Page 6 of One Boiling Summer (Texas Summer #15)

PAINT brUSHES AND PROMISES

HUDSON

I held the door open for Lacey and stepped out into the sunshine with her. We stood in the shade of the cedar tree by the sidewalk, leaning against the brick facade of the coffee shop.

“So, what’s your plan?” I asked.

She took a sip of her latte and gave me that long, searching look of hers. It always hit somewhere deep—like she saw more than she should.

“Hm. Are you asking about today or in general? Because believe me, I have nothing long-term figured out.”

“No one says you have to have your whole life mapped out, Lace.”

“Really? Because turning thirty feels monumental. Like I should have my crap together by now. I’m sure you had yours together when you turned thirty.”

I laughed softly. “If by ‘together’ you mean barely managing not to burn dinner and keeping my truck running, then sure.”

She smiled, and for a second, I could almost forget the years between us. Seven years wasn’t much. She was here now, standing in front of me, gorgeous as ever, and sipping coffee like a peer.

“You’re here for the summer. So take it one day at a time is my advice,” I suggested.

“Right.” Her gaze drifted across the street to the hardware store. “I noticed some things that need fixing at the house. Not knocking what Carson did while I was gone, but the porch paint’s peeling something fierce. Figured I’d start there.”

I lifted a brow. “Porch paint, huh? That’s an ambitious first project.”

“How hard could it be?” She shrugged. “Loose towel bar, leak under the sink, flower beds overgrown, a few busted window screens. There are a lot of things that should keep me busy for a bit.”

I folded my arms and gave her a slow once-over. “You’re not planning to paint in those fancy linen pants, are you?”

She glanced down at herself. “Not ideal for home repairs?”

“Nope.” I grinned. “But you’re in luck. I’ve got a couple sets of painting overalls. I’ll swing by here in the morning. We can make a list, see what I can help with.”

Her eyes widened a little. “You’d do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t want to be a bother?—”

“You’re not.” I said it flatly, cutting her off. “You’d never be a bother to me.”

She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. “I can pay you. Not much, but?—”

“You think I want your money?” I gave her the grumpiest look I had in my arsenal.

“Do you even know how to fix things?”

“Who do you think Mama called when something broke after Dad passed?”

That wiped the teasing out of her eyes. My voice softened. “Speaking of, Sunday’s the anniversary of the fire. You thinking about going out to the cemetery?”

She shifted. “Eventually.”

“If you wait until Sunday, Mama’s having us all go after church. Come with us.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“Lace, come on. You’re practically family. Mama would love to see you.”

The clock on the square chimed, reminding me I needed to haul it or Cap would have my hide for being late.

“Pick up whatever supplies you need at the hardware store. Tell them I said you can charge it to my account. We’ll work on the house together,” I instructed.

“Okay. I could use all the help I can get.”

I tipped my head. “Then I’ll see you in the morning, Lace.”

I raced to the station and found our small crew gathered in the kitchen. I dropped my gear and handed my untouched coffee to Presley, who had a sweet tooth and a caffeine addiction to match—and a crush on Hailey.

“You’re not gonna drink it?” he asked, already popping the lid and reaching for the sugar on the counter.

“Nah. Ordered it by mistake while I was meeting someone for coffee.”

He smirked, and knew me all too well as one of my best friends. “Someone being a certain pretty brunette back in town?”

I didn’t answer, just grabbed a mug and poured a cup of strong black firehouse roast. I didn’t bother with cream or sugar.

“She’s lookin’ good,” Presley said casually. “The whole town’s buzzing about you taking her home last night.”

“So I’ve heard. No comment.”

He laughed and wiggled his brows. “I’m sure I’ll get it out of you when we’re out fishing tomorrow. A few beers in, you’ll tell me all about what really happened last night.”

Shit. I forgot about that.

Cap came out of the office and barked. “You ladies going to hang out in the kitchen all day or get those firetrucks washed?”

