The Right Words Read Online Free Page B

didn’t say a word, but he kept his eyes on me as he made his way to the old wooden kitchen table. He set his crutches against the nearby counter and pulled out a second chair to elevate his right leg before gingerly lowering his body onto the plastic padded chair.
    “You okay? Can I give you a hand?” I wasn’t going to say anything, but his grimace of pain instantly alarmed me.
    “I’m fine. I’m just sore from physical therapy. Take a seat, Luke.” His grin was roguish this time and definitely flirty. I took a sip of coffee and willed myself not to blush. I had to be misreading him.
    “So, how can I help you, Mr. Martinez?” I asked as I pulled out the chair opposite him.
    I made a concerted effort to listen and not be disappointed if he didn’t say all the things I wanted to hear. Like “Let’s just go with the plans you’ve already worked up.” Somehow I doubted this would go entirely my way, but I was known for being ridiculously optimistic by nature, and that wasn’t likely to change anytime soon. He smiled quickly at my serious professional tone before he picked up a pen lying next to the notepad on the table and got down to business.
    “Well… first of all, please call me Michael. Mr. Martinez is my dad.” I nodded and waited for him to continue. “I made a list. If I’m going to be spending any time here, I think you were right to suggest I at least take care of some basic updates. I need new windows for sure and I was think—”
    “God yes! Absolutely! Have you considered one of those disappearing sliding doors? If we did a bank of them across the—”
    “Hold it.” Michael held a hand up and gave me an amused, lopsided smile. “Let me get through my list, okay?”
    I sat back and motioned I was zipping my lips. Michael’s grin widened. He shook his head slightly and returned to his notes.
    “Like I was saying: windows. I’m sure they all have to be replaced. This house is an original as you can probably tell….” He flashed me another show-stopping smile and rolled his eyes comically. “And the little old lady who lived here hadn’t changed a thing in easily fifty years.”
    “How long have you owned it?”
    “Three months. But honestly, this is the first time I’ve spent any real time here. And that’s only because I have to.” The smile was gone with the same effect as a large, fast-moving cloud over the sun.
    “It’s stunning. The area is beautiful. I mean, if you have to be someplace, this isn’t so bad.”
    “Right.” His half laugh was devoid of humor. “Anyway carpet, flooring, and paint. Basics. The house is about three thousand square feet, which is a good size but it isn’t huge, so if we set a realistic goal we can probably tackle this in a couple of months. Maybe three.”
    In my head I was shopping. I couldn’t help it. We needed tile, flooring, and carpet. New lighting too, I mused, as I noted the awful brass chandelier over the table. I was thinking about which paint shades I might suggest when I heard his question.
    “What do you say?”
    “About what exactly?”
    “Getting your hands dirty.”
    “Uh, don’t you have a gardener?”
    Michael quirked his face in a silly “WTF?” gesture that made me giggle. It was obvious I hadn’t been paying attention.
    “No. I should get one, though, huh?”
    “I’m assuming that was rhetorical. But if you need my opinion, the answer is a definitive yes. The grounds are sad. Overgrown and jungly.” I winced and could have kicked myself. I was supposed to be quietly listening, not criticizing.
    “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll ask around. Did you happen to catch what I was actually asking you?”
    I blushed, feeling the heat under my skin travel quickly up my neck and across my cheeks. “Sorry, I think I missed it.”
    Michael chuckled softly and raised one eyebrow. “I was wondering if you’re willing to act as the general contractor as well as designer.”
    “Uh… while I’m not opposed to the idea of