A Fresh Start Read Online Free Page B

don’t have to get top of the line thing, right?” She still remembered how much she paid for her security system back in New York.  
    Money that was well wasted.
    “We’ll get those DIY ones, won’t cost too much.”
    “Great.”
    “Why are you getting new furniture if you’re on a budget? What’s wrong with your current ones?”
    She turned her face away from him as her fingers curled into a loose fist, allowing her thumb to play with the ring on her index finger. “I can’t bring them over.”
    “Why not? You need someone to help you move? I know a guy.”
    “No, it isn’t that.” She sighed and shook her head. “Forget it. They are as good as gone.”
    “Ex-boyfriend? I’ve got a guy for that, too.”
    She grinned and said, “I’ll remember that.” She laughed softly, shaking her head. She used to get frustrated whenever people spoke to her that way. Now, such comments never failed to bring up a fond memory.

    Justin hung the towel over his shoulders and grinned at her lighthearted chuckle. “What’s so funny?” he asked, taking a scan of the two bedrooms as they went past them.
    He blinked when he saw the sole luggage lying open in the bigger bedroom. There were black colored bags of various sizes within the luggage, each placed neatly, with the zips all facing one direction. There wasn’t a single piece of loose clothing tucked in a corner or anything strewn over it.
    Bags within a bag.
    He thought he was neat, but she’d probably beat him hands down.
    But that, to him, wasn’t the strangest part of the picture.
    “Is this all you brought?” He never had a relationship that lasted long enough for him to bring a woman along to a new place where he would work for months, but he knew women usually travel with more than one luggage, especially if they were intending to stay for a while.
    “Yeah,” she said, widening her strides as she moved further down toward another door.
    It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was trying to deter any further questions regarding the subject.  
    She truly didn’t like to speak about her past.  
    Usually, he would shrug and move on. But with her, it fueled his interest. Any questions regarding her past got her nervous. She seemed bent on keeping it a secret.
    Justin gave her another scan. She looked like the prim and proper sort of woman who never did anything wrong in her life.  
    What could’ve made her leave everything behind and come all the way out to Pine?
    “The bathroom.” Paige pushed open the new copper colored wood stained door and stepped aside.
    His eyes widened.  
    The pink tiles had faded to a pale light shade. The previous owners had cleaned up the house, but the sink, the bathtub, and the toilet were still coated with a layer of grim. Cracks, both fine and deep black lines, could be seen in the bathtub as well.
    “How do you want to fix the bathroom?”
    “Complete revamp. I want to change the tiles, dark gray for the floors, and I think I’ll repaint the walls white. The sink and all have to be changed.”
    Justin nodded. “I suggest you tile the walls around the bathtub, at least the bottom half. It’ll last longer than paint would with all the water.”
    “That’s fine with me.”
    “White tiles?”
    “Mm-hmm.”
    “It’ll probably take a week, and it’ll be rather dusty. I’ll remove the tiles and waterproof it before retiling.”
    “It’s all right, I’ll stay in the next room until you’re done.”
    “Why not stay with the Seymours for a few days? I know they won’t mind.”
    She leaned back against the door and asked, “Are you related to them?”  
    “No, but they’re like family to me.”
    “I can see that. They have so many photos of you, but the way you addressed them…and you look quite different from them, too.”
    He nodded slowly.  
    Paige continued watching him as if she still had questions to ask, but wasn’t quite sure if she should. After a few moments, she smiled and stepped away from