Read Online Kiss Me If You Dare by Nicole Young - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicole Young
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exposed stud, listening to the easy chatter going on downstairs between Portia, Koby, and Celia. We’d agreed that I’d cover the second floor work with Portia’s help so Koby and Celia could stay on the main floor. But it sounded like Portia was having too great a time to help me out.
I clomped downstairs. “Hey. Anybody working down here?”
Portia flung me a look. “Back off. We’re allowed to have fun.”
I gave a snort and shake of my head. “Nobody said you weren’t. I was just playing around.”
“Yeah? Well, your jokes aren’t funny.” Portia planted her wrists on her hips.
I lowered my voice. “You’re supposed to be working upstairs with me. I’m not trying to pick a fight, just trying to keep things on schedule.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Go ahead, Portia,” Celia said. “Me and Koby can handle things down here.”
“Fine.” The ice queen tromped up the steps ahead of me. Huffs of indignation melded with the squeaking treads. Backs to one another, we slung our sledges. After a while, my arms lost feeling.
“Ugh.” Portia dropped her sledge to the floor and leaned against a two-by-four. “It’s eleven. Let’s call it a morning.”
I trekked down the steps behind her, my body protesting as much as the old wood.
“Good work, guys,” Portia said, looking at the progress on the first floor. “Get to class, get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll see you back here in the morning.”
“I’m getting my stitches out tomorrow, so I’ll be running a little late,” I said as we put away the tools and grabbed our bags. Koby and Portia helped Celia through the door and down the steps. Portia checked the lock and hid the key under a stone, and we all headed up Rios Buena Suerta.
“There’s enough money in the budget for a wider front door and a ramp,” Portia said in her all-business voice. “Koby, you want to order the supplies so we can get those in right away? That way if Celia gets here ahead of the rest of us, she can start right in.”
I hated to admit it, but Portia was doing a good job as team leader. It made sense for each of us, including Celia, to have access to the project at any hour. With so much work and so little time, we’d all have to be here every spare second to get the project done on deadline. Eight families were already lined up to occupy the renovated structures once they were completed. We couldn’t let them down.
“Thank you, Portia. That’s so thoughtful of you,” Celia said over the whir of her wheels. “I’m so used to being independent, you can’t believe how helpless something like too narrow a doorway can make me feel.”
We turned the corner, bringing the bus depot in sight. “Oh, I believe it,” Portia said. “Probably about as helpless as I felt when my car got stolen. Thank God for Dogpatch.”
“When did that happen?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at her. In the background, I saw a form coming down the porch of our current undertaking.
“’Bout three years ago,” Portia was saying.
“Hey.” I stopped in my tracks and pointed. “Hey!” I dropped my bag and took off at high speed, running along the sidewalk toward the bungalow. “Hey!”
The figure stopped and waved his hands at me. “Whoa. Whoa.”
It was what’s-his-name, the purple-face guy.
“What do you think you’re doing?” My lungs felt like they’d fall out with my next exhale.
“Peeking in the window. That’s all. Seeing how far you got today.”
His voice sounded a little too full of schmooze. I didn’t trust him.
“A spy, huh?” I only hoped that was all he was doing. I wiggled the doorknob. Still locked. “Don’t start playing dirty.” I gave him my most threatening glare. “Neither team has time for it.”
“Kind of suspicious, aren’t you?” He rubbed at his jaw.
Portia slid to a halt next to me. “What’s going on?”
“Just seeing what he was up to on our porch,” I said. Portia stuck her nose
I clomped downstairs. “Hey. Anybody working down here?”
Portia flung me a look. “Back off. We’re allowed to have fun.”
I gave a snort and shake of my head. “Nobody said you weren’t. I was just playing around.”
“Yeah? Well, your jokes aren’t funny.” Portia planted her wrists on her hips.
I lowered my voice. “You’re supposed to be working upstairs with me. I’m not trying to pick a fight, just trying to keep things on schedule.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Go ahead, Portia,” Celia said. “Me and Koby can handle things down here.”
“Fine.” The ice queen tromped up the steps ahead of me. Huffs of indignation melded with the squeaking treads. Backs to one another, we slung our sledges. After a while, my arms lost feeling.
“Ugh.” Portia dropped her sledge to the floor and leaned against a two-by-four. “It’s eleven. Let’s call it a morning.”
I trekked down the steps behind her, my body protesting as much as the old wood.
“Good work, guys,” Portia said, looking at the progress on the first floor. “Get to class, get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll see you back here in the morning.”
“I’m getting my stitches out tomorrow, so I’ll be running a little late,” I said as we put away the tools and grabbed our bags. Koby and Portia helped Celia through the door and down the steps. Portia checked the lock and hid the key under a stone, and we all headed up Rios Buena Suerta.
“There’s enough money in the budget for a wider front door and a ramp,” Portia said in her all-business voice. “Koby, you want to order the supplies so we can get those in right away? That way if Celia gets here ahead of the rest of us, she can start right in.”
I hated to admit it, but Portia was doing a good job as team leader. It made sense for each of us, including Celia, to have access to the project at any hour. With so much work and so little time, we’d all have to be here every spare second to get the project done on deadline. Eight families were already lined up to occupy the renovated structures once they were completed. We couldn’t let them down.
“Thank you, Portia. That’s so thoughtful of you,” Celia said over the whir of her wheels. “I’m so used to being independent, you can’t believe how helpless something like too narrow a doorway can make me feel.”
We turned the corner, bringing the bus depot in sight. “Oh, I believe it,” Portia said. “Probably about as helpless as I felt when my car got stolen. Thank God for Dogpatch.”
“When did that happen?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at her. In the background, I saw a form coming down the porch of our current undertaking.
“’Bout three years ago,” Portia was saying.
“Hey.” I stopped in my tracks and pointed. “Hey!” I dropped my bag and took off at high speed, running along the sidewalk toward the bungalow. “Hey!”
The figure stopped and waved his hands at me. “Whoa. Whoa.”
It was what’s-his-name, the purple-face guy.
“What do you think you’re doing?” My lungs felt like they’d fall out with my next exhale.
“Peeking in the window. That’s all. Seeing how far you got today.”
His voice sounded a little too full of schmooze. I didn’t trust him.
“A spy, huh?” I only hoped that was all he was doing. I wiggled the doorknob. Still locked. “Don’t start playing dirty.” I gave him my most threatening glare. “Neither team has time for it.”
“Kind of suspicious, aren’t you?” He rubbed at his jaw.
Portia slid to a halt next to me. “What’s going on?”
“Just seeing what he was up to on our porch,” I said. Portia stuck her nose
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