Her Handyman Hero

Slowly Reid lowered his tall frame to the wooden step. Lily flashed a big smile as she handed him the book, then burrowed under his arm, balancing her elbow on his thigh. Tori watched the broad shoulders ease and the hard line of his jaw soften. No one could resist her Lily.

The sound of his deep, soft voice sent a warm tremor through her heart. Behind that dark cloak of mystery he wore was the heart of a kind man. She’d like to know more about him.

What was she thinking? There was no time for any kind of relationship. She had her hands full raising Lily and running her business.

She glanced at the pair on the steps. Lily snuggled close as Reid spoke the words softly. It would be nice to have someone to share her life, her work.

She shoved the thought aside. Her track record in the romance department was abysmal, and she vowed to avoid all personal relationships going forward. And fantasizing about them, too, for good measure.

* * *

Reid read the simple words of the book—a story about a baby squirrel separated from his mother—all the while aware of the sweet child snuggled against him. His brother’s little girl. The thought settled deep inside, stirring up unfamiliar emotions. A tiny hand reached out and awkwardly turned to the next page. Lily grinned up at him, then settled back down. He focused and went on with the story. “‘Why are you out all alone, little squirrel?’ asked the big black bird.”

“No, Mr. Reid. You have to say it different. Like this.”

Lily lowered her chin and repeated the words in a deep voice, drawing a soft chuckle from his chest that he hadn’t expected.

“The bird is a meanie. So you have to talk like a meanie when you read him.”

Her sincerity was both amusing and amazing. He knew nothing about kids. But he knew this little girl, Eddie’s child, was undoubtedly smart beyond her years.

He managed to finish the book with the appropriate voice changes and received a kiss on the cheek from Lily that left a fuzzy, warm sensation in the center of his chest. Before standing, he watched her skip back to the swing.

Miss Montgomery was leaning against the railing watching Lily, and the look of love on her face brought a soft glow to her skin. He had no doubts about her affection for his niece, but there was more to consider. She’d admitted financial trouble. That gave him concern. He needed a little time to get a good read on the situation. He needed the handyman job to keep him close by. It was the perfect cover.

His conscience pinged. Eddie was right. He shouldn’t be lying to her, and he’d tell her the truth soon. He’d rather have a better understanding before he came clean, though. A couple days, at least.

“Miss Montgomery, I have a suggestion if you’ll hear me out. I don’t mind helping out around here until things improve for you. We can settle up when you’re able.”

“I can’t ask you to do that. Besides, why would you want to work for free?”

Reid rubbed his temple. A plausible story quickly formed in his mind, only to be overlaid with his brother’s reprimand. Eddie was right again. He’d been working undercover for so long that lying came more easily than telling the truth. He needed to get a handle on this right now, and keep as close to the truth as possible without revealing his true relationship with Lily. “The fact is, I left my last job. I needed a change. I thought a small town would be a good place to start. The work I’d do around here would allow me to sharpen my rusty handyman skills.”

“What did you do before?”

Reid chose his words carefully. “I was in law enforcement.”

“Oh. My brother is a police officer here in Dover. I know how stressful it can be. I can understand your need for a new direction. I felt the same way when I became Lily’s guardian. But I’m finding changing course harder than I expected. I thought buying this place would be the answer. I wasn’t prepared for all the unexpected problems.”

“You bought this place because of Lily?”

She nodded. “I had to make a living, and I thought that opening a bed-and-breakfast would allow me to provide for her and still spend time with her. Unfortunately, it’s not working out the way I’d hoped.”

She needed him, and he pressed his advantage. “Miss Montgomery, I meant what I said. I’d be happy to help around here for a few weeks.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and faced him. “How would you feel about working for room and board?”

“I’m listening.”

“The small building behind the main garage is actually a studio apartment. The girls converted it for their older brother.”

“Girls?”

“Ada and Edna Smiley. Camellia Hall was their family home for generations. The apartment hasn’t been used in a long time, but it’s larger than the motel room you’re currently in. You can take your meals with us. I’m not the best cook in town, but you won’t starve.”

It was the perfect solution and more than he’d hoped for. “All right. I have to admit the Dixiana is getting smaller by the day.”

She nodded. “Flo runs a good business, but Dover needs more options for visitors. It’s either the tiny cabins at the motel or the high prices at the Lady Banks Inn. I want to offer another option. Something more reasonably priced and comfortable than the formality of the inn.”

He extended his hand to seal the agreement. “We have a deal, then? Room and board in exchange for work.” She hesitated a moment, then grasped his hand. Her fingers fluttered in his palm. Did he make her nervous? He looked into her eyes and felt the jolt again, a strange kind of connection he’d never experienced before. She possessed an energy that vibrated through her fingers. And he found it intriguing.

She broke eye contact, tugging her hand from his. “You can move in as soon as you like. I’ll find the key and get it to you.”

“There’s still half a day left. What can I do next?”

“There are several doors that won’t shut and windows that won’t open, and the pocket doors between the two parlors are stuck.”

“I would have thought your contractor, uh, Floyd, would have taken care of this.”

“He would have, but it was one of many things that got cut from the budget. There were roof leaks, foundation repairs, termites, plumbing problems and electrical issues. Which didn’t leave any room in the budget for anything else.”

“How much work do you still need to do?”

“Small things here in the main part of the house. The original plan called for upgrades in the living quarters where Lily and I are. And a complete remodel of the tearoom on the other end of the house. I’d hoped to keep it running to bring in a little income, but that’s on hold now.” She motioned him to follow her. “Let me show you what needs to be done. None of the doors in the living quarters close completely.”

He gestured for her to lead the way, following her to the end of the hall to a door marked with a small plaque that read Private. It resisted when she pulled it open. “This one is the worst.”

He made a note to start with that door. He followed her through it, his mood lifting considerably. He’d managed to convince her to keep him on as handyman. The offer of room and board had been more than he’d expected. He could see how Lily and Tori interacted without it seeming like he was spying on them. Which was what he was doing. He’d manipulated her into keeping him around. Eddie’s warning surfaced again. A few days, that’s all, then he’d come clean. Once he was sure Tori was a responsible guardian, he’d explain everything. Hopefully, by then, they would have established a good relationship, and his request to take Lily to see her dad wouldn’t be an issue.

Tori stopped in the living area, which was one large room with a small kitchen tucked against the back wall beside a narrow staircase leading to the second floor. A comfy sofa was placed invitingly in front of a charming fireplace. French doors on either side led out to the wide porch. He was struck by how welcoming the small space was. “Nice place.”

“Thank you. This corner of the house used to be the servants’ quarters. It’s the perfect size for us. We’ll be spending most of our time in the main house, hopefully entertaining lots of guests, but this will be our own private retreat.”

A sudden image of him and Tori cuddled on the sofa flashed into his mind. He shut it down. “Do these doors work?”

“Yes, but the bedroom doors upstairs could use some work, as well.”

Reid’s gaze drifted to the far corner of the living room and the desk there. Something sparkled, and he stepped closer. Boxes of flashy jewelry cluttered the top. Several large pieces were spread out on a felt board and held in place with pins. “What’s all this?”

“My custom-jewelry business. I take old brooches, pins and necklaces and rework them into statement necklaces and sell them online.”

“A woman of many talents.”

“Right now all I want is to get ready for my guests.”

“Those bee bees Lily mentioned?”

She smiled, and Reid couldn’t help but notice it was brighter than the jewelry she worked on. Something about Tori made you feel welcome and accepted. His conscience flared. He’d spent years living a lie, pretending to be someone he wasn’t, but it had never felt like this.