A Bridge Home--A Clean Romance by Virginia McCullough

Author:Virginia McCullough
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-05-15T17:56:49+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

AMY PUSHED OPEN the front door, hearing the mixed sounds of pounding and buzzing. “Eric?” she called. “It’s Amy.” No answer. She stood in the entryway, bakery box in hand, and scanned both the mess and the obvious progress. Eric hadn’t been kidding when he’d described the work he and Seth were putting into the place. But what a gem of a house. The wood railings on the curved stairway were stripped bare and exposed the gorgeous oak. Nice. She took a few more steps into the open area of the living and dining rooms. Only a couch, a coffee table, a treadmill and TV occupied the space. “Eric?”

Suddenly, he appeared around a corner in dusty jeans and T-shirt. “I thought I heard my name.” He looked behind her. “You’re alone? Scott showed up?”

“Part of it. He’s taking her to the movies in Clayton and they’ll have a quick dinner before he drops her off.” She pointed to the porch. “I left my bike out there. Is that okay?”

“I’m sure it’s safe. Your bike is a sign of spring.” He grinned and used his forearm to push his hair back off his face. “We’ll be calling it quits for the day soon. Seth and Brad, a guy from his crew, are almost finished installing fixtures in two of the bathrooms. I’m on the last leg of sanding the first-floor woodwork.”

“Here. These are for you. Jelly doughnuts from Sweet Comforts. Every work crew deserves a treat.”

“Thanks. How did you know they’re the best jelly doughnuts in the Midwest?” He took the box from her outstretched hands and gave her an impish grin. “I may share with Seth and Brad.”

Standing in the middle of the living room, Amy suddenly found it hard to breathe. Not from the plaster or the sanding dust. The house caught her off guard. There was something special about the open and airy space. “This house is incredible.”

“Thanks. I still can’t believe my luck.”

Her eye caught the leaded glass windows in the dining room with their blue and yellow diamond patterns.

Eric followed her gaze. “I noticed those beauties right away, too. They’re originals. Come with me. I’ll show you around.”

Amy followed him into the kitchen. She could see the markings where the wall had once closed off the room. That was gone now and vertical beams and a counter took its place. “I like how you’ve opened it up,” she said, making circles with her arms. “My grandparents’ house could do with fewer walls that shrink the layout.”

“Speaking of that, I’m adding a deck.” He pointed to the back door. “As soon as it’s reliably spring we’re opening up that wall and putting in long patio doors that will lead onto the deck.”

She could picture every change he described, from his practical approach to expanding the closets to his ideas for updating the kitchen. He led her upstairs to the four spacious bedrooms and old-fashioned linen cabinets and drawers in the hall.

“As you can see, I wanted lots of room,” he said.

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