“Yeah, what the heck?” She grins, clearly teasing. Then her gaze falls to my tool kit. “What’s that?”
“The last time I was here, I noticed one of your doors was nearly off its hinges and since you were so kind as to make me lunch, I thought I’d repay the kindness by fixing your door.”
She stares at me in disbelief, gradually catching her breath. “You want to fix my door?”
“Yes. If that’s alright? It’s really no problem.”
“I’m… I’m more surprised that you want to do it and you didn’t just send a guy.”
“Oh, I know a guy.” I chuckle warmly. “I just also know how to.”
Suddenly, the front door swings open and Bobby stands there looking equally as flustered as Clover. “Damn lock.” He chuckles, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
Did I interrupt something?
Clover and Bobby exchange a quick look, then Clover smiles. “Thanks, Bobby. We really should get that looked at.”
“Do you want me to...?” I shake my toolkit with a smile.
“No!” Bobby and Clover say in unison, then Clover suddenly loops her arm through mine and guides me inside. “It’s kind of you to offer, but I already have someone booked to do that and I’d hate to cancel on someone who agreed at such short notice, y’know?”
Clover’s flustered reactions and Bobby’s rushed appearance tell me one thing. I definitely shouldn’t drop by unannounced. Next time, I’ll plan ahead.
“Understandable,” I agree.
“Are you sure you want to fix the door?” Clover brings me to a stop near the broken door and her hold on my arm tightensbriefly. The warmth radiating off her is so inviting that it’s a little tricky to keep my thoughts in order.
“I want to. Consider it a thank you for a delightful lunch.”
She doesn’t look like she entirely believes me, but she smiles. “Do you need me to do anything?”
“No, please. Return to your pampering. It’s not good to walk around with wet hair even in this heat.”
“What are you, a doctor as well?” Bobby remarks on his way past.
“No, just sensible,” I shoot back with a smirk.
Bobby grins and continues to the kitchen while Clover finally releases me. “Okay, well… let me know if you need anything.”
She lingers for a few seconds, then she hurries off up the stairs and I’m left alone. It doesn’t take long to fix the door. It looks like it’s been slammed one too many times and the bolts shook loose. That coupled with the weight of the door, and it has naturally pulled away from the frame. Odd that it was allowed to get this bad, but I don’t judge. I don’t know the full extent of Clover’s troubles, and it’s not my place to pry.
But I want to.
The door’s fixed within an hour and by the time I’m done, Clover’s waiting for me in the kitchen with some iced tea. She looks much more composed and relaxed this time, even wearing a sprinkling of peach and pink makeup which really makes her eyes pop out from her dark lashes.
“Thank you for doing that,” she says as she passes me my tea. “I’ve been meaning to get it fixed.”
“It’s no problem,” I say as I preen inside at the praise. I don’t do these things for the praise, but it feels so good to take care of people I’m coming to care about. “Things like that always slip the mind when it gets tough.”
“You’re telling me.” She slides onto one of the barstools and I glimpse the soft skin of her inner thigh as her long skirt slipsand adjusts. “You stop thinking about one thing and suddenly, it’s become ten things.”
“Such is the way of the world. Is there anything else I can do?”
“Oh, no.” Clover shakes her head and fixes me with a stern look. “You’ve already done enough. I can’t believe you're a handyman.”
“Partly a hobby, partly an interest. I used to do woodwork with my grandpa a long time ago. Plus, I like doing things for people, especially people doing me such huge favors.”
Clover scoffs softly around her drink. “I think you’re doing me the bigger favor.”
