Wrapped in You (3 page)

Easing his truck up by the curb near the hardware store, Zach pulled out his phone to call Nathan, his right-hand man. They were nearing the end of an outdoor patio and gazebo area at the Community Center. He fully trusted his guys whenever he had to leave the site, but he was itching to get back after that little family reunion. Pounding away with power tools was the best kind of tension reliever.

Okay, sex was the best tension reliever, but that wasn't an option right at this minute.

Before he headed back to the site, he needed a few more materials from Knobs & Knockers, the only hardware store in town. The place had been around for decades and was now run by the third generation.

Zach had just reached the door to the store as he dialed, but before he could hit Send, he spotted Rand Stevens strutting down the sidewalk in a three-piece suit. Who the hell still wore that shit? Especially when the temperatures were flirting with summerlike highs lately. The man probably didn't even sweat.

“Zach.” Rand nodded, offering a toothy smile. “I figured you'd be at the site, finishing up.”

Zach let the veiled jab roll off his shoulders. “Picking up a few more parts and heading back.”

Rand stepped in front of Zach, cutting him off before he could reach for the antique handle to the store. “I heard you spoke with Sophie yesterday.”

Obviously this was going to be a game. Zach merely crossed his arms and waited to make his move. Rand prided himself on keeping this town polished and perfectly maintained, all while keeping up appearances. No way would this man cause a scene if Zach opted to tell him what he could do with the offer on the Sunset Lake house.

Zach had more patience than most people, so he'd keep his decision to himself. Rand didn't need to know what went through the minds of Zach and his brothers.

“Our offer was generous,” Rand went on. “Selling would benefit the city and help you guys all at the same time.”

Zach glanced through the window of the hardware store, then back to the nuisance in the gray suit. He highly doubted Rand was extending any sort of helping hand, but Zach was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

Just a game, he reminded himself. Zach was fine playing it, considering he was a professional with a good reputation his father had helped him build. Even after the accident and the sentencing, Zach had gotten out of prison. His father had paved the way in the community by not making excuses on Zach's behalf. Zach had paid the price for his crime and once he was freed, it was time to move on. People made mistakes, people deserved second chances.

Zach wasn't about to tarnish his or his father's hard work by mouthing off, no matter how much he wanted to.

“My sister loved that property,” Zach said, stepping aside as a patron headed toward the door. He waited until the person stepped inside before going on. “My brothers and I will decide what's best for our family and you'll hear something by Friday. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a project I need to get back to.”

He didn't wait to hear if Rand had more to say. Zach was done listening. He jerked the door open on the old hardware store—or as he referred to it, his home away from home. He actually spent more time here and on job sites than at his house, which was fine. When he was home and alone, that's when memories started flooding up to the surface and strangling him; one of the main reasons he'd opted to take on the renovations at his house. Being home alone was pure hell, and he needed to stay busy all his waking hours.

Which was why he was so damn good at his job; he lived and breathed work. For the past decade he'd thrown himself into every single project, no matter how small. Letting anything else into his world wasn't an option.

Ed Monroe had nestled the will to work so deep when Zach was a cocky punk. Ed could've, and probably should've, kicked Zach to the curb more than once, but the Monroes had taken Zach in, bad attitude and all.

The scent of freshly mixed paint, metal, and wood hit him as Zach stepped into Knobs & Knockers. Behind the counter, Macy was ringing up a customer. She glanced up and smiled before turning her attention back to the elderly man.

Macy Hayward was the current owner of the bustling little store. She might be young and petite with long, dark hair and wide, expressive eyes, but this woman knew everything from PVC pipe to power tools, and she was actually one person he considered a true friend. Not like someone he'd confide in—he didn't bare his soul to anyone—but he was comfortable around her and they could talk shop.

“Thanks.” Macy handed the customer his receipt and a small brown paper bag. “Just call if you need more of those drywall screws. I can always bring them to you after I close to save you another trip out.”

Once the man thanked her and left, Zach crossed to the counter and rested his forearms on the scratched, scarred wood surface that had been there from the start of the store.

“Saw you chatting with one of your favorite people.”

Zach narrowed his eyes at her smirk. “Funny.”

Macy rested her arms on the counter. “Apparently you played nice or you wouldn't be in such a mood now.”

“I'm always in a mood.”

Her grin widened. “Yes, but now even your eyebrows are drawn in. You must really be pissed.” Macy patted his hands and looked him in the eyes. “I promise not to tease you anymore. Now, what can I get ya? I assume you're still working on the Community Center. Or are you picking up something for your house?”

Zach pushed off the counter. “The Community Center. Should be done by next week.”

The city council had paid him a nice chunk to add a picturesque patio area that they could rent for receptions or other summer events. His job, to build a large gazebo with curved benches, outdoor seating, and a stone-wall perimeter, was nearly complete. Another reason he wasn't telling the mayor and his cohorts where to shove their offer.

Between the mayor stealing Braxton's fiancée a few years ago and Sophie dating one of the city council members, there was no way in hell Zach would willingly negotiate away a piece of property his sister loved. A piece of property she'd invested her life savings into.

“I'll go find what I need,” he told her. “I'll just yell if I need help.”

“Heard Liam was in town.” Macy smoothed her straight, black hair back and tucked it behind her ears. “Everything okay?”

Was anything ever okay when his oldest brother was mentioned? Not where Zach was concerned.

“Just wrapping up some legal matters from Chelsea's estate.”

“She's going to be missed. I know I already feel a void.” Her brows dipped as concern filled her eyes. “I'm so sorry you guys are going through this, Zach.”

Not wanting any sympathy, Zach shrugged, refusing to discuss such a personal topic in public. “We'll be fine. Chelsea bought that old historic property on the edge of town, and we just have to figure out what to do with it.”

