How to Love Your Neighbour(23)

“You should wait until . . .” He trailed off.

She turned at the door. “Until? Some big, strong man can do it? Until I can hire someone?”

“At least until you have someone holding the ladder.” He wondered if she was too stubborn to ask. The strain of silence stretched between them.

He broke first. “I’ll hold the ladder.”

The grin she gave him made him feel like he’d won a prize he didn’t even want. “That’s very neighborly of you.”

Frowning, irritated to be helping her, at the fact that he wanted to help her, he just shook his head. “Don’t get used to it.”





10


Grace wanted to shove the debris she yanked out of the gutters in Noah’s face. If she weren’t on a schedule of chores that needed doing, she might have told him to shove his offer of help. But beggars fell off ladders when they climbed them without a spotter. Not exactly the saying but whatever. Damn, her mood had taken a serious dive. Seven texts from Tammy, Rosie ditching her for her own hot surfer guy, and Noah’s attitude created a ball of irritation she wanted to take a sledgehammer to.

The gutters actually weren’t that bad, but it was something she wanted done before she borrowed Morty’s pressure washer. Less mess overall was her way of thinking.

“You’re leaning too far to the left. You’re going to fall,” Noah shouted up.

“You are stomping all over my nerves,” she muttered.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Just a little more. She still couldn’t believe the chemistry between Rosie and Josh. Had there been kindling close by, a fire would have ignited. You don’t want that. She wasn’t looking for an I-want-to-tear-your-clothes-off relationship. Though, maybe if she let herself have one, she wouldn’t feel like she was going to poke Noah with a rake. You could tear his clothes off. Argh. No. No thank you. There was sexual tension, then there was supreme irritation brought on by my Neighbor Know-It-All.

“Seriously, Grace. Don’t lean so far over.”

She looked down, tossed the tool she was using to clean the gutters. The thump on the grass made Noah jump, shaking the ladder.

“If I fall, it’ll be because you can’t even hold a ladder.” She started climbing down, not realizing he’d stayed in his spot until she felt his presence at her back.

“Got down safely, didn’t you?”

She turned on the ladder, glaring at him. “Yay. You have ladder-holding skills. Too bad I don’t have any stickers left from the birthday party.” She winced. Why did he make her lose her temper when that really wasn’t her style?

“Ouch.” He stepped back.

“Why did you offer to help if you were just going to complain?” Grace asked, pulling the gloves off and tossing them on the ground.

“Because you would have done it anyway.” His voice rose and Grace glanced around, grateful no one was out on their own lawns. The beach was pretty packed today, but their yards were removed enough from the crowds.

“News flash, Mr. Money, people can and do do things alone. Some people, myself included, are very capable of getting chores done without hiring people to do it. You might be shocked to hear this but,” she said, leaning in closer. Which she’d realize was a mistake. “I have a full fridge of food that I bought all by myself.”

He stepped forward so their toes and noses nearly touched. “Stop being crabby because I didn’t want you to fall.”

“This isn’t about falling,” she spat back, her breathing going heavy and shallow at the same time. Or maybe her heart got heavy. Something weird was happening in her chest.

“You are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.”

“Awesome. You’re the most irritating man I’ve ever met. And I lived with Morty.”

When he reared back slightly, she expected a scathing remark. Instead, he laughed.

Grace’s lips quirked. Talking to Noah Jansen was like being on a Tilt-A-Whirl. What would kissing him be like? Nope. Hard stop sign on that one. What was she thinking?

“I’m getting compared to a grumpy old man; I asked my assistant if he wanted to grab a beer sometime only to have him think I was hitting on him. I used to be the charmer in the family. Maybe California isn’t so good for me,” he said, all of the fight going out of his stance.

Her heart did that funny thing where it took pity on him. Like last night with the fence.

“You’re just adjusting. Clearly, you’re used to bossing people around.”

“Ha. Yeah. I’m good at that part.” An unpleasant expression came over his face, making her wonder what he was thinking.

“I should go. I need to get the den ready to paint.”

His jaw dropped open. “You just finished the gutters.”

She laughed. “Yes. I did. Now I have to paint or I won’t be able to until next weekend. Kind of got a lot going on right now.”

He looked down at the ground, then up through enviable thick lashes. “You want help?”

It was her turn to laugh. “No thanks.” She looked over at the fence, which had actually dried nicely, but she couldn’t help but remember how flustered he’d been when she showed up.

“Because you think I’ll mess it up?” His shoulders stiffened again.