Easton: Ryan Brothers Renovations, #2

By Kali Hart

Emma

The only thing my ex left me was a fixer-upper.
I try to finish the project on my own.
But it's just too much.
I hate asking for help, but I'm in over my head.

Easton

It's my job to decide which projects my brothers and I will take on.
I normally pass on house flips in progress.
And ones with tight budgets.
Emma's request includes both.
I should say no.
The numbers don't make sense.
But there's something about her that pulls me in.
I accept the job.
But I want to fix more than her house.
I want to mend her heart.

Sweet & steamy short story insta-love romance with an older alpha blue collar man and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Jun 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223901020

Book preview

1

EMMA

Emma, please give me the sledgehammer, Amber orders when the cloud of drywall dust settles around me.

A quick glimpse of my reflection in a nearby window reveals the crazed look in my eyes. One that probably has my older sister concerned for my sanity and wellbeing. When I invited her over for pizza and wine tonight, I’m sure this is not what she expected.

Emma?

I give her an innocent shrug. I’m not done. I lift my sledgehammer up, preparing for another swing at the tacky wall. Given the choice between removing decades old wallpaper or simply smashing the wall into oblivion, I thought it was obvious.

She squeals and retreats as I take another satisfying swing, imagining my ex-husband’s face embedded in that gawdy patterned wallpaper that screams 1970s. I wait again as the dust settles, unable to hide my satisfied smirk. This is fun! You want to take a swing? I offer.

Nope. She waves away the outstretched hammer. I think you should stop before you do any real damage.

I’m taking down a wall. Demolition is part of the process.

Emma, you don’t even know if that wall is load-bearing.

No sane person would plaster this wall with such atrocious wallpaper if it were load bearing. At least the logic makes sense to me. I prepare to swing the hammer once more.

Amber bravely steps in my way. She’s one of the best real estate agents in the area—dedicated and fearless. Something she’s proving in this moment as she makes herself the human roadblock between me and that awful wallpaper. Honey, you should stop.

I don’t want to stop. I want to keep doing. Move, I say, lifting the sledgehammer in warning again. I’m not done. If I stop, it means I’ll have too much time to think. To let thoughts run rampant. I need the distraction more than ever right now, but I’m not about to admit that to my sister.

It’s only been two days.

Your point? It’s not as if I need reminding about the finalizing of my divorce. It’s why I can’t stop working. Tomorrow I can do something more practical like pick out tile for the bathroom or light fixtures for the kitchen. Never mind that I’ll be forced to look only in the clearance aisle thanks to he-who-shall-not-be-named.

I’m worried about you, Em. Are you sure you’re okay?

I’m peachy. Just peachy.

It’s okay not to be okay.

I roll my eyes at my sister. "You’re laying on the dramatics a little thick, don’t you think? It’s over, Amber. He cheated. He left me. All I got was this fixer-upper. She got him. I think I came out ahead, don’t you?"

Of course you did, honey.

My ex-husband and I bought this house shortly after we got married. We thought it would be fun to flip it together. To make it our own. Yes, I’ve heard the horror stories of home improvement projects and house flips splitting up couples. But I thought we could handle it.

I guess I was wrong.

It’s been two days, I finally agree because Amber won’t stop staring at me. "But he’s drug the divorce out for seven months. I’m ready to move on."

"You can still sell this place