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He laughed, the sound warlad you asked We had our latest project go bust due to financing, and before that ere set to do a big kitchen renovation doard Ca over the house Everything was put on hold”

“Oh”

“Well, ain too, if you’re serious Did you check ood work, Abby You can trust me”

Ha Trust This was the second time he’d asked her to blindly believe him, and Abby didn’t trust anyone these days She’d learned the hard way that people rarely kept their word Trusting was just a sure way to get hurt Even Gram, who’d been thesecrets

She pressed the phone to her ear “I’d rather have soo by,” she replied dryly

“I can drop by to We’ll be wrapped up here by this afternoon and I can give you all the time you need”

There was no reason why his words should cause a stupid fluttering in her chest No reason why the air in the library should suddenly feel close and cloying But the idea of having aand iddy

“I’ll be here Cleaning”

His low laugh rippled along the line “It’s quite a job, huh”

“You have no idea It’s a blessing I’m not an asthmatic”

He laughed “It’ll be worth it, Abby We’ll bring the old girl back to life, you’ll see”

She didn’t knoas e of Tom Arseneault in his work boots and a plaid shirt “I’ll see you tomorrow, then”

“Tomorrow,” he echoed

As she hung up, she pressed a hand to her forehead She needed help Rugged carpenters weren’t her type For goodness’ sake, she hadn’t dated in so long she didn’t even have a type And the idea of restoring the house should make her relieved, not excited

Still Maybe tonight she’d paint her toenails She had a new shade in turquoise she’d been dying to try …