“Yeah, I think so.” The job was going to be more complicated and take longer than he’d envisioned, but he felt kind of buzzed. It was lucky he’d always been good at math. The stuff about the van—he could talk to her about it when the timing seemed right. “I’m going over there now. I can’t do any calculations until I have measurements.”
He managed to subdue his physical reaction to Erin before he crossed the street. Wouldn’t want to shock the old guy.
Speaking of Mr. Zatloka, he came out to watch and hold the other end of the tape measure. Cole suggested building the ramp from the back stoop rather than the front, and Mr. Zatloka agreed. He didn’t look dismayed when Cole told him the job would probably take several weeks, explaining about the gradient and the landing he planned to put halfway. He thought by tomorrow he might be ready to order what he needed.
Walking back across the street, Cole felt exhilarated. This was a real job and—aside from her original hint—Erin hadn’t gotten it for him.
* * *
TWO DAYS LATER, Erin and Cole picked up the first load of lumber for the ramp project, and she bought paint for another couple of rooms in her house, as well as more stripper so she could start on the molding downstairs.
When Cole saw that in her hand, he said, “You know, you’ll want to have the floors refinished.”
Her shoulders slumped. “They’ll look worse once I’ve redone everything else, won’t they?”
“Yep.” He seemed cheerful today, a mood she hadn’t associated with him before.
“I’ll have to move all the furniture out.” The idea was enough to make her feel overwhelmed.
“You’ll need to move out, too,” he said. “The stuff they use stinks, and the fumes probably aren’t good for you.”
“Ugh.” She slid her credit card through the reader. “I’ll do a Scarlett O’Hara on this one.”
He looked inquiring as the clerk laughed.
“‘After all, tomorrow is another day.’ Quote from Gone with the Wind.”
Cole didn’t say anything, only picked up the paint cans. As they crossed the parking lot, she glanced at him.
His throat worked. “I spent years knowing nothing would be any different tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry.” She touched his arm. If he noticed, he didn’t react.
They drove into the loading zone then, and he got out to help while she stayed put. The lumber and concrete blocks they were picking up today would form the underpinnings. They’d have to come back when he needed material for the ramp itself and the railings.
When he got in behind the wheel again, she said, “You need to drive on the highway and the freeway. Once you’ve done that, there’s no reason you can’t get your license.”
Lines deepened on his face, but after a moment he nodded. “You’re right. I think I’m okay to do that now.”
He was okay to do a lot now, she thought. So, all right, she could feel him slipping away. It was her problem that she desperately wished she didn’t have to lose him. In retrospect, she could see that she should’ve kept him at a distance. As it was, he’d become her best and only friend. No, it was more than that; she wanted him, too, in a way she didn’t think she’d ever wanted a man. Maybe it was just his dangerous vibe. A typical, stupid, female response to a man any woman should steer clear of.
The trouble was, he wasn’t anything like she’d expected. Withdrawn, yes, but he was also patient, kind, smart and proud.
She suspected that pride was what had kept him going all these years; it would also keep him from laying a hand on her or asking for anything but the most minor favors.
Well, she was bound to see less of him now that he was working across the street. She could wean herself away from her dependence on a man who was probably eager to stand on his own feet, needing no help from her.
At this low point in her reflections, he stopped to back into the Zatlokas’ driveway, then turned off the engine and raised the hatch door.
He didn’t argue when she got out to help him unload, which was a blessing since Mr. Zatloka popped out and insisted on doing the same. Seeing him trying to lift a concrete block was enough to make Erin lunge forward. Fortunately, Cole took the block from his hands and said, “You mind looking behind the front seat? I think that’s where I stuck the bags with screws and other hardware.”