“Do you just build one house at a time?”
“I have four houses going up right now. Getting ready to start the fifth. Hoping the weather stays nice for a while so we can get the foundation poured.”
“Do you like owning your own construction company?”
“I do. I really enjoy seeing the houses go up. It’s kind of tight and uncertain at times when the economy tanks, but I rode out the last slump all right. Glad things have picked back up and hope they stay that way for a long time.”
“How did you get into the construction business?”
“I’d been helping my uncle with his business since I was about fourteen. I kept working there after school and during the summer. I started college, but then… well, I just drifted around a bit. Then Josh was born, I came back here to Comfort Crossing, and started working full time for my uncle.”
“It must have been hard working full time and raising Josh.”
“It was. I was so damn tired… oh, sorry. So tired sometimes I could barely see straight.”
Holly hid a smile at his obvious embarrassment for letting a swear word slip out. She wasn’t going to tell him that she knew a few curse words herself.
“Anyway, Mom and my sister helped out a lot. We got through it. Since my office is in town, Josh comes there after school, then rides with me if I need to go out to a job site. Or he plays in the park now that he’s older. It’s gotten a little easier.”
“What do you do for fun or for hobbies?” Holly found herself wanting to know more and more about Steve and Josh. Why? That wasn’t the way to stay detached, she chastised herself silently.
“Fun is anything I do with Josh. I don’t really have a hobby, just no time for it.”
Steve turned onto a narrow country road. “So, how did you get into wanting to be a vet?”
“I’ve been crazy about dogs since probably the day I was born. It expanded to other animals. Then I worked for a vet in the summers in high school. I was hooked.”
“So is someone watching your pets for you while you’re here?”
Holly sucked in a quick breath. “I don’t have any pets.” Not any more. She hoped she would be able to again sometime, but right now it was out of the question.
He sent her a quizzical look.
She knew people thought it weird she didn’t have a dog or a cat. She didn’t so much as have a fish this year.
Tears began to well in her eyes and she turned to look out the window, fighting off the tears with an effort she’d perfected this last year.
“You okay? I say something wrong?”
Holly slowly sucked in a deep breath and turned toward Steve. “I lost my dog a while ago. I’m not ready for another one.” Her beloved dog wasn’t all she’d lost. The pain rolled over her again. She thought she’d learned to handle things, but at unexpected moments it all came crashing back on her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes, me too.” She’d lost everything that Christmas on that fateful snowy night.
She was grateful to see Steve pull into a dirt driveway in front of an almost-built house. The siding was on it, and the roof. The windows had stickers on them, and a long plank led up to the front door where the steps hadn’t been added yet.
Steve turned off the truck and looked over at her. He reached out and placed his hand over hers that was resting on the truck seat. “You ready to go inside?”
His hand was rough and warm. Strangely gentle for such a large hand. Yes, she was ready. She wanted out of the truck and into the fresh air, away from her thoughts.
“Yes, let’s go. I can’t wait to see it.”
He came around and helped her down from the truck. He kept her hand gently in his as they walked to the house. She liked that. Her hand in his. As soon as she realized she liked it, she slipped her hand free. None of that nonsense. They were here to see the house. That was all. There was no way she was going to enjoy his hand, or his smile, or that look he tossed at her sometimes that made her knees go weak. Nope, she was stronger than that.
But as he took her hand to help her up onto the porch, she left her hand in his this time. Gosh, she was a weak, weak woman.
CHAPTER FIVE
They drove back toward Comfort Crossing, but Steve didn’t want the day to end. As they got closer to town he thought of ways to delay taking her back to the cottage.
“I had a nice time today. Kind of sorry to see it end.” Steve smiled at Holly.
“I could make dinner for you, if you like,” Holly offered.
“That would be great.” It would be great. The day wouldn’t end and he could spend some more time with her.
It had been a wonderful afternoon as far as he was concerned. He had loved showing Holly the house he was building. She’d asked questions and eagerly looked at every little detail in the house. He admitted, only to himself, that it had been a big pump to his ego when she’d admired so many things. She loved the detailing on the woodwork. She’d commented on the light fixtures and the massive stone fireplace. He knew he hired good subcontractors and expected the highest quality out of them, and she seemed to know and appreciate the craftsmanship.