Bachelor to the Rescue Read Online Free PDF Page A

do you have to do with it?”
    â€œI’m the contractor.”
    Lainie’s eyes widened in shock. “Why are you so far behind? Why didn’t you stay on top of things?”
    Her words scraped like a steel rasp across his old guilt. She had every reason to think he was at fault. “There were foundation problems, and we uncovered asbestos in the walls, then—”
    She held up her hand to stop his explanation, then rested her fists on the sides of her neck as if protecting herself from more bad news. His heart ached. She looked so defeated. She’d been through so much and he was piling on more.
    â€œWhy didn’t Mr. Ogden let me know?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’m only involved with the construction phase.”
    Shaw saw the full realization sink in. Her shoulders slumped and she leaned against the wall. “What am I going to do? I have to have a job.”
    He stepped closer, catching a whiff of her strawberry scent. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. It’s the least I can do.”
    A flash of anger sparked in her brown eyes. “Because you owe me?”
    He winced at the truth of her comment. “Yes. But I also want to help. None of this is your fault.”
    â€œNo, it’s not.”
    Shaw clenched his jaw. Her inference was clear. It was his fault she was a single mother. “But I can take care of things until you’re squared away.”
    â€œLike that?” She pointed to the opening in the wall.
    He grimaced. He should have thought about the opening. But then he hadn’t been expecting his past to slap him in the face. “I’ll fix it right now.”
    She leveled her gaze at him, then walked through the opening to her side of the house. With her back straight and head high, her posture told him he’d better fix it. If he wasn’t so tied in knots, he would have found her attitude amusing.
    In his garage workshop, Shaw inspected the extra lumber and other leftover materials he kept at the back. He moved a few pieces of scrap wood aside and picked up the single French door and leaned it against the workbench. It wasn’t the best solution to the hole in the wall, but it would have to do. His gaze fell on the coil of rope at the end of the counter. It would be the perfect size and length for a swing. He dismissed the idea. Lainie and her kids would be here for only a couple of days. Once she had her business settled, she’d be gone.
    He hooked his tape measure onto his belt, shoved a few shims and screws into his pocket, then picked up the door and headed to the house. In the hallway, he rested the door against the wall, took some measurements, mentally calculating the best way to secure the door in the opening. Giggles and footsteps sounded overhead. Lainie’s girls.
    They were two little cuties, for sure. Natalie, with her long curly hair and deep dimples was full of sparkle. She smiled and bounced every moment as if happy with life. The little one was more serious, with straight hair pulled back into a ponytail and wispy strands falling around her face. Tiny glasses perched on a button nose added cuteness to her already-sweet face. It must have been hard raising them alone. How had they managed these past five years? Who had Lainie turned to for help? Family? Friends?
    He’d tried to offer his help right after the accident, but she’d refused his calls, and at the funeral, she’d ordered him to leave, making it clear she blamed him for her husband’s death. He could still feel the hot sting of her last words to him that day. “I don’t need anything from you. Ever.” But now she did, and he wasn’t going to let them down. He’d protect them and provide for them until they were safe and settled. As long as they were under his roof, he’d make sure they had everything they needed. They were his responsibility now.
    Shaw channeled all his energy into securing