Kyle

Walking through the parking lot and into Woody’s, the lumber yard named after my father, I mentally make a list of the supplies I need. Working on the cabin this evening wasn’t part of the plan, but after the invite from Drew, I needed an excuse to decline.

Heading to the back, I hear a familiar voice. “Hey son.”

Looking up, I see my stepdad taking inventory, wearing his hardhat of course. My mom would have his head if he didn’t. “Hey Jimmy. I didn’t know you were working tonight.”

“The truck broke down, all special orders expected today will be delayed till…tomorrow.” He climbs down. “Or was it Thursday?” He reaches for the tablet he insisted we get to make inventory tracking easier. “Yep, Thursday.”

“That works.” I look around, not really knowing what to say. Jimmy has always been there for me and my mom since they started dating. When he married her, he accepted me as his own. So, when he lost his job as an investment banker five years ago, hiring him seemed like the right thing to do. At fifty-five, he was pretty well set from making smart investments, but he needed to feel like he was providing. Which I understand. So, I gave him a job doing something he would be great at: working with numbers and special orders.

“Are you coming to the big 6-0?” He rolls his eyes, causing me to crack up a little. As much as he likes to pretend he hates my mom’s parties, he secretly loves them. Especially birthday parties.

“Yeah, Jimmy. I’ll be there.” I pull my phone out and pretend to check my emails.

“Good. Good.” He nods.

“Well, I better check in with the office, then I’m going to grab a few gallons of primer.”

“Be careful, son. It’s supposed to rain and those roads can get pretty slick.”

“Always.” I nod as I make my way back out front and toward the paint counter.

“What’s happenin’ my man?” Dillion, a college student who runs the paint department while he is home during the summers, throws up his hand. “What? Going to leave me hangin’?”

Reaching up, I pat him on the back. “Just have to grab a few things and then I’m out.”

“Here I thought I was going to get a break for dinner.” He plops down in a chair, grabbing a bag of chips out from the drawer beside him, eating a handful at a time. Chip crumbs fall around him.

“Who’s covering for you?” I cross my arms, sitting on the counter. Either someone called in or this kid is trying to scam another break.

“Normally Carl, but he’s on vacation. He wasn’t going to take it knowing we were shorthanded, but I told him I would just bring something in. No big deal.” Another handful of chips.

“You know what? I got this, go have dinner. Take an hour if you want.”

“Really?” He stands up, wiping his hand on his jeans.

“I have stuff I need to get done anyway.”

“Sir? Do you have just a light gray?” an older woman calls over from the samples.

“You got this.” He slaps me on the back, as he runs off, probably leaving a grease mark from the chips on my shirt.

Plastering on my biggest smile, I head over to the woman. “Hey there beautiful, do you happen to have an example of this gray?”

“Well, aren’t you a sweetie,” she replies. “I do…” She rummages through her purse, digging out a picture. “But everything I hold up to it either looks really blue or really green.” She huffs, clearly worn out from trying to decide on a color, and hands over the picture.

“Ahh! You want this color right here.” I pull out a sample and compare.

“Yes! That’s the one.”

“Good. How many gallons do you need?”

“That’s a good question.” She starts explaining how big her room is, using her hands and the size of my department. She goes on and on about what color it was painted before and the time before that and the time before that.

I try to find an opportunity to cut in, but my eyes drift to the opposite side of the department. The beautiful brunette from the coffee shop is here, in my store, looking at paint samples.

“Sweetie?” The older lady startles me.

“Uh, yeah…one gallon will be plenty. If you use this brand over here.” I smile again and walk down the aisle, grabbing a can. “This is a primer and paint in one. It will cover the existing color and all the layers before that.” I wink.

“So, you were paying attention, because I could have sworn you were looking at that little darling over there.” She points.

I push her hand down. “Shhh. She may hear you.”

“You were.”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” I begin to get flustered.

“Well isn’t that just darling. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a man of your stature get this embarrassed over ogling a girl.” She sets the picture and sample down. “I’m just going to grab a few things and supplies. Be back in a few.” She leans in and whispers. “Good luck.”

What just happened?

“I wasn’t ogling!” I say loudly, causing coffee girl, a.k.a. Niki’s sister, to turn in my direction.

