Page 20 of Sweet Trouble
“I think it could be really nice,” Tripp said. “And fairly private.”
“I won’t have the funds though once I fix up the rest of the house,” Jillian said, her shoulders slumping a little. “At least not for a while. But I guess it’s something to save for, and cheaper than an addition?”
“Much cheaper,” Tripp agreed. “Think about it. You’ve already got a roof, walls, and a floor. And you’ve got easy access to electrical, plumbing and heat too.”
“That’s true,” Jillian said, nodding.
“And listen,” Tripp said before he could stop himself. “I can help out with the house. Iwantto help out with the house. I’ve offered before, but your grandfather won’t let me do much though.”
“You can do that kind of thing?” Jillian asked.
“Sure,” Tripp told her. “I do most of the maintenance on the farm buildings and my parents’ house. And I used to take care of all my siblings’ houses on the property too, before they all moved into them.”
“That’s amazing,” Jillian said. “I had no idea all that was part of farm work.”
“Pretty much everything is part of farm work when you’re on a farmer’s budget,” Tripp said, laughing. “I do plumbing, electrical, just about anything that needs doing. I’d be happy to help out.”
“I would pay you, of course,” Jillian said firmly.
“I don’t think so,” Tripp said. “We’re neighbors.”
“Neighbors loan each other a cup of sugar,” Jillian said. “They don’t renovate each other’s homes.”
“You can help me paint the barn next summer,”Tripp offered.
He was kidding, but she grinned at him.
“You know I love painting,” she said.
Suddenly, he was transported back to play practice in the Sugarville Grove High auditorium, watching Jillian paint canvas flats while the theater kids ran their lines. Compared to the average stage manager, Jillian didn’t mind getting her hands dirty. And for Tripp, there was something mesmerizing about watching her movements as she slid long, even strokes of paint across the canvas. Everything she did was graceful, yet measured.
He’d wanted so badly to just sneak up behind her and release her golden hair from that ponytail, watch her splash a little paint outside the lines, and hear her laugh.
But he’d never dared to let those feelings show.
Until the one day when he finally broke, and overstepped by a mile.
But that was something he didn’t let himself think about too often.
“Then I’ll let you pick out the color,” he offered, tearing his eyes from hers.
“Don’t offer that,” she said with a mischievous smile. “You’ll wind up with a pink and purple barn.”
“The cows won’t mind,” he said, chuckling. “Can I stop by the house tomorrow? If I’m with you, maybe your grandfather will finally let me get the scope of what needs doing.”
“I’ll tell him we’re bartering,” Jillian decided. “He won’t want charity, but he might be okay with trading some labor. Though I’m going to owe you more than a barn painting if you really take this on.”
Just let me take you on one date,a little voice in the backof his head offered. But Tripp knew better than to say the words out loud. He’d learned his lesson the hard way.
“We’ll figure it out,” he said lightly. “For now, let’s just get you and the girls settled and the house ready for winter.”
“Thank you,” she said.
There was warmth in her green eyes that he hadn’t seen there since…before. He willed himself not to take it as a sign that she might be feeling a little of the same interest that he was.
His pulse throbbed in his ears, and he had to look away from her.
Maybe he hadn’t really learned his lesson after all.
