Free Firefly Mountain by Christine DePetrillo Page B

forearm. He tore his eyes from Raina and looked at Gini.
    “Maybe you should walk Raina to her car, Mason. It’s late.” Gini gave his arm a little squeeze to propel him into action.
    “Yes, of course.”
    “That would be lovely. Thank you, Mason.” But Raina’s gaze fell to Gini, and a silent nod passed between them.
    Mason got to his feet. “Evening, folks.” He turned and led Raina to the door. When he paused to hold it open for her, Gini knew he’d be all right.
    “Hope you don’t mind me nudging Mason,” Gini said to Patrick.
    “Not at all. He’d be good for Raina. She deserves someone nice.”
    “Don’t we all?” Jonah shot a quick glance to Haddy, who edged a bit closer to him. She’d be in his lap before the night ended at this rate.
    Didn’t they all deserve someone nice? Sure. Would they all be allowed that wish? Gini doubted it.
    She took in a deep inhale and focused on the blueprint. Patrick’s small, neat handwriting labeled all the rooms. Two-car garage, three bedrooms, two baths, dining room, an enormous kitchen, and a great room with a floor to vaulted ceiling stone fireplace.
    “Wow, man.” Jonah pushed his drink aside and flipped the drawing so he could examine it more closely. “This is some space.”
    “Yeah.” Patrick shrugged. “Too much space for me, but it’ll keep me busy.”
    “No such thing as too much space,” Haddy said. “Or maybe only girls feel that way.”
    Gini tapped the design where the fireplace was drawn. “Love this.” Pointing to the fireplace in Wolf’s Pub, she added, “That is my favorite part of this bar. Looks like you’ll have your own version.”
    “The fireplace is already there. Just needs some cleaning up,” Patrick said. “Thinking I’ll put a wood stove in front of it though. They’re safer.”
    “Said the firefighter.” Gini elbowed him in the arm and liked the feel of his skin against hers.
    “Fire safety in the home is the most important thing.” Patrick’s expression was suddenly serious and…far away.
    “Couldn’t agree more,” Jonah said. “What’s your flooring plan?”
    “Tile in the kitchens and baths. Wood in dining room, hall, great room. Carpet in the bedrooms.”
    “Logical.” Jonah nodded. “What are these lines?” He pointed to dotted red lines on the print.
    “Those, Jonah, are all the walls that need to be demolished before I can start building this plan.” Patrick sat back, and a fleeting thought of massaging his exhausted muscles after a day of knocking down walls surprised Gini.
    “Wow, man. Good thing I’m going to help you,” Jonah said.
    “You’re going to need a team of help if you want to ever finish this,” Gini said.
    “Don’t you love volunteers?” Jonah winked at Gini.
    Gini’s eyes sprang open wider. “I’m not volun—”
    “Of course you are. Gini, we can’t let our newest Burnam citizen do all this work by himself. Haddy’ll help too, won’t you?”
    No fair. Haddy would agree to anything that involved being around a tool-carrying Jonah.
    “Sure. I’m good at fetching tools.”
    “That’s the spirit.” He turned to Patrick. “Gini’s handy too. She built an arbor and swing for her backyard.” Jonah looked back at Gini. “C’mon. Patrick needs you.”
    Gini peered at Patrick, who sat perfectly still as if he were holding his breath. Did he want her help? Need it? What else did he need?
    “Look, you don’t have—” Patrick started before Gini held up a hand.
    “No, I’ll help. If you don’t mind, that is.”
    Patrick studied her for a long moment. The lights in the pub made his eyes a darker shade of green-brown, like grass mixed with maple syrup. Gini waited, holding her breath now.
    “I’d never say no to free labor,” he finally said.
    “Oh, we’ll figure out a way to make you pay,” Jonah said around a grin.
    Gini exhaled and worried more about what helping Patrick might cost her.

Chapter Eight
    Patrick and Midas arrived early at the station