“I wasn’t,” I plead.

Eyes wide, mouth agape, she turns back around and resumes fiddling with samples, picking one up and placing it back where it belongs.

Did I just get ignored? “I mean I was looking, but I wasn’t ogling.” I take the can of base paint and begin to tint it.

This time she shoots me an irritated look as she turns, but she still doesn’t speak.

“Oh wait. That didn’t come out right.” I hurry and put the paint in the shaker. “I just meant I was…” Her back is to me before I can finish. “Noticing you were the girl from today,” I say to no one.

As the paint mixes, I stand and wait for her to turn again, but she doesn’t. I get a little side glance, but once she notices me watching, she turns away. Maybe she will need some paint.

Eyeballing the time, I realize Dillion should be back any minute.

“Paint done?” The older lady is back with a cart full of supplies.

“Perfect timing.” I walk around the counter, grabbing a wooden paint stick and opener as I lift the paint into her cart.

“Did you go talk to her?” Her voice travels loud enough for Niki’s sister to hear, causing her to let out a soft giggle.

“No.” I tilt my head to the heavens and beg for a do-over.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” She tries to maneuver the cart, but a wheel sticks.

Picking the front up and giving it a little kick, I set it back down. “For some privacy.”

“Ahhh! Well, you go get ’em tiger.” She makes a clawing motion with her hand and roars.

“Seriously?” I mutter as she wheels away.

“Hey, man. Thanks for covering.” Dillion walks back in, soda in hand.

“No problem.” I hand him a list. “I have to take care of some things. Can you have one of the stock hands get this order together and meet me up front?”

“Sure thing, man.”

“Thanks.”

Picking my phone up off the counter, I stick it in my front pocket and head over to coffee girl.

“What I was trying to say…” I begin to clear up the situation earlier, but look down to see her putting all the paint samples in the right places. Not looking at the names, just putting them back by a quick once-over glance. “Why you are doing that?”

She twists to look at me, holding a handful of samples. “I don’t know.”

Reaching for the samples, I say, “You don’t have to do that.”

“No, these are mine. I’m helping my sister redecorate.” She takes a step back.

Am I making her uncomfortable? After what just happened, I’m the one who should be embarrassed.

“Interesting.” I stand, hands in pockets, rocking back and forth.

Something about this girl makes me want to reach out and touch her, and her reaction is telling me she would like anything but.

“What? You don’t think I can do it?” She folds her arms, challenging me.

“There you are. Now I can tell you are Niki’s sister.” I flash her a smile.

“What’s that supposed to mean, and how did you know she’s my sister?”

“Whoa…” I hold my hands in the air. “How about we start over. Obviously, you are taking this all wrong.” I reach my hand out. “I’m Kyle. Kyle Lewis.”

I stretch my hand out a little further, and she finally takes it. “I’m Nina Sanders.” And quickly lets go.

“Nice to meet you, and just to clear things up, I was staring but I wasn’t ogling. Not that you aren’t ogle-worthy because you are more than.”

“Oh.”

The way she responds irritates me a little. This girl, woman, is too cute and sexy as hell. Her hair dark and long, body slim, and her eyes...they are a green I’ve never seen before. I’m going to have to investigate them later.

Later?

“I was just shocked that you were here, in my store, looking at paint samples. That’s all,” I tell her, ignoring my thoughts. If Niki even had a suspicion I went there, she would start sharpening her knife now.

“Okay,” she responds, blushing.

“Did you need me to mix some paint up for you?”

“Nope.” She waves the samples in front of her. “I think I’m good.”

“Need help finding anything else?” I try my damnedest to keep her here a little bit longer. Hell, I would show her every piece of inventory if it meant I could be near her.

“I’m good.” She begins to walk backward with the cutest smile on her face. One edge higher than the other. Not quite a smirk, but not a full smile either. “I need to get going so I can draw up some sketches.” She stuffs the samples into her back pocket.

“Let me walk you out.”

“It’s alright. You have work to do.” She turns and when she does, she runs right into the end cap, knocking off a few boxes of nails.

“I’m so sorry,” she says at the same time I let her know it’s okay. Both bending down, we clash heads. “Crap.”

She tries to stand up, but trips over a box behind her. Falling into my arms, she relaxes for a split second before she totally stiffens.

