Free The Carpenter's Daughter by Jennifer Rodewald Page A

you were going to come. I thought maybe I scared you or something. I come on pretty strong. I’m a people person.”
    Was that it? I looked at my hands, a smile threatening to spread across my lips in spite of my doubt.
    “You’re not though.” His steady gaze held on me, like this situation was nothing out of the ordinary.
    He made me jealous. And hungry.
    “Not really.” My voice sounded strange, like I didn’t use it much. “I usually stick to what I know.”
    He chuckled. “I could have guessed. Hiding on a roof to avoid strangers screams introvert.”
    Did it scream easy target too?
    “So, you’re a builder.” He leaned back, sprawling his arms across his side of the booth.
    Conversation couldn’t hurt. It’d be better than sharing a meal in awkward silence. “My dad’s a contractor in Minden.” I twisted my fingers together in my lap. “I grew up with a hammer in my hand and a tape measure in my pocket.”
    “And Homes For Hope managed to snag you?”
    Did he have cue cards? How did he know what to say so quickly?
    “Not really. My uncle worked with Mr. Mackenzie on several unrelated projects, and then on a few of the Homes For Hope houses after Mack became the regional supervisor. Dan was going to come—Mack asked him specifically—but a job came up that he and my dad didn’t think they could pass up.”
    “But they could spare you?” Jesse shifted again, pressing an elbow on the table and dropping his chin in his palm like whatever I had to say was exactly what he wanted to hear.
    Did he practice in front of a mirror?
    I shrugged, words stalling somewhere between my brain and my mouth. I wasn’t about to explain to this man the events that had been pushing me over the past few weeks. I chose to avoid the question entirely. “Honestly, Homes For Hope didn’t need a framer on this job. The walls were already up. Most of the technical stuff was done. I’m not sure why I made the trip.”
    “Maybe so I could meet you.”
    My head snapped up, and my jaw hinged loose.
    Jesse laughed. “Too bold.” His eyes did some kind of merry twinkle.
    I was desperate to know what he was all about. If I could just find the same audacity that he seemed to have stored up in buckets, I’d ask him flat out why he was so friendly, what he wanted with me.
    He moved the conversation along. “Sometimes there’s a local volunteer who can do what the masters are brought in to do. But to ensure everything passes code, Homes asks for a supply of professionals.”
    “You work with Homes For Hope often?” Aha. I could do this. He talked. I answered. Like a ball game. I tried to relax against the seat.
    One of his shoulders lifted. “Most of the year.”
    Now I had the ball. “I didn’t know they hired masters outside of the supervisors.”
    “They don’t.”
    My turn again. Now what?
    Shelly returned with my water, and a Coke for him. “What’s it gonna be, Jess?”
    She was certainly personable with him. Was that what being a “people person” accomplished? How did I get some of that?
    “The usual, Shell, and go heavy with the bacon.”
    “Right.” Shelly turned to me. “And you?”
    I hadn’t even opened the menu. Heavens, I was good at looking stupid. “The same, I guess.”
    Shelly nodded and spun away. I waited for Jesse to toss a new pitch. He sipped on his Coke with his green eyes nailed on me. Weird.
    I guessed this inning I was supposed to toss the first ball. I could do this. I had to, or he might stare at me all night. What was he looking at anyway? I wiped the bottom half of my face with a napkin and forced my brain to rewind. We’d been talking about…about him working for Homes For Hope, apparently for free.
    “How do you live if Homes For Hope doesn’t pay you?”
    He crossed his arms loosely and leaned on his elbows, his look indecisive. I’d thrown a curve ball, and he wasn’t swinging. I smothered a sigh. “I’m sorry. That was nosy.”
    “Not at all.” That easy smile