer, about to break a few champagne glasses with her enthusiasm.

"Do you think Janice would mind if we came over?"

Bixby wondered if Jennifer was letting her husband hold the phone or had she taken it away from him?

"I'm sure she'd be happy to have you over, but I'm not the one to ask."

"Oh..." He heard the melancholy tone of her voice. "I forgot that you two..."

"Hold on."

Bixby stepped back outside and didn't see Janice in the yard.

He moved to the front door through the house and ended up on the front porch.

He saw Janice moving around inside by the window and he waved his arm until he caught her attention.

She was startled when she saw him and stepped back a little, before she crouched down to look at him under her curtains.

He held the phone where she could see it and pointed at the phone.

Janice narrowed her eyes at him and tilted her head.

Dropping his chin a little, he tried to figure out a better way to talk to her without jogging out to the sidewalk and around her path and up onto her porch.

While he kept himself in shape, he wasn't sure if she'd come out to talk to him anyway.

He heard the soft click of the front door and looked up.

Janice stepped out onto the porch in one of her favorite outfits.

It consisted of what she called her 'super-soft' jeans which had been washed to the point where he was afraid it had the structural integrity of clothing, and then one of her book-themed T-shirts. The one she had on at the moment was a dark green with words in white typeface.

BE AWESOME.

READ BOOKS.

"Hey," she gave him a hesitant smile. "You wanted to talk?"

There was a little lift in her voice at the end of her question, and he tried not to read too much into it. Emotional stuff wasn't his strong suit.

Then, before he answered she pointed at the phone in his hand.

It was easier, he realized, talking to her on the front porch.

There they'd only put up the same railing and spindles that made the edge of the porch on the original house. It only came up to her waist and on him, his upper thigh. There wasn't much to hide them from each other.

"Hank and Jennifer want to come over and see the chicks. Would you be okay with-"

"Sure! Have them come over! I'm not sure when Samantha is coming over exactly, but she'll be here in a little bit. I know I can't wait to see them. There will be enough for everyone to look at."

Bixby narrowed his eyes at her. "Is it going to be okay for other people to touch them?"

Janice waved off his concern. "Sure! They're still young, but they don't need mom feeding them or anything like that. "I've got feed for the chicks where I'm planning to keep them until they're big enough to live outside without a heat lamp. So it's no big deal to have people over.

"Besides," she grinned at him, "I'd love to have some fun today if I'm not having the coop built."

She sighed and he wanted to reach out and rub her arm like he used to when they were married.

He hadn't had that urge in a while.

Then again, he hadn't talked to her much either.

"So, let them know to head on over if they have some time. I'd love to see them both."

Bixby nodded. "Okay, I'll let them know."

She turned to head back in but looked back at him over her shoulder.

The smile he saw on her face warmed him from the inside out.

Crazy?

Maybe.

But he felt it.

Even after the door closed, he found himself enjoying the feeling.

He lifted the phone to his ear. "Hank? Janice said-"

Hank's laughter was infectious. "We heard. Jennifer's already heading out to the truck. We're on our way."

His next call was to Wallace Malone. "Wallace?" he spoke when the call picked up. "I'd like to order a dozen of your specials if you haven't sold out."

The older man chuckled. "I have enough to make them. Are you coming to pick up?"

"Do you have someone who can deliver?"

"Sure! I've got one of the local high school boys who makes deliveries for me on the weekend."

"Good! I'll have a big tip ready for him when he gets here."

"Do you want him to call when he leaves the diner?"

"We're in no immediate rush."

"Good to know. I'll get started on your order."

"Thanks, Wallace."

"Anytime, old friend."