“Because before you dump and run and start your own business, you’ll agree to find and train your replacement here. And I want at least a year out of you.”
Brady let out a short laugh. “I can manage that.”
They worked out the details, and Carter showed him the vacant apartment upstairs. He’d stayed there himself before he’d bought his house. The apartment was serviceable, had a few pieces of furniture, like a bed, a couch, and a crap table in the small eating area off the kitchen. There were a set of dishes, utensils, towels, and stuff. Enough for Brady to survive. Anything else he needed, he could get for himself.
For a single guy, it would do, which was exactly what Brady said once he’d looked it over. He took it on the spot, and Carter told him rent wouldn’t be due until next month.
One major problem resolved. He filed Brady’s application and paperwork, and was looking forward to him starting work next week.
After that was finished, he headed home, changed into his old jeans and a T-shirt, and decided to wreck the guest bathroom. He had already ordered the new countertop and bought new fixtures, so instead of spending time at the gym today, he decided to get his workout in by tearing up some things.
He pulled out the sink and faucets, took out the cabinets and tossed them in the back of his truck since they were rotted out and of no further use. Then he got to work chipping away at the hideous tile. He was dripping with sweat when he heard footsteps.
“I can’t believe you’re having this kind of fun and you didn’t call me.”
He swiped at his brow, then grinned at Luke. “Shouldn’t you be with your wife on your day off?”
“Emma had a couple unexpected surgeries this morning, so she’s going to hang out with the furry kids for a while longer this afternoon. I thought I’d drop by here to see if you wanted to have some beer and watch football. This looks like more fun.”
“You keep calling it fun. I don’t think you know the meaning of the word.”
“Come on, man. If Emma had gotten off work on time, we would have been at the mall.” Luke grimaced. “Trust me, this is better.”
“You asked for it. Go grab a pry-bar and a wrench and start chiseling some tiles.”
“Now you’re talkin’.”
Two hours later, they had the tile down and were taking a beer break in the garage when Molly drove up. She looked good in a pair of skinny jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.
“Lazing the day away drinking beer and watching football?” she asked as she made her way into the garage.
“Would I be sweating like this if we were watching football?”
She gave him a close look. “You are sweaty. And filthy. What are you two up to today?”
“Working on tearing up the guest bathroom.”
“Carter promised it would be fun,” Luke said.
Carter shot Luke a glare. “I promised no fun. You insisted on helping.”
Molly laughed. “I’m going inside to take a peek. Is Emma here?”
“She’s still at the clinic, looking after some post-surgery patients.”
“Okay.”
After Molly disappeared inside, Luke took a long swallow of beer, then turned to him. “How’s it going with Molly?”
“Good, I guess. She’s skittish, with one foot out of town already. But I offered her a job.”
Luke arched a brow. “No shit. Did she accept?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re going to try and get her to stay.”
“I don’t think anyone can convince her to stay. If she does, it’ll have to be her idea. I just figured she might want to linger for a while. Test the waters of Hope.”
“And then you’ll get her to stay.”
Carter shrugged. “We’ll see.”
“I like you two together. So does Emma. She thinks the two of you are destined to be together, or some such female bullshit.”
Carter liked him and Molly together, too. As far as destiny? He didn’t much believe in that. Molly was going to do what Molly decided was best for herself. He knew better than to interfere in that. He was just offering her something to do while she was here.
And hey, it benefited him. She was organized, and he needed that. He refused to think his offer of a job was a way to keep her in town. His heart knew better.
The door opened and Molly came out.
“You’ve got a great mess going on in there. And you got a lot accomplished.”
“Yeah, the demo is pretty much done.”
“Too bad. I would have liked to wield a sledgehammer.”
He cocked his head to the side. “I’m not sure you can pick up a sledgehammer.”
“Oh, now you’re challenging me. Give me something to destroy.”
Luke nudged him. “Yeah, Carter. Give her something to destroy.”
Carter raked his fingers through his hair. “Okay.”
They went into the house, and Carter took a look at the bathroom, then at Molly.
“How do you feel about pulling up floor tiles?”
She grinned at him, then rubbed her hands together. “Excited.”
He shook his head. “Now you sound like Luke.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Luke said. “It’s fun, dirty work.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. I just need one of your old shirts, since this one is one of my favorites.”
“Right side of my closet,” Carter said.
“I’ll be right back.”
Carter shook his head, and in a few minutes Molly came back wearing one of his oldest, paint-stained T-shirts, which was miles too big and too long for her, but he had to admit, she looked damn hot in it.
In fact, he’d like to see her wearing just his T-shirt and nothing else, but that was a thought for some time when Luke wasn’t giving him an I-know-exactly-what-you’re-thinking look, so he shrugged it off and handed her some tools and work gloves.
It turned out Molly was fairly adept at pulling up floor tiles, and between the three of them they had the floor up in an hour. Then they cleared out the debris and swept the room clean.
“If I’d known it was going to be this easy, I’d have called you both over when I started.”
Molly blew a stray hair out of her eyes and leaned against the wall. “Luke’s right. That was fun.”
“See?” Luke said. “Told you.”