Page 39 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

“I wouldn’t want anyone to find out.”

I took the glass she offered me. Our fingers touched, sending an electric jolt through my body. It was ridiculous how easily she sent me reeling.

We moved to the living room. Given the lack of furniture, we sat on the floor and leaned against the wall.

“I love the color you picked out,” she said.

“Greige,” I said with a laugh. “It’s in right now.”

“I like it,” she said. “It’s bright and warm at the same time.”

We sipped the wine and fell into a somewhat awkward silence.

“It feels good to have someone in the house,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s been too quiet. Too empty.”

I nodded, understanding more than she might have thought. “Houses are like that until you fill them with noise and clutter and life,” I said.

She sighed. “It’s just so weird to be here and he’s not.”

“I know. I didn’t even live here and I think it’s kind of strange.”

“How did you get into renovating houses?” she asked like she was trying to change the subject.

“It just kind of happened,” I said.

“Do you like what you do?”

“I do. I like the transformation. The before and after is exciting. A lot of people look at a house like this and think it’s better to just tear it down. I see a project and it gets me excited. It’s like bringing something back to life. Every house has its own story, you know? Just needs someone willing to help tell it.”

Merritt nodded. Her eyes drifted around the room then returned to mine. “I guess it’s a good thing you came around.”

I finished the last of my wine.

“Want more?” She was already getting up to go get the bottle. She returned and poured me another glass.

That was my first mistake. Technically, my second. The wine was going down way too easily.

“You said you own your company?” she asked.

“Yes. I call it a company but it’s not like I have a big office and all that. Luke and Wes are my two full-time guys. I have a handful of other guys I use if I have a big enough job.”

“Must be nice to have your own setup,” Merritt said, topping off her own cup. “A lot of freedom, I imagine.”

“It is,” I agreed. “Lots of responsibility too, but it’s rewarding. Like this.” I gestured around at her half-fixed house. “Seeing the progress at the end of the day is satisfying.”

We continued talking, the wine making the words flow easier between us. Merritt’s laugh became more frequent.

Before I knew it, we were polishing off the entire bottle.

“Got a boyfriend back in Miami?” I asked. Hell, the wine was giving me loose lips.

“Nope,” she said. “I don’t have time for that.”

“For dating?”

“No. It’s a pain in the ass, don’t you think?”

“I don’t really date,” I said. “Not seriously.”