Damn straight, but the hard-on he was sporting right now…not so much. He shifted to relieve some of the pressure.
“I’m glad for you,” she continued, reaching out to squeeze his arm. “When do we get to meet her?”
Vince’s grin broadened. “You should invite her over for brunch this Sunday.”
“We’d love to meet her,” Jovy said.
“Yeah,” Stone said.
Emma patted his arm. “I think she’d be happy if you shared all this with her. But it’s okay if you aren’t ready.”
Not ready for what? To share the ranch with Kaydee?
A year ago, he would’ve immediately vetoed the thought. Two years ago, it never would’ve even been a thought. But today—right now—he found himself actually embracing the thought. He was proud of At-Ease and the work he did here. The veterans. His friends. All of it. And just because he and Kaydee weren’t long term didn’t mean he couldn’t share this part of his life with her.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll ask her.”
“That’s great.” Emma squeezed his arm again.
“But don’t get ahead of yourselves,” he said. “There’s a chance she won’t want to come.” His chest tightened at the thought, and it made him realize how much the woman meant to him. That only increased the tightness in chest.
“She’ll come.” Emma patted his arm again before releasing him.
Jovy smiled at him. “Emma’s right. She’ll come. And I think it’s great.”
A little uncomfortable now with their scrutiny, he shifted his weight and turned to Vince. “How’s your house coming along?”
“It’s halfway done.” Vince’s expression brightened further…if that was possible. “We’re almost to the kitchen phase.”
Happy for his buddy and Emma, and to have switched the focus off himself, he grinned. “That’s good news.” They deserved this.
“Speaking of kitchens,” Stone said, gaining Leo’s attention, “you remember Blanche from V-Spot, right?”
V-Spot was a restaurant Jovy once owned. Blanche used to work for her but was now part owner. “Yeah, I remember her.”
“Well, she asked me to give her a kitchen estimate last week,” Stone said. “She hired us last night. I’d like you to do the job.”
Him? A job for someone he knew? A friend of the boss’s wife? This was different. More at stake. More pressure. And damn if he wasn’t honored that Stone was trusting him with this job. “Thanks,” he said, straightening from the truck, a smile tugging his lips hard. “When does she want us to start?” Byus, he meant him and his crew. The one milling around near the tool barn with the other crews.
Stone grinned. “Today. Come on inside. I’ll show you the plans.”
And then later, Leo was damn sure going to share those plans with his crew. No way would he make that mistake again. He was determined to make sure this job went smoother.
Especially since it was a job for a friend.
Chapter Thirteen
Tuesday evening, Kaydee pulled into the rec center parking lot with Fiona. Their first haircut clinic started in less than an hour and they wanted to get things set up. Hopefully, they’d gotten enough word out. Tonight’s donations would go to the rec center to support senior activities. It would suck if no one showed.
She opened the back of her SUV so they could grab their equipment. Unsure what was needed, they packed their rolling cases with all the essentials before leaving the shop that afternoon. On the flyers, they’d only advertised free haircuts. After tonight, she figured they’d have a better idea what services were needed.
“How many people do you think will show?” Fi asked as they rolled their cases inside and down the hall to their assigned room, greeting a few people along the way. They’d requested the corner one because it was off by itself and had a tile floor for easier sweep-up.
She shrugged. “I don’t really know. I’ll be happy if at least two people show.”
“Me, too,” Fi said. “But I think we’ll get more.”
They spent the next half hour rearranging the room and setting out their equipment. Excitement skittered down her spine. It was actually happening. The clinic they’d lobbied for was starting in less than fifteen minutes.
