Page 185 of The Maxwell Brothers

"Okay. Thanks, man." He frowned. "I'll ask Kendra if she had anything in there." After hanging up, he said, "Here, he just forwarded me the number. He says they're great and reliable. And he's going to give them a call."

"Okay, thanks."

"Do you have anything in there?" he asked. “I heard something about boxes.”

"Yeah. I took them there so I could get ahead with the move. I have to take the boxes out.” I turned my phone, showing him the pics. “Sorry to bail on you today, but I need to go there and sort everything out.”

He looked at me like I'd just grown a second head. "We're both going there."

"What? Why?"

"You're probably going to need help carrying the boxes, and my muscles are very good for that."

"Wow. Really? Thanks so much." He chose to spend his day like this. Who was this guy? "But is that okay with your shoulder?"

"Yeah, I’m supposed to use it a lot. I just need to make sure I control the movements. There are a lot of boxes there. And from the picture, it looks like a steep, curving staircase, so you can’t put them on a handcart. We have to carry them out one by one. I’ll call my brothers and see who’s got time to drop by and give us a hand."

For the second time today, I was stunned. It took me a few seconds to shake myself out of my stupor. "No, wait a second, Tyler. I've got this. I'll call my sister. Oh no, wait. She isn’t in town. But you don't have to call your brothers.”

“Trust me. They won't have anything against it." I seriously doubted that, but Tyler called before I could protest any further. “Luke, it’s me again. What are you doing today? There are like a million boxes in that basement.” A few seconds later, he nodded. “Thanks, man.”

“He said yes, just like that?” I asked when he lowered the phone.

“Yep, and he's going to call the rest of the clan. Whoever's got time will pop up at the house. The family motto is ‘Don't outsource anything you can do well, and that can count as a family activity.’”

“I… Thanks.”

I fiddled with my thumbs, hunching my shoulders. I’d never had this kind of support before, and although I was pleased, I wondered how I’d ever repay them.

“You look nervous,” he said.

I shrugged, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “What kind of impression will I make if the first time they meet me, it’s because I’m asking them for help?”

Tyler chuckled, kissing my forehead. “Don't you worry about the first impression. I like you, so they'll like you. Come on, babe, let’s go."

He interlaced our fingers, rubbing his thumb over the back of my hand as we left the condo.

Was I dreaming? I had been in a crisis mode not five minutes ago, and now everything seemed doable.

Fifty minutes later, we arrived at the house. It was in a sleepy neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago. The street was lined mostly with bungalow-style homes. The draining company was already there, unloading the gear from their vehicle.

I opened the basement door carefully. Oh God. I had clothes, books, and bedsheets in the boxes on the floor, and I was sure some of them would need replacing. If I didn’t have Tyler with me right now, I’d probably be a basket case, but he grounded me.

The draining company came in a few minutes later, and they immediately started to work.

“My brothers are gonna be here in about an hour, and Reese too.”

I seriously couldn't believe this was happening. I’d prepared myself to slog through this the whole day, but now my sexy man and his family were going to help me.

"Let’s grab something to eat while they’re draining the water," Tyler suggested. “No use getting in their way, okay?”

"Sure. Why not?"

We had pancakes at a small coffee shop two blocks away. When we returned to the house forty minutes later, I was surprised by how much progress had been made. The floor was a bit soggy—the previous owners had put in carpet, which I’d have to replace—but at least we could walk on it without getting water in our shoes.

"I'm going to start taking boxes out." Tyler declared, and for a few seconds, all I could do was stare at him, leaning down inall his perfection and picking up a box. His muscles flexed with each one.

Oh my, this is going to be a hugely fun day.There were perks to having this mountain of a man helping me.