Free Can't Shake You by Molly McLain Page B

wet and then with this heat...”
    “It’s not that bad though, right? I mean, if it’s relatively new, it can be cleaned, can’t it? Bleach or something?” She looked up at him, wide-eyed and hopeful.
    “Maybe, but the mold isn’t the only problem. The whole sink area needs to be replaced because of the water damage and I’d like to replace the floor in here too, from the joists up. In order to do that, the cupboards need to come out. And being as old as they are, they’re probably not going to sit well reinstalled. Then there’s the issue with this layout. It doesn’t flow at all.”
    “I don’t care if it flows.”
    He flashed a rueful smile. “Yes, you do. Nine times out of ten, the kitchen is what sells a house.”
    “How much is this going to cost?”
    He’d already mentally run the numbers and they weren’t pretty. “Ordinarily, I’d custom design the kitchen, but that’s not a possibility here. And I refuse to go half-ass and buy off the shelf at Home Depot. Most of that crap isn’t square and, in the end, we’d probably be better off reinstalling the old cupboards.”
    “Please tell me there’s another option.” She frowned, looking so damn adorable with that pout on her face.
    “I have a friend at a little family-owned store over in Hastings. I don’t work with her very often because she’s so far away, but she does a hell of a job and she’s always good for a deal.”
    Carissa nodded eagerly. “Enough said.”
    “I’ve already taken some measurements. I just have to call her to set up an appointment. I imagine you’ll want to come along, since it’s your money being spent,” Josh said, hoping against hope she’d pass.
    “Absolutely.”
    Of course. Just the two of them. Alone in a vehicle for two hours one way. Friggin’ perfect. “When’s good for you?”
    “I live and breathe this house right now. I can go whenever.”
    Josh inclined his chin. “Good. Hopefully we can get there early next week. That way we won’t be rushed with a last minute installation. I’d go tomorrow, but I volunteered to courtesy drill with the unit in Omaha this weekend.”
    “Sounds good.” She gave him a small, sincere smile, then reached out and squeezed his hand. “Thank you again for doing this. You’ve obviously got a full plate.”
    Josh glanced down to where their fingers touched and nodded. “You don’t need to keep thanking me. I got it.”
    When he lifted his gaze back to hers, her smile brightened. “I just want to make sure you know how much—”
    “Well, well. Already things around here look better than the last time I dropped by.”
    Both Josh and Carissa started at the sound of Fletcher’s voice near the front porch. Carissa jumped away as the screen door slammed shut and their friend crossed the threshold with his requisite clipboard in hand.
    She shot a questioning look to Josh.
    “I asked him to drop by to verify permits.” Though now he wished he hadn’t, seeing as he was still half hard.
    “Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
    Josh lifted a shoulder as Fletcher made his way into the kitchen, his button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows and his Cartier watch catching rays of sunshine streaming in from the open window. With his product-styled blond hair and khakis, Josh wondered, not for the first time, what the appeal had been for Carissa. Style-wise, he and Fletcher were polar opposites.
    You were the one-time, bad boy romp, remember? Clearly, not her preferred type.
    Fletcher curled an arm around Carissa’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Good to finally see you in a pair of capable hands, angel.”
    The back of Josh’s neck began to burn like he’d spent a day on the lake with no sunscreen. Would he ever be able to stand in the same room with the two of them and not feel like he carried around a sign that read “I balled your girl and I wanna do it again”?
    “Good ole Josh.” Carissa chuckled lightly, her head tipping to the side and holding