Terms of Service by Emma Nichols Page B
Authors: Emma Nichols
to work.”
With a very light heart, she sauntered down the stairs, estimate in hand, ready to argue her case with the almighty Gavin if need be. True, she had little experience in these matters, but if this were one of her renovating shows on television, her estimate would have been considered a steal.
Pausing outside the door, Hannah watched as Gavin rubbed at his temples. She bit her lip. What was troubling him so? Was she really having that adverse an effect on him? Walking in slowly, she stopped when she reached his desk. His eyes were still closed, so she murmured his name ever so quietly, “Gavin?”
Instantly his eyes shot open and the sour look she was quickly becoming accustomed to darkened his face. Now she only had to decipher the reason for it as she had last time.
“So, you seem to have some explaining to do. First you disappear, then when you finally return you bring a strange man into my home and lead him up the stairs to your bedroom.” He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at her severely.
Quite unaccustomed to being chastised, Hannah had no idea how to respond. Brett had never cared enough to comment on anything she did, not that she ever did anything to cause him worry. “Now you know full well he’s here to give me an estimate for work on the house.” She matched him frown for frown. He was clearly startled. “And further more…” His eyebrows arched in surprise as she spoke those words. “…you told me I would have to have the room repaired, correct?”
He knew he was forced to agree and it was like swallowing a bitter pill. “Yes,” he conceded.
“I am doing my best to accomplish as much as possible in a short period of time.” She sighed, feeling the need to explain. She glanced around and moved to sink into the nearby leather chair.
Gavin sat up straighter when she sat. He leaned over the desk and stared at her. At least he was ready to listen.
Hannah couldn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t know how to explain this to you other than to just come right out and say it.” She pursed her lips and frowned, mulling for a moment how to share her feelings. “We’ve gone through a lot of upheaval in our lives lately. It wasn’t so long ago that I had nothing, literally. Brett took it all, tangible and intangible. There was no furniture, food, money, dignity, or confidence.” Her eyes welled up at the memories.
“I can’t survive without order. You must have sensed that on some level?” She stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to acknowledge the truth of that statement.
He nodded slowly. “I have noticed that about you.”
Sighing, she continued. “That room has to be repaired. It has to be painted. The curtains and flooring have to be installed before I will feel an ounce of security, before I will feel comfortable,” she swallowed, “before I can rest.” She offered him one final plea. “I don’t require luxurious or pricey, but I would very much like some peace of mind.” By the time she finished speaking, she was shaking slightly.
“Then what are you waiting for?” He stood, walked around the desk and stopped directly in front of her. Slowly, he offered her his hand, as though he feared rejection.
She looked at it a moment before grasping it tightly in hers. The touch spread warmth throughout her being and she stifled a blissful sigh. Without another word, he helped her from the chair and dragged her up the stairs to get to work. It was just as well he couldn’t see her, since Hannah was biting back tears of joy.
Chapter Six
The afternoon had passed in a blur. As Hannah occupied herself with sanding, Gavin pulled Joe aside. He had stood frozen outside the bedroom door, watching them work until he gained Joe’s attention. Immediately he gestured for the handy man to meet him in the hall.
“What’s it going to take to get some carpet
With a very light heart, she sauntered down the stairs, estimate in hand, ready to argue her case with the almighty Gavin if need be. True, she had little experience in these matters, but if this were one of her renovating shows on television, her estimate would have been considered a steal.
Pausing outside the door, Hannah watched as Gavin rubbed at his temples. She bit her lip. What was troubling him so? Was she really having that adverse an effect on him? Walking in slowly, she stopped when she reached his desk. His eyes were still closed, so she murmured his name ever so quietly, “Gavin?”
Instantly his eyes shot open and the sour look she was quickly becoming accustomed to darkened his face. Now she only had to decipher the reason for it as she had last time.
“So, you seem to have some explaining to do. First you disappear, then when you finally return you bring a strange man into my home and lead him up the stairs to your bedroom.” He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at her severely.
Quite unaccustomed to being chastised, Hannah had no idea how to respond. Brett had never cared enough to comment on anything she did, not that she ever did anything to cause him worry. “Now you know full well he’s here to give me an estimate for work on the house.” She matched him frown for frown. He was clearly startled. “And further more…” His eyebrows arched in surprise as she spoke those words. “…you told me I would have to have the room repaired, correct?”
He knew he was forced to agree and it was like swallowing a bitter pill. “Yes,” he conceded.
“I am doing my best to accomplish as much as possible in a short period of time.” She sighed, feeling the need to explain. She glanced around and moved to sink into the nearby leather chair.
Gavin sat up straighter when she sat. He leaned over the desk and stared at her. At least he was ready to listen.
Hannah couldn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t know how to explain this to you other than to just come right out and say it.” She pursed her lips and frowned, mulling for a moment how to share her feelings. “We’ve gone through a lot of upheaval in our lives lately. It wasn’t so long ago that I had nothing, literally. Brett took it all, tangible and intangible. There was no furniture, food, money, dignity, or confidence.” Her eyes welled up at the memories.
“I can’t survive without order. You must have sensed that on some level?” She stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to acknowledge the truth of that statement.
He nodded slowly. “I have noticed that about you.”
Sighing, she continued. “That room has to be repaired. It has to be painted. The curtains and flooring have to be installed before I will feel an ounce of security, before I will feel comfortable,” she swallowed, “before I can rest.” She offered him one final plea. “I don’t require luxurious or pricey, but I would very much like some peace of mind.” By the time she finished speaking, she was shaking slightly.
“Then what are you waiting for?” He stood, walked around the desk and stopped directly in front of her. Slowly, he offered her his hand, as though he feared rejection.
She looked at it a moment before grasping it tightly in hers. The touch spread warmth throughout her being and she stifled a blissful sigh. Without another word, he helped her from the chair and dragged her up the stairs to get to work. It was just as well he couldn’t see her, since Hannah was biting back tears of joy.
Chapter Six
The afternoon had passed in a blur. As Hannah occupied herself with sanding, Gavin pulled Joe aside. He had stood frozen outside the bedroom door, watching them work until he gained Joe’s attention. Immediately he gestured for the handy man to meet him in the hall.
“What’s it going to take to get some carpet