Page 8 of Worth the Try
“Daddy!”
Immediately, his expression changes, the intimidation falling off his face as he breaks into a delighted smile. “Rosie Posie,” he responds, his voice deeper than I expected, delivered with a slight Southern twang that also throws me. He crouches to catch her, scooping her into his arms and standing a moment later.
Rosalie smiles happily. “Miss Kari is here, and I made a new friend!”
“Oh yeah?” He turns to Kari and me, his expression still guarded, but more curious now.
“Rosalie Miles, my rugby princess!” another man exclaims in an accent I can’t yet place, making Rosalie giggle. He’s just as big as Rosalie’s father, with dark red hair and ruddy cheeks. “Get out of that ogre’s arms and give me a hug.”
Rosalie wriggles down and gets a hug from the man while her dad’s gaze turns back to me.
Kari finally remembers her manners, stepping forward to introduce us. “Ansel Miles, this is my best friend, Elodie Cole.”
“Nice to meet you.” I extend my hand, and it disappears into Ansel’s in a powerful handshake.
“Hi,” comes the response. Polite, but distant.
“I thought Rosalie was going to be with her grandparents?” Kari asks, her voice low.
Ansel sighs, his face tensing. “Long story.”
Kari raises her eyebrows. “Leaving her up here?—”
“Won’t be happening again,” he finishes. “I just have to figure things out.”
“So who’s watching her?”
“That’s one of the parts he hasn’t figured out yet,” the man holding Rosalie says. Then he holds his hand out, delivering a devastatingly flirtatious smile along with it. “Lennox Campbell.”
“Elodie Cole.” I smile back, finally placing the accent. Scottish.
“We were hoping to get y’all’s help with moving some furniture.” Kari elbows me. “Right?”
“Oh. Right.” My cheeks flame, and I’d rather count the tiles on the floor in here. Asking strangers for help is ten kinds of wrong. It’s a burden. I should be able to do this myself. Or if not do it myself, then pay someone to do it. And I have the money—for now, at least—but Kari wouldn’t let me consider it.
“Och, the old ‘let’s ask the ruggers to toss around my belongings’ move,” Lennox says. “We know all about that, don’t we, Rosie?”
Rosalie nods seriously. “We require pizza and beer as payment.”
Lennox’s smile could lay waste to an entire continent. “Exactly.”
“But juice for you,” Ansel states, one lone eyebrow rising as if it’s got a mind of its own. The move highlights the scar that runs through it, making him look more intimidating than ever.
“It’s not a big deal,” I blurt, my worries getting the best of me. “I’m sure y’all are busy. This was a silly idea.” I turn to Kari. “We should go. I can call a moving company or something.”
“Are we moving the contents of a mansion?” Lennox asks.
“We’re moving things?” another guy pipes up.
“Just, um, just a duplex.”
“Asmallduplex,” Kari offers. “Easy peasy. Literally one trip. And I’ll supply all the pizza.”
“When?” comes a chorus of inquiries.
I force my voice to stay steady. Remind myself that I’m not asking for the world. “Two weeks.”
“Why?” Ansel’s question is gruff.
