She loved teaching, and she’d worked hard to put herself through college and build the career she’d always wanted. Why was it wrong to refuse to give it up?
Still, deep in her heart, Morgan felt guilty as hell. Maybe it was the curse of the eldest child, but the guilt was beginning to take a real toll on her spirit.
Sabrina grabbed the kettle off the stove and started to fill it. “Anyway, you’d better get the idea of selling out of your head, because the only way it can happen is over my dead body.”
A horrible mix of anger, sadness, and fear about where this would end up threatened to flatten Morgan. “Honey, you know I don’t want to sell,” she said softly.
Sabrina threw her an angry glare. “Dad left me halfthe inn, thank God,” she said as she plunked the kettle onto the stove. “So you can’t dump this place without me, and I’m not leaving unless the sheriff comes and drags me away. I mean it, Morgan.”
Morgan just shook her head. There was no point continuing the discussion, especially with her sister so wound up. She had to wonder if it was just Ryan’s presence that had shaken her up, or if Sabrina was finally getting how serious things were.
Chapter 5
M organ stepped out of the kitchen, holding a tray with one hand while she gently closed the rattletrap screen door with the other. She’d spent most of the morning tidying up in the kitchen, stewing over the latest batch of bills and fretting over last night’s argument with her sister. Finally, she’d stuffed the bills in a drawer and set out making a snack for Ryan, who’d started early on the shingling job. Last evening, the poor guy had walked into the aftermath of her fight with Sabrina, and Morgan still felt badly about it. He’d quickly picked up on the tense atmosphere and made himself scarce.
She felt guilty that Ryan was giving up a perfect kayaking day. Morgan hadn’t missed the long look he’d directed out at the water before he went up the ladder with a load of shingles draped over one brawny shoulder. There was little doubt he’d rather be out in his kayak instead of slaving away on a hot roof. Since he wouldn’t let her do anything to help him—not that she could really envision herself crawling around the roof, lugging heavy packets of shingles—she figured the least she could do was to enticehim down for some refreshment. The tray held a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade and two chilled glasses, along with fresh-made blueberry scones and a small container of butter.
She set it down on one of the patio tables and then, shading her eyes against the glare, looked up.
Ryan had his back to her as he hammered a shingle into place, and for the second time that morning, her breath pretty much seized in her chest. His broad, tanned shoulders and bare, muscular back glistened with sweat under the straps of his safety harness. His yummy biceps flexed with power as he swung the heavy hammer, driving in each nail with a single, smooth blow. And then there was the tool belt slung low over his cargo shorts, highlighting his truly stellar ass. Ryan Butler was the construction worker fantasy come to life.
Yep, the heat index was definitely going up around Golden Sunset, and it wasn’t because of the summer sun.
Morgan cleared her throat so she wouldn’t squeak when she called up to him. “Hey, you hardworking man, how about taking a break? I’ve got fresh lemonade and a blueberry scone with your name on it.”
Ryan glanced back over his shoulder, dipping his head to peer under the safety rail. He waved and started to say something—to decline, she suspected. But then he paused and seemed to reconsider. He slung his hammer into a slot on his tool belt and stood up. “On my way down.”
Morgan hurried to the ladder and gripped the aluminum rails to steady it, just as she’d done earlier that morning. It made her feel like she was doing something useful. Ryan shucked off the safety harness and smiled down at her as he
Still, deep in her heart, Morgan felt guilty as hell. Maybe it was the curse of the eldest child, but the guilt was beginning to take a real toll on her spirit.
Sabrina grabbed the kettle off the stove and started to fill it. “Anyway, you’d better get the idea of selling out of your head, because the only way it can happen is over my dead body.”
A horrible mix of anger, sadness, and fear about where this would end up threatened to flatten Morgan. “Honey, you know I don’t want to sell,” she said softly.
Sabrina threw her an angry glare. “Dad left me halfthe inn, thank God,” she said as she plunked the kettle onto the stove. “So you can’t dump this place without me, and I’m not leaving unless the sheriff comes and drags me away. I mean it, Morgan.”
Morgan just shook her head. There was no point continuing the discussion, especially with her sister so wound up. She had to wonder if it was just Ryan’s presence that had shaken her up, or if Sabrina was finally getting how serious things were.
Chapter 5
M organ stepped out of the kitchen, holding a tray with one hand while she gently closed the rattletrap screen door with the other. She’d spent most of the morning tidying up in the kitchen, stewing over the latest batch of bills and fretting over last night’s argument with her sister. Finally, she’d stuffed the bills in a drawer and set out making a snack for Ryan, who’d started early on the shingling job. Last evening, the poor guy had walked into the aftermath of her fight with Sabrina, and Morgan still felt badly about it. He’d quickly picked up on the tense atmosphere and made himself scarce.
She felt guilty that Ryan was giving up a perfect kayaking day. Morgan hadn’t missed the long look he’d directed out at the water before he went up the ladder with a load of shingles draped over one brawny shoulder. There was little doubt he’d rather be out in his kayak instead of slaving away on a hot roof. Since he wouldn’t let her do anything to help him—not that she could really envision herself crawling around the roof, lugging heavy packets of shingles—she figured the least she could do was to enticehim down for some refreshment. The tray held a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade and two chilled glasses, along with fresh-made blueberry scones and a small container of butter.
She set it down on one of the patio tables and then, shading her eyes against the glare, looked up.
Ryan had his back to her as he hammered a shingle into place, and for the second time that morning, her breath pretty much seized in her chest. His broad, tanned shoulders and bare, muscular back glistened with sweat under the straps of his safety harness. His yummy biceps flexed with power as he swung the heavy hammer, driving in each nail with a single, smooth blow. And then there was the tool belt slung low over his cargo shorts, highlighting his truly stellar ass. Ryan Butler was the construction worker fantasy come to life.
Yep, the heat index was definitely going up around Golden Sunset, and it wasn’t because of the summer sun.
Morgan cleared her throat so she wouldn’t squeak when she called up to him. “Hey, you hardworking man, how about taking a break? I’ve got fresh lemonade and a blueberry scone with your name on it.”
Ryan glanced back over his shoulder, dipping his head to peer under the safety rail. He waved and started to say something—to decline, she suspected. But then he paused and seemed to reconsider. He slung his hammer into a slot on his tool belt and stood up. “On my way down.”
Morgan hurried to the ladder and gripped the aluminum rails to steady it, just as she’d done earlier that morning. It made her feel like she was doing something useful. Ryan shucked off the safety harness and smiled down at her as he
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