Page 66 of The Renegade Billionaire

“No arguments from me.” I’m already crawling closer to him.

I’ve never been afraid of heights, but if I never climb onto a roof again, I’ll be a happy man.

Once my feet are securely and safely back on the ground, Cian rolls his eyes.

“Betty told me at the diner you fools were making plans over here. I didn’t think you’d be idiot enough to go at it without any professional help,” he says evenly. But his massive arms are crossed over his chest with bulging veins from his balled-up fists, so I know he’s still upset.

“Why pay you to do it when me and the boy can do it for free?” Pops rummages through the set of tools Cian dropped on the ground when he ran to get the ladder.

“I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m not going to charge you, Pops. Elle and I have our dream home thanks to you. Let me help.”

Pops mutters, but he’s also fully engrossed in inspecting everything Cian brought over—he’s a kid in a candy store.

I frown at Pops. He’s assumed I’ll help and has bossed me around for six weeks now, so why is he hesitant with Cian?

“It’s that easy to tell I have no idea what I’m doing, huh?” I laugh a little desperately, and Cian curses under his breath. I don’t care what Pops says though, I’ll gladly take Cian’s help.

“Look at this drywall saw, boy. We’ve gotta try this out.”

Before Cian or I can stop him, Pops heads into the house, carrying a red and black tool I have no idea how to use.

“Feck,” Cian curses. “Let’s get in there before he has holes in every wall and the ceiling too.”

He moves quickly for such a big guy, and I follow.

“To answer your question, yes. While it’s nice of you to help out, you don’t look like someone who’s ever worn a toolbelt.”

Feeling slightly defensive, I stand taller. “Maybe not, but I’m a fast learner.”

Cian stops in the foyer and stares at me for so long, I nearly take a step back. I’m really not trying to get a black eye to match my sore jaw.

“You’d better be a fast learner, Brax. I’ve got about a month before my baby’s due, and Elle says I’m driving her nutty, so she sent me over here. If we’re going to get the big stuff done in that time, you’ll have to pull your weight.”

“No problem.” In my head, I panic though. This might be a problem—a big problem because Cian’s right. I don’t even own a hammer, let alone know how to swing one.

A buzzing sound interrupts my internal struggle as we take off for the kitchen, Pops stands in the center of the room, wearing a toolbelt and safety goggles.

“We can use this to cut a hole in the ceiling to fix the leak,” he announces while holding up the power tool in his right hand—his own personal trophy.

“Slow your roll, big guy.” Cian steps forward and Pops reluctantly releases the tool, but not without a little tug of war with Cian first. “Let’s see this list I heard you were making at the diner, and we’ll go from there.” His Irish accent is less pronounced when he isn’t attempting to save people from rooftops.

Pops pulls out a folded-up sheet of paper and slaps it down on the island. Cian cuts a look my way, but not only am I in over my head, I’m so deep I can’t see sunlight any longer.

The big guy pulls out a stool, and I do the same while Pops leans against the sink. Somehow the old man manages to have the look of a preteen who knows he’s about to get into trouble, but when he winks, he proves that he doesn’t give a shit.

What must that be like? To go through life not caring what other people think of you?

“I’m going to need all the fecking saints here,” Cian mutters. “Christ on a turdloaf. You told me you had half of this fixed already.” The guy certainly is colorful with his insults.

Pops drops his gaze, but not before I see something close to embarrassment in his downturned expression. “Some…ah…investments didn’t pan out as I thought they would.”

Cian stiffens next to me. “What…investments, Pops?”

The old man kicks at the wood floor with the toe of his boot. There’s something so youthful about him, and I can fully imagine the hell he raised before settling down with Madi’s grandmother.

“I did it before.” Pops lifts his gaze to mine and quickly cuts to Cian. “Before we found out.”

My hackles are officially raised.