“More evidence of what an overachiever you are,” he commented. “It looks good.”
He stepped closer and spotted a few specks of paint she’d missed on her forehead. He rubbed at them with his finger. “Did you leave that there so I’d know you did the work yourself?”
Abby laughed. “Hardly. There was a lot of paint on me. I was bound to leave some behind, though I tried really hard to scrub it all off.”
He surveyed her. “I don’t see any more. Want me to conduct a more thorough inspection? Maybe hop in the shower with you and give you a thorough washing myself?”
“You wish. What I really want is a fish dinner.”
“Absolutely,” he said. She deserved that and more after what she’d accomplished today.
“You sure I look presentable enough to be seen in public?”
He lifted a brow. “You fishing for compliments? I didn’t think that was your style.”
“Every woman could use the occasional compliment,” she chided. “I’m no exception.”
“Then let me assure you that you look as beautiful as ever. Now grab a jacket and let’s head to the restaurant before I start getting other ideas.”
“To hear you tell it, you always have other ideas,” she retorted.
Seth laughed. “I do at that, so give me some credit for my amazing restraint.”
“I don’t know. It’s beginning to take a toll on me.”
“Me, too, sweetheart. Me, too.”
He noticed that she looked exceptionally pleased to hear that. This game to see which of them would fold first had probably been a bad idea. The stakes seemed to be climbing every time they got together.
At The Fish Tale, Seth and Abby found all the booths taken, so they took seats at the bar. Jack immediately served cold beers, then took their orders.
“You been painting?” he asked Abby.
She flushed and whirled on Seth. “You told me all the paint was gone,” she accused.
Jack looked bewildered. “I just heard a rumor earlier that you’d been tackling that house of yours on your own.”
Abby sat back, looking embarrassed. “Sorry. I have been, but I managed to paint myself almost as thoroughly as the living room. I’m a little sensitive about that.”
Jack frowned at Seth. “What’s wrong with you? Why weren’t you over there helping?”
“Hey, I volunteered. She has an independent streak. She wanted to prove something.”
Jack shook his head. “My Greta pulled that on me a time or two.”
“How’d you handle it?” Seth asked.
“I ignored her and pitched in, anyway. She scowled a lot but things got done a lot faster. Even she couldn’t deny that. She even thanked me once.”
Seth glanced at Abby. “That might not be the best approach with my friend here.”
She nodded approvingly. “Smart man. However,” she began with obvious reluctance, “if you offered again, I might be willing to let you help with the bedrooms.”
Seth caught her gaze. “Painting, you mean?”
Jack swallowed a guffaw, then quickly turned away.
Abby frowned at Seth’s teasing. “Yes, painting, though I’m suddenly having second thoughts about that.”
“Let the man help,” Jack recommended, giving her a wink. “It hurts our egos to think we’re not needed.”
“Seth’s ego seems just fine to me,” Abby commented.
“Nope, it’s seriously wounded,” Seth claimed.
Abby merely rolled her eyes. “Then the guest room is all yours,” she soothed.
“Not your room?” he asked.
She barely managed to conceal the grin tugging at her lips. “I thought we’d agreed that room was off-limits.”
Jack’s face turned red. “I’ll go get your meals,” he said, backing away.
“Now you’ve gone and embarrassed him,” Seth said.
“Me? You’re the one who kept poking away at all this talk about bedrooms. You seem a little obsessed.”
Seth held her gaze, then released a sigh. “I think maybe I am,” he admitted.
It was definitely worrisome.
* * *
It had been days since Seth had heard anything from either of his sisters. Crazy him, he’d assumed that meant they’d worked things out. Instead, he found legal papers seeking his presence for a deposition back home. It appeared Laura was going ahead with her lawsuit.
He punched in her number on his cell phone. “Why are you dragging me into this?” he demanded when Laura answered. “You already know what I’m going to say. I’m not going to be on your side. Didn’t you tell your attorney that?”
“He says he can make you a hostile witness,” she claimed defensively.
“So he can get me to say what? That Meredith is the wrong person to be handling the estate? She’s not. That you’re responsible enough to handle your own inheritance? You’re not. Stop this nonsense, Laura, before it gets out of hand and the only people with any money are the lawyers.”
“I don’t know what else to do,” she lamented. “I have to have that money, Seth. I’m in trouble and Meredith won’t help.”
He calmed down enough to hear the genuine panic in her voice. “What do you mean you’re in real trouble?”
“I can’t pay these credit card bills. I’m barely making rent and utilities. I’ve thought about trying to get a second job, but then I won’t have any time for Jason.”
Alarm bells went off. “Are you and Jason seeing each other again?”
“Not really, but I keep hoping he’ll change his mind,” she admitted.
“Oh, Laura, don’t count on that,” he said gently. “As for those bills, see a credit counselor. Maybe he can help you work things out.”
“Meredith could solve it all with the stroke of a pen,” she countered bitterly.
“Until the next time.”
“There won’t be a next time,” she promised. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m determined to prove that to you, Meredith and to Jason.”
“Honey, I think your ex-husband might be a lost cause,” he dared to suggest.
“Don’t say that,” she pleaded, crying.
“It’s time to face facts,” Seth said. “He gave you plenty of chances to fix things and you kept right on
