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Asa’s perplexed expression cleared as he registered what André had just said.
“She’s sabotaging herself,” he muttered.
“She’s sabotaging herself,” André agreed.
Where he was confident in his talents and not in his relationships, she was confident in her relationships and doubted her talents.
What a fucking pair they made.
She was him two and a half years ago sitting outside the restaurant.
But he wouldn’t let her do that to herself.
“I’m going to need the address to the lake house.”
Asa nodded. “Let me get it for you.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
LONG ROAD TO RUIN
ANDRÉ
More than once on his drive north, he wondered if Asa had sent him on a wild goose chase.
But when he drove down the tree-lined drive and saw her car at the end of it, he had his answer.
He parked right behind her and slowly got out. His muscles ached from having worked all day and then sitting still for so long. He stretched his arms over his head and twisted the kinks out of his back.
The big house her car was parked by didn’t seem to be having any work done to it. He listened and the unmistakable sounds of roofing shovels came from his left down a dirt path. He followed it, keeping his eyes open for signs of people.
One person specifically.
Down the path and around a bend, it opened into a clearing with a cabin that was a smaller version of the large house by where he’d parked.
And up on the roof was the love of his life.
Glaring at him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. She was in jeans, a white tank top, and work boots. Her hair was tied back and held down with a scarf to keep the debris from flying into it. She was covered in splatters of roofing tar.
And if he wasn’t mistaken, she was rather upset to see him.
“I’m here to help,” he replied honestly.
She wiped her arm across her forehead. An older man, her father from the looks of it, came up and over the other side of the roof.
“Who’s that, Nikki?” he asked.
She muttered something to him and he laughed.
It was a deep, rich laugh and André had to keep from smiling.
Because he knew it.
Just that small interaction he’d seen between father and daughter years ago and he’d gotten it right.
“Don’t listen to her,” her dad said. “There’s extra gloves and shovels around the front.” He held up a hand near his mouth like what he had to say next was a secret. “She’s awfully touchy about her side of the roof, but you can help me on mine.”