“Nothing happened. Not yet. And about tomorrow... can’t. I promised Lacey I’d help her with some home repairs.” I put a lid on my coffee and headed back downstairs to the trucks. Presley followed.

“Aha. So you admit there’s more to the story?” He hounded me, but I refused to say another word about it. Partly because I needed to keep busy and stop thinking about Lacey in order to survive this shift.

Before lunch, I was still scrubbing bug guts off the bumper of our biggest rig when Carson’s truck pulled up. He climbed out looking like hell, which was saying something for a guy who usually had it all together.

In the family, we called him the charmed one. The baby of us who could get away with anything, and who always managed to come out on top.

I shut off the hose and dropped the scrub brush into the bucket, wiping my hands on my pants. “Everything okay?”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Emme and I fought all night.”

“About?”

“Lacey.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Emme wanted to know everything—our past, why Lacey was back, and all the rumors that flew around the party last night. Accused me of hiding things from her.”

“Were you?”

“No. We both dated plenty of people before we got together, and we didn’t exactly give each other all the details.

I’m not sure why Lacey’s appearance suddenly made her spiral.

” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re okay now, I think.

But I wanted to check in with you. I, uh.

.. know you drove Lacey home last night. Did she say anything?”

I crossed my arms. “About you? Not a word. She’s happy for you and Emme, though.” I might have stretched the truth a bit.

“I could tell my engagement came as a shock to her. I think she always thought we’d end up together someday.”

“Clearly you thought otherwise.”

“Right. So, do you think she’ll be okay? Maybe I should stop by and talk with her for old times’ sake?”

“She’s a grown woman, Carson. She doesn’t need you watching over her.” I’d like to think she needed me. I’d spend this summer convincing her of that. “Tell you what, you worry about things with your bride-to-be, and I’ll worry about Lacey. Deal?”

His gaze dropped. “I love Emme, but she’s been on edge since her dad gave me the loan. And with the wedding planning, she’s stressed. Things have been—stressful.”

I tensed and shook my head. “Not sure mixing money issues with your soon to be new family is a good idea.”

He sighed. “I needed help to get the café out of debt. I was stretched too thin, and her dad offered. It’s been weird between me and her family ever since. Like I owe them something more than I already do.”

I clenched my jaw. I’d been saving my money for years.

I knew he was having trouble, and I’d already helped him launch this thing by buying Blue Betsy.

That had made me hesitate to loan him more.

If I’d moved faster, offered to help, he wouldn’t be tangled up in Emme’s family strings. That was on me.

As the oldest, I’d always taken on the protector roll for each of my brothers. Would do anything for them. A part of me feels like I let him down, although Mama tells me to let him be.

“I wanted to be sure that Java Co. would be on solid ground before we married,” Carson added. “I’d never do anything to hurt Emme. I don’t want this to come between us.”

“I know,” I said.

“And Lacey’s just a friend. Always has been.”

I nodded. “Glad you’re clear on that, because you never know if she might meet someone in town and settle down. How would you feel about it if she did?”

“Fine. As friends, I’d want her to be happy. Still, I should stop by and check in on her.”

“Sounds like she’ll only be here for the summer while she figures some things out.

I’m going to help her with repairs at the house.

It’s probably best you give her space. Besides, you’re getting hitched next month.

You’ve got enough on your plate with Emme and the wedding.

So don’t worry, I can make sure Lacey is okay. ”

He stared up at the sky and let out a long breath. I hoped the agony I perceived in him would go away. “You’re right. I’m glad I talked to you about this. Thanks.”

“Anytime. I’m always here for you.”

He gave me a final nod and walked back to his truck.

As I picked the hose back up, I couldn’t help but feel some of the weight in my chest lighten. Carson was in love with Emme. That wasn’t changing. He only thought of Lacey as a friend. But I didn’t dare let on yet that I could be something more to her.

Whether I wanted to admit it or not—every single time my eyes set on Lacey, something stirred inside of me where it hadn’t in years. I didn’t think I could ignore it any longer.