Why was it that every time I saw that man I wanted to jump him, yet we instead get into some kind of shouting match? He was so far under my skin I didn’t think the itch would ever leave me. He had the audacity to kiss me in my own kitchen yesterday and then not even say hello. Well fine, I had other things to worry about. Because I knew I wasn’t just frustrated because of his attitude toward me.

Having an overprotective father could really dampen a girl's fun. Poor Kadee merely wanted to ride her bike, instead she looked like a tiny version of the Michelin Man. I remembered fondly the hours cycling around the military bases where my father was stationed. A girl needed her wheels, her freedom, even if it was on a secured, fenced-in site with soldiers keeping pace as you rode.

Granted Kadee wasn’t at that age yet, or even in the same predicament that I was. She was in a quiet, leafy cul-de-sac, where the only danger was a pothole in need of repairing. But if Derek was going to keep on wrapping her up in layers upon layers of cotton wool, strapping padding to her like she was part of the defensive line, she’d soon push back. Hard.

I slammed the front door, suffocating a scream. It rattled and with it the rest of the house. I slumped back against it and as if in response to my turbulent thoughts and the state of my mind, the wooden rack to hang coats and scarves besides the door that looked like it had been installed when the house was first built, clattered to the floor. A dusty shower of plaster snowed down on top of it. I screamed internally, was this whole place falling apart? Had I made a mistake coming here?

I kicked at the dead rack and headed for the dining room where my new purchases waited. Slamming doors, much like that damnable neighbor, may be best avoided.

Needing to occupy my hands, before I wrecked anything else, I emptied the bags, scattering my purchases from the hardware store across the dining room table. There was too much stuff I didn’t know what to do with, I’d bought with my heart instead of my head. I had also been busy buying decorative details I couldn’t resist but had little chance of putting to use yet.

Studying YouTube videos over the past couple of weeks had made everything look easy enough. But now in the face of the reality of it all, it felt overwhelming. There was so much to do. Maybe Derek was right; I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn't know where to start for the best. I hadn't even thought about the porch steps that still needed mending, and the kitchen was still drying out. This surprisingly expensive shopping trip was not going to make much of an impact. Only two days in and the costs were racking up.

Perhaps I shouldn't have spent quite as much on the new bed that was due to arrive later today, but as my aunt had always said, “if nothing else, always make sure you have a decent bed. After a good night’s sleep or a roll in the sack, you’ll be ready to tackle anything.” Doing the horizontal mambo wasn’t exactly part of my agenda when I bought the thing, even with the dreamy hunk across the street plaguing my thoughts. But I couldn't bare to sleep another night wrapped up in a sleeping-bag on top of thin sofa cushions.

Thinking of Aunt Dakota, and all of her timely advice, somehow revived my determination. I had to start somewhere today, even if it was something small.

Bite by bite, I would get there.

I did not have anything ready for tackling a serious job in the house. But as long as I got going, made a dent in my ever growing to-do list, however superficial, I would hopefully feel better. My mind jumped back to the new hole beside the front door, left by the rack. There was some logic to starting at the front door and working inwards. Before I could talk myself out of it, or let doubts creep in like territorial spiders, I grabbed up the necessary materials, wall filler, a smoothing spatula, damp cloth and got to work with renewed purpose.

* * *

After what seemed like hours I felt like I was not making much progress, but I was still standing. Teeth set and determined. Starting with the hole the rack had left behind I’d worked around the room patching the walls as I went, smoothing over the rough finish and filling in holes left by picture-frame nails. I had to give myself some credit, it looked a little better. I also felt the weight lift ever so slightly from my burdened shoulders, like I had not only evened out the walls but also smoothed out the frayed edges of my current emotions.

Spying the tatty old shelf in the dining room, I pointed to it with my newly acquired crowbar. “Your time’s up!”

It had to go, I couldn't walk past it without scrunching up my nose like there was a bad smell. It had been fixed there with little care or attention with ugly miss matched materials.

It had obviously made itself at home there in its crooked position on the wall and was resistant to the idea of moving. The old rusty screws had given up on their purpose in life long ago and protested when I tried to pry them out. Even when everything that was seemingly holding the shelf to the wall had been removed, it clung there still as if it had fused with the house itself. I laughed, would I have to demolish a whole wall just to get rid of the thing?

“Don't look at me like that, you have to go! We tried the easy way, now for the hard way,” I said and plucked up a hammer.

