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By the tiot a slow, steady beat going and I’ cal ed
"Gravity" by Alison Krauss It’s about a girl who leaves hoone, she realizes that life isn’t as straightforward as she’d once thought
When I stand up to grab another hinge and set of screws for the next door, Reid is standing in the doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets My voice falters, but I finish the last line before going silent I don’t kno long he’s been there For a , and then his eyes shift to the cabinet doors stacked against the wal"Roberta sentand position it as I did the last one Since the hinges wil be placed on the opposite side from the last one, it won’t be as easy to attach, but I knohat I’, and it’s not an impossible job to do alone Aside fro there staring at me
When he doesn’t take the unspoken hint, I say, "I don’t need help"
I expect hiainst the doorjanore hie with the predril ed holes, and attempt to twist the screws in partway by hand
The first screw doesn’t catch, pops out of the hinge and flies across the ceraainst his boot Without rab another screw and repeat the process, with an identical result "Holy Moses," I h froles thee
"Any ti, just let me know"
Wonderful A patented Reid Alexander double entendre
Final y, the screws catch, and I offer up a silent prayer of thanks while wondering how much trouble I’d be in if I stood up and kicked him in the shin with my steel-toed boot
Hard
Chapter 12
REID
I think she seriously wants to strangle ht now I haven’t decided if that’s hoant her to feel or not
I watch her attach the third cabinet door--the one with the hinges on the right She’s left-handed, so it’s easy enough for her The last thing she wants isthe desire to keep her irritation level as high as possible against the suspicion that the longer I loiter in the doorway, the higher the likelihood she’l refuse to sign es with the last door, and I ih her head as she pleads with the hardware to cooperate The first tile off course, I step up and take it fro She ju the screws in by hand
When they’re in as far as they can go without the screwdriver’s assistance, she picks up the tool and drives them in the rest of the way as I brace the door She doesn’t speak, and neither do I
I hate that watching her handle that screwdriver is turning ain
I hate that I narrowly resisted begging her to continue singing
Fol owing her to the next bathroo at the curved lines of her calves and the not-quite imperceptible sway of her hips (hidden under another oversized t-shirt--
this one says DARE) I get this sudden impression that she’s psychic because I swear to God--her ears are darkening like she can read my mind So I concentrate harder
When she sets the tool on the counter, I pick it up "I’l do the next one," I say when she turns and sees ht?" Her mouth snaps closed and she spins back around to select the door There are only two doors to instal in this o kids wil share The entire room would fit inside ht this whole working-with-tools thing would be easier than it is Getting the damned screw to stay connected with the driver bit is a bitch One interesting note, though--despite so the fact that I don’t have the innate ability to wield a ratchet screwdriver with ease Her suess I’," I say, andthe blush everywhere
"Okay, I don’t get it So… she’s hot, or not?" John asks
We’re hanging out on the terrace of his 22nd floor apart on Adirondack chairs, a cold six-pack on the glazed concrete between us
Don is alive and beckoning, but I’ve persuaded hiht
"It’s hard to say," I answer, and he shootsback the bottle in his hand as I stare out over the cityscape For so about Dori, and now, I’d rather drop it
"Tel me more about the apart to convinceup a few floors above hih I’m not sure I want to be that near John 24/7 He starts rattling off square footage and view and party possibilities while I’ not to answer his question inlikeat al
But that doesn’t exactly answer the question, does it?
Dori