My Unexpected Hope by Tammy L. Gray

Author:Tammy L. Gray [Gray, Tammy L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781542045797
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Published: 2017-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

When Laila pulled up to her house Saturday evening, the yard looked as if a small tornado had passed through it. Long tree limbs lay across the grass. Old boards were stacked in a pile by the porch next to two black trash bags.

Laila parked the car and searched for any signs of life. “Uh, hello?” she called after slamming the car door.

“Back here,” came a voice from the side of the house. She followed it around and practically stumbled when Chad appeared, shirtless with an ax in his hand. The dead bush he’d been hacking at lay on its side, a piece of root stubbornly fixed to the ground.

It had only been six days since she’d last engaged with him, but somehow the sight of him sober and strong made her world feel lighter.

“W-what are you doing?” she stammered, taking in the dark tan ripple of muscle across his abdomen. When in the world had he grown those?

“What I should have done years ago.” He tossed the ax to the ground and stretched his hands over his head. On the far side of his torso was a wide strip of white medical tape, the skin around it slightly yellowed as if the injury had happened a while ago. He caught her looking and quickly dropped his arms.

She wanted to ask what happened, but the question felt too personal. “You don’t have to do all this,” she said instead.

“I know, but you’re moving soon, and our jerk of a landlord is going to gouge you if he thinks you’re vulnerable. You’ve been a steady stream of income for years. But if Mr. Novak realizes I’m back taking care of things, he’ll behave.

She knew he was right, so even though she wanted to refuse his help and shield her eyes from his bare skin, she simply focused on the wood siding and said, “Okay. Thanks.”

“I can get this all bagged up in about an hour. Mind if I stay and finish?”

“No, of course. Take as much time as you like. And thank you.” Feeling a sudden spark of nerves, Laila backed away. “Well, I’m going to”—she pointed over her shoulder—“head back inside. I’ve been running around all day, and I need to get these shoes off.”

Chad wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. “What kind of running?”

“Oh, this and that. I spent the day in Burchwood.” She didn’t need to say what she’d been doing or whom with. They both knew. “Anyway, I’ll bring out some lemonade if you’re thirsty.”

“That’d be great. Thanks.” He picked up the ax again, though she noticed now that he favored his right side when he did so.

She rushed away before she did the unthinkable and reached out to touch the tender-looking area. Her cheeks flushed as vivid images of caressing Chad’s damp skin brought a fresh wave of guilt over her. She’d left Ben not even a half hour ago. They’d checked on the bathroom renovation progress in the cottage, caught a movie, and then ended the day with ice cream and a walk through the park.

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