Caught in the Current (Pacific Shores Book 2) by Lynnette Bonner Read Free Book Online

no. He could feel it. He hadn’t planned on telling her about the potential work just yet, but… He pushed his hat back and peered up at her from under his brows. “There’s another reason I’d like you to come too, actually.”
    She only offered a questioning look, and waited.
    “I’d like to hire you.”
    She jolted straight and her jaw dropped open. “No way.”
    He sighed. “I can understand. You’re probably too busy already. It was just a thought—”
    “No! That’s not what I meant. I meant—wait. What do you want to hire me to do?”
    He settled into his heels and clasped one wrist behind his back. “We have three new little cabins Dad built with the intention of increasing our available space for guests. I’d like you to decorate them. You could have Alyssa with you, of course, and—”
    Tears sprang into her eyes.
    “Whoa.” He held out his palms to calm her. “It’s just a suggestion. You don’t have to—”
    “Reece.” She was smiling now but still crying.
    He lifted his hat and scratched the top of his head. “I must be missing something here, Marie.”
    She loosed a watery laugh. “I was just”—she swept a gesture toward the still-wet wall— “praying while I painted and asking the Lord to give me a second job that would be part time and let me keep Alyssa with me while I did it.” Her face turned crimson. “Before I started singing, that is.” She dashed at the moisture on her cheeks. “You have no idea… Yes. I’ll take it.”
    “You haven’t heard how much I’m paying yet.”
    She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. And I’ll work hard, I promise.” She lifted her bandaged finger. “With the upcoming doctor bills—Well, anyway. Every little bit helps.”
    Something inside him went still at that. And he suddenly realized just why she’d been so reluctant to go into the hospital earlier today, and was even more thankful he’d paid the co-pay for her.
    Was the reason she’d had so few groceries not because she didn’t need more, but because she couldn’t afford to buy more? His glance dipped toward her injury, and he remembered her putting him off when he’d offered to take her to the pharmacy, earlier. He’d bet dollars to doughnuts she didn’t plan on picking up her prescription.
    He swallowed, hating to think of her in that situation, but knowing he wasn’t in a place to press for more details at the moment. He upped the price he’d planned to pay her by five dollars an hour and got back to the conversation. “Good, so, ah…” He assessed his hands one more time and then, satisfied they were indeed paint-free, looked up at her. “Would you mind coming out tonight to look them over? If you think you could have them done by the end of July, we could start renting them out August first.”
    “I’ll have to check with Taysia on a couple of things, but I think it should be doable.”
    “So you’ll come?” He held his breath.
    “As long as you’re sure your mom won’t mind?” She lifted her checkbook. “I do have to pay for the pickles.”
    “I’m sure it was just an oversight on Mom’s part. I know she won’t care. She’s got a lot weighing on her with Dad and all.”
    “Alright, if you’re sure.” Her eyes suddenly widened, and she glanced down the length of herself. “Do I have time to change?”
    “Sure. How about if I clean up here for you while you do that?”
    “Oh, thank you.” She waved a hand toward the paint tray and roller. “The head on the roller is on its last legs anyhow, and I promised myself I’d throw it away after this time, so just chuck it and the plastic liner into the Dumpster out back. You can just leave the handle, brush, paint can, tarp, and paper towels in a stack. Mr. Meyer will be by first thing to make sure I got this done, and he will pick those up then.”
    “Got it.”
    As he set to cleaning up for her, he thanked the Lord it had been easier to talk her into taking the job than he’d