Page 8 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
“Does this mean you’ll be sticking around?”
Connor knew him.He didn’t know everything, like the fact he’d been in love with Casey too, but he knew Ryan had a hard time staying in one place for long.And he knew that it all went back to Afghanistan.“Damn straight it does.”
“Good.”
“You’re not surprised.”
Connor’s lips quirked.“Not a bit.You’re a good guy, Ryan.You’re going to do the right thing.You always do.”
Yeah, like when doing the right thing had gotten Casey killed.
A roadside bomb did that.
Right after you shot her down.And then didn’t save her.
*
When Aria askedpeople where was the best place to go for her remodeling needs, they all said, Big Z Hardware, which was owned by Paul Zabrinski.In fact, they all sang his praises.
Paul was a very hands-on owner.He was handsome with gorgeous blue eyes and a lean build.He was also happily married with kids.But Aria wasn’t concerned with that.She needed help to make her house habitable and as soon as she could, build a greenhouse.Meanwhile she put her plants in a small sunroom off the back of the house.A converted porch, she thought.Her house’s previous owners had moved into an assisted living apartment, and their children had put the house on the market.Luckily, they were as anxious to get rid of it as she was to buy it, so the price, especially with the land, was very reasonable.
Aria had planned to do much of the remodeling of the house herself.She soon realized that doing anything that labor-intensive while taking care of a three-month-old was way too optimistic.
“I’m new to town,” she told Paul.“I had planned to do a lot of the work needed on my house but”—she gestured at Sophie—“my daughter isn’t thrilled with that idea.”
Paul laughed.“They do have a way of needing your attention.I have a construction company that could help with the remodeling.What do you need doing?”
Aria pulled out a piece of paper with what she needed to do to the house, listed in order of necessity.“Can you give me a bid on that?I probably won’t be able to do it all at once.Money for one thing, and we have to live in it for another.But I’ve listed it in order of importance.”
“I can do that,” Paul said.“Are you out at the old Harper place?”
“Yes.It’s a nice house but I’m not sure it’s ever been updated.Or if it has, it was a long time ago.”
“I’m almost certain you’re right about that.I’ll draw up a bid and we can talk.”
“I discovered that several of the rooms have a wood floor beneath the carpet.I’d like to refinish those if possible.I think it could be very pretty.”
“Great.I’ll make a note of it.Any ideas on flooring for the rest of the house?”
They discussed what she wanted some more and as she got ready to leave she asked, “I don’t suppose you put up greenhouses, do you?”
“Sure.Is it a hobby or do you need something bigger?”
“I’m planning to start a nursery.I’d like something that I can expand once my business gets going.”
“Got it.Would you like me to draw up the greenhouse bid at the same time or would you rather wait?”
“I’d like to see them both, but separately.Thanks so much.”
“Anything else you need while you’re here?”
“I don’t suppose you have toilet seats?”
He laughed.“We do indeed.Do you have the measurements?”
“No, I’ll have to get back to you on that.But if I could see the different styles that would be great.”
Sophie, who had been sleeping in her car seat, chose that moment to wake up and start to fuss.Aria thanked Paul and said goodbye before Sophie got really cranked up.Once back at her truck, she opened the back door of the cab and changed her diaper.Then she crawled in and nursed her.She opened the windows so it wouldn’t get too hot and put a shawl over the baby just in case someone came along.She wasn’t shy about nursing, but she was in a parking lot in a town where she knew one person, so discretion it was.
