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If Brick were here, he would have lifted his eyebrow the way he did when he was trying to look badass, but Kane suspected Robby’s words would have chipped one more layer of ice from the man’s frozen exterior. It had been melting a little bit more every day since he met the love of his life.
Love.
Relationships.
It always seemed to come back around to the same shit.
“It doesn’t sound stupid at all. In fact, I think it would mean a lot you’re rooting for him. I saw him over the weekend, and I think he’ll be able to come back to work soon. Maybe next time I go, you can come with me.”
The hope shining in Robby’s eyes reminded him of a character he’d seen in a Japanese cartoon. “Really? You don’t mind? You don’t thinkhewould mind?”
“I think it might be exactly what he needs.” He dropped his palm on Robby’s shoulder. “In the meantime, we’ve got work to do. Who am I with today?”
“It’s only you and Cyrus.” Robby frowned. “Brick and Will are still out, and Matt has some kind of family emergency.”
The way Robby rushed through the last part…even if he didn’t already know about the guy’s king-sized crush on Matt York, he’d sense something was up. But Robby clearly wanted to keep those feelings under wraps, so he resisted the urge to tease him. Instead, he focused on the impact of what he was being told.
“How in the hell are we going to get the work done with just the two of us? We’re already behind on this house. Cyrus is good, but it’s going to take more than two guys to do all this sheetrock.”
“Only the two of us?” Cy had moved in so quietly, he hadn’t heard him approach.
“We’re not on the battlefield, brother. Make a little noise when you come up behind somebody.”
The slight lift to the corner of Cy’s mouth was the closest he had ever come to seeing him smile. “I’ll take your suggestion under advisement.”
Robby lifted his hand in greeting before peering down at his clipboard. “I know it’s not really fair to put all this on you, but we don’t have a lot of options. If it helps, Xander is here today to be an extra set of hands. He’s already working out back.”
Cyrus nodded, his placid demeanor already back in place. “We should probably get started.”
Several sheets of drywall were already piled in the garage, giving them a head-start. They set up the small scaffold, and he held the first sheet in place against the ceiling joists as Cy screwed them in with the drill. The labor made his arms burn, but the strain felt good. He and Cyrus worked in companionable silence, taking turns switching off throughout the morning, one bracing the plaster, while the other secured it.
Back aching, he called for a break around eleven, and Cy offered to grab some water bottles from the ice chest. He pulled off his hard hat and yanked out the elastic from his hair. The cool air was a welcome relief after working up a sweat.
He sensed her before she said a word.
“Kane.”
His name on her lips still made his chest tighten and expand at the same time. It was a silken caress—and broken glass shredding his soul. He closed his eyes and let her nearness sink in for a heartbeat before he turned around.
“Twice in one month. Before you know it, you’ll be sending me fruitcake at Christmas.”
The tiny lines around her eyes tightened. “I’m here to see Xander.”
“I figured. He’s out back.”
Indecision flitted across her features.
He smirked.
That’s right. You either have to walk past me or tromp around in the mud in your fancy high heels. What’s it going to be?
She pursed her lips as though she could read his thoughts. Lifting her chin, she moved toward him. To a casual observer, she would seem completely unaffected, but he recognized her moves when she was faltering inside. Time hadn’t dulled his memories of Mandy Griffin. They were sharper than ever, which made sense, considering how often he’d taken them off the shelf of his heart and examined them over the years.
It didn’t help her name was inked in his skin. And he made damn sure she’d never know it.
“How’s Mike?” The words came unbidden.
She stopped with only a few feet between them. Her perfume was new. Subtle, it reminded him of fresh linen. Not the lavender scent he associated with her for so long.