“I need to get going.” She wiggles free.

“Nina, you okay?” I shove my hands in my back pockets. As much as I want to reach out and examine her from head to toe, I can tell my touch isn’t welcome.

“Yeah, I’m good.” She pivots and heads for the doors.

“Let me walk you out.” I follow.

“No need. Front row.” She waves as the automatic doors open and is in her car before they can close.

“Damn.”

“What’s wrong, son?” Jimmy comes up placing his hand on my back.

“Nothing.” I lean away. This is one subject we will never talk about again. The last time, his help cost me the only woman I’ve ever loved.

Nina

I’m sitting on the couch, which is now in the middle of the room so I can get a better feel for my canvas. My sketch pad on my lap and pencil in hand, a creative outburst flows from my imagination to my fingertips. Paint samples taped to pages, pillows flung all over the floor. To anyone else, it would look like a disaster, but to me…art.

I’m not sure how long I have been at this, but I’m guessing it’s been a while. Once I got back from town, I was on edge from running into Mr. Tall Guy.

Kyle Lewis is everything that I would have wanted before. He is perfect. Dark hair, chiseled jaw and steel blue eyes that pierce right through to your core. The only problem? I had one of those before and I can’t risk having one of those again.

I push him out of my mind with each room. Measuring, mentally rearranging, I fall into a routine, a therapy of sorts, and it feels so good.

“Nina! We have pizza.” Niki comes barreling in.

“Oh good! Niki…look at this.” I gather up all my ideas.

“What happened in here?” Gavin’s eyes are wide. “I thought you were going to make it better, not worse.” His smile gives him away.

“Chill. I’ll put everything back before bed.” Oh crap! What time is it? I look around the room, searching for a clock.

Niki notices my panic. “Ten. We just got off work.”

“That’s right. I almost forgot.” I was so distracted by Kyle that I forgot Niki called the house phone to tell me how I needed to get a new cell phone because she had no way of reaching me to let me know she and Gavin had to stay late.

“Uh-huh…tomorrow we get you a phone,” Niki mutters, following Gavin into the kitchen. “Meat lovers or veggie?” Niki weighs the box in each hand, teasing.

“Both, but while you guys are eating I have to show you this.”

“You. Come with me.” Gavin flashes his megawatt smile, letting me know it’s okay. “Couch gets fixed now.”

Niki and Gavin look at each other. “Couch cuddle time!”

“I’ll grab the pizza and beer. You guys fix the couch.”

“Whoa! I am not cuddling with you guys.” I hold up my hands.

Not waiting on me, Gavin puts the couch back to where he had it.

“Of course not, Nina. You can sit over there and show us your designs.” Niki sets the pizza on the coffee table and hands Gavin a beer. “You want one?”

Scrunching up my nose, I pass, trying to push back the memory of Brandon breathing on me after a long night out with his co-workers. “Entertaining clients” is what he called it.

“You guys get settled because sitting here is like a kid waiting to open presents on Christmas Day. Except, I feel more like Santa, not the kids.” I start passing out the sketches. “Because I’m giving the gifts, not receiving. Well, I guess it would be my present since I love doing this. Oh my god, I’m rambling.”

“Speaking of Christmas, remember that old record player mom had? Each Christmas she would play the Chipmunks’ Christmas album.” She trails off and starts singing, Gavin following behind.

“Niki!” I pick up one of the pillows, tossing it over her head to get her attention, but yet avoid an epic food disaster.

“I’m sorry! I’m just messing with you.” She takes a long pull of her beer. “We’re ready.”

Her saying “we’re ready” was like announcing a race. I was primed with design and rearing to go.

Ready. Set. Go.

Colors, lines, fabrics, I’m consumed and they listen to me go on and on until they can’t keep their eyes open anymore. All of us head to bed and for once, I’m excited to start my new day. Not too thrilled about waking up at five a.m., but going in early means I get to get off early to work on the designs.

It’s been so long since I have felt like this, was able to be creative and free. My imagination was my independence. Brandon used to encourage me when he thought it was a hobby, but the moment he thought I wanted to explore it, the excuses started coming in. I wasn’t allowed to have an opinion or be good at anything that would cause me to be successful.

So, this moment healed a little part of me.