I glared at it for a moment hoping it would finally give up, but I wasn’t so lucky. Tentatively at first, I whacked it, my hits getting more furious, rage and frustration channeling their way through the hammer till the point of impact.

But it didn’t move. I stood back exasperated and stared at the ugly thing. How was it still clinging on?

In desperation, I took a firm grip of the shelf, letting it bear my weight, and jiggled downward, pulling as hard as I could. At first it didn't budge, but with a final exertion it collapsed.

There was a loud clatter and a crumbling sound as the shelf hit the floor followed by more plaster and dust, then me of course when I couldn’t keep my balance. I coughed and cursed in equal measure.

“HA! Georgie 1 - House 0! Now what do you have to say for yourself?” I said to the mess on the floor accusingly. I supposed technically if we were keeping score I was very much behind, but deluding myself was the better option for the moment, I thought with a wry smile.

There was a firm knock on the door.

I looked from the front door back to the discarded shelf with a raised eyebrow.

“Friends of yours out for revenge?” Dusting myself off I went to answer it, wondering who it could be since I barely knew anyone in Hollow Point.

Derek and Kadee stood there. The sight of him stirred my anger as well as that persistent tingle down below. God, he was so yummy. Especially when he wore that tool-belt around his hips, bearing the heavy weight of the instruments of his trade. Not to mention how it also had the added benefit of pushing the tops of his Levi’s down a smidge, allowing me a sinful glimpse of the defined contoured muscle that led, I could only imagine, to heaven.

Distracting myself I turned to Kadee’s bright smile. She was grinning and holding out a large book. He was also holding a bundle of something.

“Hello?” I greeted them hesitantly, “what’s going on?”

“Hi, I was thinking…” Derek started, but trailed off. Was he blushing?

“This is for you!” Kadee blurted out.

“Yeah, that’s for you,” he continued with a small smile. “And I was thinking it would be pretty great if you would help Kadee tomorrow with her bike. We both agreed. I also never really thanked you for the food the other day.”

I took the large book from Kadee’s excited hands.

“Oh,” I said quite stunned at this turn-around. Maybe he wasn’t all hard edges after all? “And what’s this” I asked studying the book.

“Well, I think that will be great for you, it’s been with me for years. I don't really need it anymore. But you could probably get some use out of it.”

It was a heavy robust volume, weathered and worn, and had the feel of a book that had been bound a couple of decades ago. In neat gold lettering on the cover read “Renovation and Home Improvement - The Beginners Path To A Dream Home”.

“I know it looks a little old but it’s pretty much perfect for houses like these. Especially if you want to add those traditional touches.”

I was busy dwelling on the word beginner as he explained. Sure I was a novice but did he really see me that way? Like I needed an instruction manual to get by? “Thanks,” I said and put the book to one side. It was the thought that counted right?

“I also got this for you, think of it as a house warming gift, maybe?”

I unraveled the bundle which appeared to be a work belt of sorts. I could feel myself blushing, had he somehow caught my lingering gaze all those times I’d seen him wear his? Continuing to peel back the layers, I peeked inside. There was an array of shiny new tools some of which I didn't even recognize, let alone name.

“Oh, wow. These look expensive. You shouldn’t have. Really, I can’t accept this.”

He waved away my words. “I insist. You’ll find them invaluable for anything you’re doing. Trust me, you’ll wonder how you ever got on without them after you give them a try.”

It was hard to resist his sincerity and the confident, passionate manner in which he always spoke about his line of work. Though I wished we could talk about that kiss instead, but with Kadee present I bit my tongue and hushed the urge, as well as the persistent warmth to my cheeks.

“Georgie, can we ride my bike tomorrow?” Kadee chirped in, a little bored with the grown-up conversation.

“Now hold on Kadee, don’t forget your manners. What do you say?” Derek interjected.

Kadee stood up a little taller and in her most endearing voice invoked the magic word like a small but determined wizard.

“Please?”

I looked back to study Derek’s expression for a moment, making sure he was completely on board. He nodded and I shot back a smile.

“It’ll make her day,” he encouraged, “and mine.”

I blinked, wondering if he’d actually said those last words or if I’d imagined them.

Kadee tugged on my hand. “So will you?”

“Of course, honey. I’ll be there, we’ll have so much fun.” I glanced back to Derek, our eyes locked. “Come and get me anytime,” I said and waited to see his reaction to the potential innuendo.

Derek coughed. “Great, there we go, sweetie.” Derek shifted his attention from Kadee back to me. “I’m sure I’ll come in handy sooner or later… so let me know if you need any help.”