“He’s probably a nutcase.” He strutted for the door. “I’ll tell him to get his—”
“Brandon, no.” Her heart knotted in her throat. “I’ll take care of it.”
He spun around. “Look, Mom. I’m the man in this family and—”
“And I’m your mother. Thank you, but I’ll take care of it.” She strode toward the door, then stopped. “And he’s not a nutcase.”
“Right.”
She ignored his sarcasm and continued to the front door, but when she grasped the knob, she paused. Seeing him sitting in his car at the curb had sent her over the edge. With her lungs on overload, she gasped for air. Focus. Focus. Her mind raced to find a logical explanation as to why Quinn had parked in front of her house. It wasn’t a coincidence. That she was certain.
Plying her courage, she pulled open the door and stepped onto the porch.
As soon as he noticed her, Quinn stepped from the SUV and headed up the sidewalk. “Sorry. I should have called.”
“How do you know where I live?” She forced her voice past her constricted lungs.
A frown broke on his face. “Well, I…”
His discomfort caught her off guard.
“I looked… There aren’t any other Ava Darnells in the white pages.”
“You looked in the phone book?” Her pitch had raised a notch. “Why?”
He evaded her eyes for a moment, then gave her a direct look. “I wondered about your plumbing and about your car. I see you got it back. It looks great.”
“It does. Thanks.” Ava tugged on the hem of her blouse. “Quinn, I… That wasn’t a very warm greeting. You surprised me.” Her emotions had waged a war between temptation and concern. “I’m glad you stopped in. I repaired the leak, but now I have another problem.” She grasped the knob. “Would you like to come in?”
He faltered. “Is it okay?”
She nodded and opened the storm door, beckoning him inside.
As she stepped in behind him, Brandon stood in the hallway door, scrutinizing their guest. “This is my son. Brandon, this is Mr. O’Neill.”
Quinn extended his hand while Brandon eyed it a moment before accepting his handshake. “So, you’re the guy who ran into my mother.”
His accusatory tone seemed to throw Quinn. He did a double take, his gaze searching hers and then flying back to Brandon.
“Bran, apologize.” She tilted her head toward Quinn. “It was an accident.”
Belligerence darkened his face. “I’m sorry you hit my mother’s car.” He spun on his heel and headed into his room.
Ava’s jaw sagged, and she stood gaping at the empty doorway before regaining her wits. “I apologize for my son. He’s in a little snit today, and he’s taken it out on you.” She stepped toward the hallway. “I’ll tell him to—”
“Please, don’t.” He peered past her. “Is the kitchen that way?” He gestured toward the dining room archway.
She nodded. “Follow me.” Ava strode ahead of him, wanting to barge into Brandon’s room and give him a piece of her mind, but Quinn had asked her to drop it. She’d handle Brandon later.
Quinn walked to the sink and eyed the faucet. “I don’t see the problem.”
His relieved expression confused her until she realized he hadn’t heard what she’d said. “It’s a new situation. I’m afraid I did something wrong when I repaired the faucet. Now I have a drip under the sink.” She opened the door and motioned inside.
He stared at it a moment before crouching down and peering in.
She sensed Quinn didn’t want to get dirty, because he only reached inside to feel the pipes. Finally he shoved his head beneath the sink farther, then knelt and reached back into the cabinet. “I think I spot your problem.”
“Really?”
“Did you use the sprayer recently?”
She studied him, not understanding his question. “I often use it to rinse dishes or the sink.”
“I’m sure it’s the hose on your sprayer. That’s where the water’s dripping.” He drew his head from beneath the cabinet, accomplishment filling his face. “Probably a small hole or crack in it. After you use it, you’ll find the water.”
Her heart melted. She’d never seen his full smile, his blue eyes twinkled and lines crinkled above his cheeks like George Clooney.
“Listen.” He rose from his crouch, his smile fading. “I have to be honest.”
Honest? She froze. What would he spring on her now?
“I don’t know a thing about plumbing, but I do think it’s the hose. They’re flexible tubing—plastic, I think—and I suppose they wear out in time.”
He didn’t know a thing about plumbing? The admission threw her. “But you offered to come over and take a look.”
He shrugged. “I wanted to help.”
Embarrassment heightened his skin tone, and it made her smile. “Thanks for spotting the problem. That should be easy to fix.”
“You think so?” He gave her a questioning look.
“I can fix it.” Brandon’s voice surged into the room before he appeared.
Quinn jerked his head toward him. “Great. It’s nice your mom has a man to help around the house.”
Brandon’s eyes narrowed as he studied Quinn. “Yeah, I am the man of the house, but can you convince her of that?”
Once again, Brandon had stopped Quinn in his tracks. The boy needed a little fatherly discipline. He rubbed his hands together, then shoved one in his pocket. “I suspect your problem is solved.” He took a step toward the kitchen door. “I should go.”
Before Ava could stop him, Quinn gave a wave and strode toward the front of the house. She spun around to face Brandon, then swallowed her anger, but by the time she recovered her footing, Quinn had reached his vehicle and climbed in. She returned to the kitchen to speak with Brandon, but he had vanished, too.
She sank into the kitchen chair again, trying to sort out what had happened. Brandon could be mouthy with her, but she’d never seen him act that way with others. The incident roiled in her mind until the reason struck her. Brandon resented Quinn in the house. She’d never anticipated that kind of reaction from him. Never.
Chapter Three
Quinn studied the vinyl siding brochures and then examined the samples Ross had brought over for
