heart racing and heat rising in his cheeks, Chance sprang to his feet and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’m fine.”
Nova shook his head. “Brother, you are not fine. Your face went completely white, and now it’s burning red. You don’t have to pretend everything is okay when it’s not. You’re with friends here.”
Chance’s jaw tightened, and he squared his shoulders. “I said I’m fine. Is there something I can help with?” He needed to keep busy, or his heart would explode out of his chest.
“As a matter of fact,” Nova started, “I’m supposed to be over at Jillian’s today helping her unload.”
“Jillian who? And unload what?” After making a complete idiot of himself, he would do anything to get out of the house.
Molly smiled. “Jillian’s my maid of honor and wedding planner. She just bought her first house and is in the process of moving in. She needs help with the big stuff.”
“I’m your guy.” Chance nodded toward Molly and Nova. “You probably have other things to do.” Like more giggling and holding each other. He thought it, but he didn’t say it out loud.
Nova’s ready grin filled his face. “If you’re sure...”
“Positive,” Chance said. “All I need are directions.”
Nova walked Chance through the door and out onto the wide front porch. “I can join you in an hour.”
“By then, we could be done. Don’t worry. I’ll help Molly’s friend get moved in.”
Nova laid a hand on Chance’s shoulder. “We didn’t invite you here to put you to work.”
“I need something to keep me moving.”
Nova nodded. “I understand. It took six months for me to stop hitting the dirt when I heard loud noises.”
Chance shrugged. “Yeah. I’ll get over it.”
“You don’t have to work through it on your own, you know.”
“I know.” Chance hadn’t come to Cape Churn for sympathy. He came to help a friend get ready for the biggest day of his life. He’d be damned if he ruined it for him by coming unglued in front of his fiancée and guests. All he needed to do was focus and keep his head on straight for five days. Five days of rest and relaxation that would go a long way toward restoring his body and soul. “Where is this friend?”
Jillian drove the truck and trailer into the yard, bypassed the two vehicles parked there, made a big circle and backed the trailer to the porch. Excitement rippled through her like a shiver.
Though she’d been a Realtor for the past six years, she had never actually owned her own home. When she’d started selling real estate in Portland, she was content to live in an apartment and build her savings.
Then she’d discovered the quiet seaside village of Cape Churn. Something about the beauty of the coastal town called to her, as if telling her it was home. She’d packed her belongings and moved, promising to purchase a house when she found one she loved. Her plan was to purchase a fixer-upper with good bones and make it her own. But it took money for a down payment and closing costs, and still more money to renovate. So she’d saved for the past two years.
When the bank had come to her, asking her if she could sell one of their properties that had been sitting unoccupied for the past seventeen years, she’d agreed. Located just beyond the edge of town, the quaint Victorian house was tucked away into the woods, quiet, beautiful and...perfect. Yes, it was neglected, it needed to be brought up to electric and plumbing codes, but Jillian couldn’t contain her excitement.
She’d offered the bank a ridiculously low price, knowing it would take every bit of her savings to restore the structure and the interior to a livable condition. The bank had snapped up her offer, grateful to unload an albatross they’d paid property taxes on for too long.
Jillian climbed out of the truck her friend Dave had loaned her and stood staring at the old house with the charming dormer windows, wide wraparound porches and so much charm, it looked like a place she could love and restore to its former glory.
Something about it made her feel as though she belonged here. Sure, many of the windows needed to be replaced, the porch sagged and she needed a new roof. But the house was hers and she had plans for it.
Now all she had to do was transfer her belongings from the trailer to the house. Everything would go into the small sitting room at the back until the workers completed the remodeling effort.
Jillian had hoped to sleep in her new home while they worked, but she couldn’t until they completed the plumbing and electrical work they’d begun a week before. Her lease was up on the cottage she’d rented, and the owner wanted to have it ready for the summer season. So she was moving things into her house before it was ready for her.
Thankfully, Molly had a room for her at the McGregor B and B, which worked out fine. As Molly’s wedding planner, Jillian needed to check with the bride on all the last-minute details leading up to the big day scheduled for the following Saturday. For the most part, the preparations had been made. All she had left to do was make certain everything was delivered on time, as promised. There was to be a combined bachelor and bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner and the wedding. Then Jillian could concentrate on her own life and getting her house in order.
“Ah, Miss Taylor, I’m glad you’re here.” Bob Greer, the contractor, stepped onto the front porch. “We ran into a problem with the septic lines.”
Jillian bit back the urge to say, What now? Instead, she followed Bob around the porch to the rear of the building.
He pointed to a damp, mossy spot on the ground. “You have a leak.”
With a nod, she smiled at the man. “I know. That’s why I have you here. To fix all the issues this house might have.”
“If the septic lines are damaged, it’ll cost more than I originally budgeted for inside the house. And depending on the condition of the septic tank, you might need to have it dug out and replaced.”
Her heart sank. Already her savings had taken a huge hit for the down payment and closing costs. She hoped the bigger issues would settle out soon so that she could see what she had left for the interior upgrades. “How much will that be?”
“Another eight to nine thousand.” He stared at her, expectantly. “What do you want me to do?”
“If it’s broken, fix it. Just let me know how much before you start replacing big-ticket items.”
Bob nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He followed her to the front of the house. “Well, I’ll be going. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”
Her heart sank deeper into her belly. “Why not in the morning?”
“We’re finishing up on another job in town. Then I have to arrange for a backhoe to dig up the lines, and order more parts for the interior. It’ll take a day for both of those to make it out here, so