“And you three aren't in agreement.”

Zach grunted. “You know us all too well.”

“You guys never change,” she told him with a sigh. “I figure at this point you never will.”

The bell chimed again and Macy greeted a customer who came in and headed toward the back where the pipe was stored.

“What do you want to do with it?” she asked, once the customer was out of earshot.

“Keep it,” Zach stated. “Chelsea wanted the house and I think we need to hang on to it.”

“What do the others say?”

“Liam wants to sell and be done. Braxton hasn't said one way or another.”

Macy crossed her arms over her chest. “Must be a difficult position for Braxton.”

Zach nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. “He wouldn't say if this bothers him, but I know it does.”

“So what would you do if you kept it?” she asked.

“Still thinking on that one,” he replied, rocking back on his heels. “I better get my supplies. Be right back.”

She held up a hand and grinned. “I need to ask a favor before you go, if you have the time.”

Intrigued, he tilted his head. “What's that?”

“Well, it's more of a business proposition,” she corrected, then waved him away. “Go on and get your supplies. We can talk as I'm ringing you up.”

Nodding, he headed to the back bins holding various sizes of washers, bolts, screws, and nuts. As he sifted through the items he needed, Zach couldn't help but wonder what it would take to convince Liam that selling wasn't the right decision, at least not now.

Of all the rash decision making Zach had done in his life, for once he was going to think about this property before deciding anything. Sophie surely had to understand that. Or maybe her boyfriend had convinced her selling it to the council would be best. Zach had a hard time wrapping his mind around the fact that Sophie would go against Chelsea's wishes. Sophie was well aware of how much Chelsea loved that house and the land.

More than once Chelsea had snuck over the property line, ignoring the
NO TRESPASSING
signs to go sit by the lake or wander around the grounds. She'd had a slight obsession with the historic place, and Zach couldn't let go. Not yet.

Of course, Martin could have convinced Sophie that's what Chelsea would've wanted. Who knows what went on in their relationship? Zach didn't want to know, actually. Sophie had been raised so polished and pure, Zach had no doubt her parents loved that she dated a man with such upstanding social status. A man without a criminal record.

What parents wanted a convicted felon hanging around their daughter? What woman truly wanted a tarnished man in her personal life?

This whole line of thinking was ridiculous, so he didn't even answer his own questions. Zach had no place in Sophie's life. He'd had a narrow window to ease into her life and he'd blown it all to shit. Couldn't fault her for realizing she deserved better.

Damn it, here he was trying to find some simple bolts for the new picnic tables, and his mind had circled back to Sophie again.

He needed to focus. Work came first, leaving no room for foolish, juvenile thoughts.

As he headed back to the counter, Macy was swiping a customer's credit card and chatting about the unseasonal heat with it only being April. Once the man was gone, Zach set his items down on the counter.

Macy knew to put everything on his account. He paid it off monthly, but this way everything he purchased was on one itemized receipt for the month.

“So what was this favor and business proposition?” he asked as she slid his bolts into a small brown sack with the store logo on the front.

“When you built the Clevengers' house, you had designed it too. Right?”

“Yes. They didn't like anything they'd seen in books or online.” The bag crinkled as Zach gripped the top. “They liked portions of various ones, so I drew up the plans to their specifications.”

“Could I make an appointment with you to discuss some house plans?”

“I wasn't aware you were thinking of building.”

“I don't want to live above the store with my dad forever, no matter how state-of-the-art everything is up in that apartment.” She shrugged and smoothed her hair behind her ears. “I'm in no rush, but I'd like to get the ball rolling when you have time.”

When he had time? That would never happen, but for a friend he would certainly make time.

“Why don't I come by here one evening around closing? We can discuss your ideas then.”

A wide smile lit up her face. “That would be great. I know you're busy with so many other things, so don't feel pressured to rush this. Like I said, I'm in no hurry. I've lived upstairs with Dad my whole life. A few more years won't matter.”

Stepping back from the counter, Zach gripped his sack and headed for the door. “I'll call you and we can figure out what day works best.”

“Thanks, Zach.”

He stepped out into the bright midday sun and headed down the wide sidewalk toward his old beat-up work truck. As much as certain people in the town grated on his nerves, Zach supposed he'd be miserable anywhere he lived. Why not live in an area that thrived when so many others were tanking? All of the local shops were bustling at any given time of the day. Cafés, boutiques, downtown loft apartments; Haven had so much to offer.

People took pride in their stores, their homes. All the storefronts still had that vintage feel with the wide windows and displays, bright-colored siding, and little concrete stoops with oversized pots of flowers provided by the city and kept up by the garden club.

Zach jerked the handle on his truck and slid in behind the wheel, pulling his creaky door shut with a
slam
. Braxton still lived in Haven, but Liam had moved to Savannah. Zach had nowhere else to go. This was it for him. The Monroes had given him roots, something no one else had ever done, and in all honesty, he wouldn't have a clue where to go.

Getting all nostalgic was absurd. He fired up the engine and eased out onto the two-lane street, watching for pedestrians. Since Chelsea had passed, he kept running through those deep meanings of life. What was his purpose? Was he meant to just go through the motions of day-to-day living, serving other people while this anger and guilt raged inside of him? Would he ever find peace with himself?

Shit. He cranked up his radio on his favorite heavy metal station and turned onto Vine Street. He had to get his head on straight or he'd drive himself nuts. He planned on finishing his workday so he could head over to Chelsea's old apartment. The landlord had told them to take their time getting Chelsea's things out, but apparently now he had new tenants who were hoping to move in by the end of the month. Now Zach had to fully face that she was gone. Sorting through her things was going to be a difficult task, and he wasn't going to ask Liam or Braxton to help. The last thing he needed was for either of his brothers to see him break down.