Page 31 of The Right Wrong Promise

“Dude,” I hiss. “I’ve got it. Back off.”

When he won’t relent and turns his back instead, I roll my eyes and follow him into the kitchen.

As tempting as it is, a scuffle in the hall would be undignified and possibly dangerous with such a heavy basket. I think he knows it, too.

I also think he knows Iwillfight him on this.

I don’t care if he fed me breakfast.

He sets the basket down on the counter and doesn’t look at me, grabbing a roll of paper towels instead.

“I know your ears work. I told you to let me handle the blueberries,” I bite off. “You know, just like I told you not to fix the railing.”

“You know, you don’t have to do much to this house if you’re selling,” Kane says from the stove, where he’s cleaning up the grease from cooking.

“Apart from how it’s falling down around us, you mean?”

“I can fix it.”

“What, you’re a builder and a plumber and electrician?” I huff loudly.

He shoots me a tired look.

“If there’s anything I can’t do, I’ll let you know. But I might as well stay busy while we’re here and the kids are occupied.”

So he can’t sit still.

Why am I not surprised?

I’m curious, though, and I lean on the counter as I watch him, against my better instincts. The muscles in his back flex deliciously as he scrubs.

Damn him.

“Whatdoyou do?”

“Huh?”

“Your job. What do you do besides stomp around, acting all saintly? I know you come by it honestly with the name, but you must work.”

His shoulders stiffen.

“I told you, I’m between jobs right now. All the more reason to keep busy, and there’s a lot I can do around here.”

For a second I just stare at him.

I’m trying to decide if I should be glad I have a free handyman or yell at him for being so mute and walled off.

“But you’ll still need supplies.”

“There are plenty of tools around in the shed. I went poking around when I got up and fixed the railing.” He stops and turns,bracing his hands on the edge of the stove behind him, big and imposing even in this large space. “Look, I can handle the basics. Tell me that railing wasn’t tighter than a drum.”

I can’t. But I glare at him.

“And I overheard you’ve got interested buyers. Where’s the harm in giving you a head start on polishing this place up?”

“You were eavesdropping?”

“Yeah.” His face has no shame. So annoying. “No matter what you decide, the fewer issues here, the better.”