Chapter 21
Tessa
Wednesday Morning
The rain has finally ended. It’s good to see the sun’s rays pouring through the trees, warming the damp earth still soft from the storm. I inhale the woodsy aroma as I step onto the porch.
Two days ago, we made love in a luxury suite while thunder crashed around us. Today, we’ll work on rebuilding this porch in cutoffs and work boots. Passing each other hammers and teasing like we’ve been doingthis forever.
I like this version of us. Maybe even more than the candles and champagne. Well, maybe not.
“Morning, Nurse Montgomery,” Liam calls, rounding the corner with a toolbox.
“Morning, Coach Rowe.” I grin and take the mug he offers. “No whistle around your neck today?”
He smirks. “Only bring that out for serious discipline.”
My mouth drops open in mock offense. “I’ll have you know I’m a model student.”
“You sure are.” His eyes graze over me slowly. “And your last assignment was ... outstanding.”
I laugh, cheeks burning. “Is this sexual harassment on a job site?”
“Only if you report me.”
I roll my eyes and take a sip of the coffee, settling on the top step while he gets to work. The air is damp but sweet, full of birdsong. The porch is half-framed now. Afew more supports and crossbeams, and we’ll be able to lay new planks. I glance toward the tools, then to the narrow paintbrush I brought out earlier.
“Hey,” I say, walking over to the beam that runs along the far side. “Watch, I’m going to leave a mark on this place.”
Liam lifts his head. “What kind of mark are we talking about?”
I dip the brush in black paint and crouch low. In tidy script, I write:
Schooled by the Mountain Man. —T.
He reads it, presses a kiss to my forehead and declares, “Damn right!”
The day grinds along and we break it up with continual jokes back and forth. As we hammer the last few boards into place, sweat trickles between my shoulder blades and dust clings to my calves. Liam works beside me, shirt off, sawdust in his hair, so gorgeous it almost hurts to look at him.
I think about everything waiting back in Denver. Technically, I haven’taccepted a position there yet. They would hire me at my last internship in a heartbeat. But, I don’t know. It would mean leaving here, maybe only seeing Liam for short three day bursts each week. There’s also the lease on my tiny apartment … and my friends.
Then I think about this porch. This man. Our mornings having coffee together make me look forward to getting each day started. The partnership I experience with him makes me feel whole. I also love this version of me that feels stronger and softer at the same time.
“I’ve been thinking,” I say, handing him a handful of nails.
“Dangerous.”
I toss one at him. “Be serious.”
He glances at me, smile still lingering but eyes sharp now.
“I might sell the cabin. … my parents’ place,” I clarify.
He waits.
“And I might look into a position at Cady Springs Hospital. It’s not Denvermoney, but I don’t think I need Denver money.”
He sets down his hammer.
