Rocky Mountain Angels by Jodi Bowersox [romance] Page B

watcher.”
    Joe sat flat on the floor to open the box containing the new disposal. Tawny appeared to rub on him, and he scratched her behind the ears. “I hear ya there. Not much worth watching, in my book.” He pulled out the instructions and laid them aside then pulled out the new appliance. Tawny jumped into the empty box. “So what will you be studying?”
    She shifted and pulled a knee to her chest. “Well, I was going to enroll in Zoo Keeper Technologies...”
    Joe glanced up. “But...”
    She put her chin on her knee. “I don’t know. Eli thinks I’m crazy. He thinks it will be just another degree in the drawer that I won’t use.”
    Joe pulled his toolbox over and searched through his tools. “I didn’t realize that Eli knew you so well to be telling you what to do with your life.” Then his brow furrowed, and he looked up and stared. “Did you say ‘just another degree you won’t use’?”
    She grimaced. “Yeah, I don’t have a very good track record for choosing a career.” After Eli’s analysis this afternoon, she didn’t feel like elaborating further. Joe was still looking at her, though, so she said the first thing that came to her mind. “Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door.” His open expression changed to a question. “Emily Dickinson. Sorry, I sometimes spout spontaneous literature quotes.” Joe couldn’t quite hide his grin, but thankfully, he found the screwdriver he wanted and proceeded to attach the collar that would hold the new disposal in place.
    “So, how about you? How did you know you wanted to do construction for the rest of your life?”
    Joe chuckled. “My dad put a hammer in my hand almost before I held a rattle. He was a master craftsman—still is, actually. His specialty is custom cabinetry, but he taught me everything right down to basic plumbing.” He flashed her a smile that set her heart thumping. “He let me work on real jobs by the time I was thirteen.”
    He tightened the last screw and set the screwdriver down. Attaching the main part of the disposal was just a matter of twisting it into the collar using an allen wrench for leverage. Rising, he started the water running, then the disposal.
    Mari rose and came to his side, feeling suddenly very short. The top of her head only reached his shoulder. She bent her head back just as he looked over at her with a satisfied smile, his eyes flashing. He turned everything off and squatted back down to gather his tools. Mari couldn’t resist pressing him further on his career choice. “So you never actually made a decision about a career; you just kind of grew up into it?”
    Joe snapped his toolbox shut and stood with it in his hand. “I guess that ’s a good way to put it.” He turned and left the kitchen.
    Mari followed. “So what about Eli and Ben?” Joe set down his box to put on his coat. “Do you think they love their chosen fields as much as you do?”
    Joe narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly. “What are you getting at? You don’t think they’re happy? Have you guys hung out together 24/7 for the past couple of days or what?”
    “No, it’s just a topic that’s come up—I guess because of my choices—and I’m wondering how to choose something I can live with. I’ve done so badly in the past, and I feel like this is my last chance to get it right.”
    Joe looked down at her intently, and Mari wondered what he was thinking. He probably thinks I’m an idiot.
    After a few long moments, where Mari felt like she was under a microscope, Joe broke the silence. “Well, unlike my brothers, I don’t think I should give advice to someone I barely know. But if I were you, I guess I’d pray about it.” The corners of what she was now calling “those perfect Rhodes lips” turned up in just a hint of a smile; then he turned and let himself out, throwing a “Good night, Mari” back over his shoulder.
    Mari followed him and whispered a “Good night, Joe” to the