“Mind if I go check on the Greenbriar house? I haven’t been over there in a week. I’m interested to see how things are coming along. We might need to start getting ready for an open house soon.”
“Go ahead. Say hi to your dad for me.”
Bonnie would happily say hi to her dad—right after she reamed Aaron out for conspiring behind her back with Mitch, of all people. It suddenly felt like he was backing off so Mitch could make his move. Why would he do that?
She was about to find out.
Sasha was outside in the driveway when she pulled up. He had gray paint sprinkled in his red hair.
“Hey there, stranger. Long time no see,” he said as she got out of the car.
“Hello to you, my friend. How are things going in there? Are you guys already painting?”
“We are. It’s looking pretty awesome. We’re doing an amazing job, if I do say so myself. I kind of wish I had plans to stay in town when you guys put it up for sale. It’s a really beautiful home.”
She patted him on his thick arm. “Well, you know there’s nothing I’d like more than for you to put down some roots here in Blue Springs.”
“Good thing I know a great Realtor who could help me do that...”
“Anytime. Is my dad in there?”
“He is. Your father is probably the hardest-working man I have ever met in my entire life. I am in awe of him every day.”
That was sweet. She thought he was pretty incredible as well. “I wish I had half of his stamina. Is Aaron here, too?”
“Boss man is inside as well. He told me putting on the finishing touches is his favorite part of this job.”
Maybe Aaron was distracted by all the little details that had to be done. Maybe he wasn’t really ignoring her on purpose.
The sound of classic-rock music greeted her when she opened the front door. When she walked inside, she was shocked at how different it looked. The kitchen cabinets were in, as well as the countertops and backsplash. The wood beams on the ceiling in the living room were up and absolutely stunning. The chandelier she’d chosen on their shopping trip was hanging in the dining room, and the pendant lights she’d fallen in love with were perfectly placed above the enormous island.
All the trim was done, and the paint was coming along. All that was left to do out in these common areas were the floors. When this place was staged for a showing, it was going to completely wow potential buyers.
“Bon Bon, what are you doing here?” Her dad came down the hall leading to the master bedroom.
“I was in the neighborhood. Thought I would check in on the progress. There’s been a lot of progress since I was here last.”
The pride on her dad’s face was priceless. “It’s coming together. I don’t think Aaron sleeps. He’s got an air mattress in the master that he says he’s been using, but I think the man never stops.”
“Funny, Sasha just told me you’re the one with endless energy around this place.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m just trying to keep up with Aaron. He’s the one in charge now.”
“Where is Aaron?”
“Painting the second bedroom, I think. That’s where the music is coming from, so I assume that’s where you’ll find him. Everything okay?”
Her father had some kind of parental sixth sense. He knew her moods better than she did.
“Everything’s fine. Just wanted to touch base with him about a couple things.”
“If you say so,” her dad said, not sounding the least bit convinced.
Bonnie followed the sound of music down the hall and into the first of the two guest bedrooms. Aaron was rolling more gray paint onto the walls. His light blue T-shirt had some paint on the sleeve. His jeans were like a memorial to all the work that had already been done. He had some cement on there from when her dad had taught him how to redo the concrete stoop. There was a tear on the leg where he’d gotten it snagged on a nail when they were putting in the bathtub. Black marker on his thigh from when he’d needed to jot down some measurements and didn’t have anything to write on other than himself. Now he was adding some paint to the mix.
Unaware she’d been standing there watching him, he jumped when he saw her. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“Sorry. I was just admiring the view. I mean, all the work you’ve done. This place looks fantastic, Aaron.”
He set his roller down in the paint tray and put his hands on his hips as he looked around. “It does, doesn’t it?”
“It’s going to fetch top dollar. I have no doubts.”
He didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands. He fidgeted a bit, almost like he was nervous. “Did you see the master bedroom yet?”
“I didn’t get that far.”
“You’ve got to check it out,” he said, coming over to where she stood in the doorway. He stopped, and for a second she thought he might kiss her. “Come on, you have to see it.”
Disappointment coursed through her veins. She was so foolish to think someone who hadn’t spoken more than a few words to her in weeks would want to start kissing again.
The master bedroom was painted the same gray on three of the four walls. The new wall that had been put in to extend the room so they could put in a bigger en suite was painted a nautical blue.
“I know I was supposed to keep things neutral so people could come in and imagine their stuff in here, but I wanted to add just a pop of color for fun. I figure this wall is where the bed will sit, so it needed something. If people hate it, it’s only paint. They can change it, right?”
“I think it’s awesome. Blue and gray work together nicely. The
