Major Renovations (Ritter University #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

his ear. “Bryan, I know you’re on vacation, but we need to talk.”
    Barry walked into the house, growling into the phone, and looking at Samantha’s drooping shoulders made Ski want to take back any good words about the man. He was an ass, hanging Samantha out to dry. He’d actually tattled on her. Tattled. Like a five-year-old. The urge to beat the crap out of the old bastard reared its ugly head.
    “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I’ll fix it.” He really would do anything. Not that he knew how to fix it, but they had instructions for stuff like this online, right?
    “No. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone with the crew.” She slid her fingers up and down her tablet. “I let my dad down.”
    She dropped to the top step of the porch, and the look on her face just about broke his heart. The porch and his heart, both broken now, and he had no idea how to put them back to together. He hated that most of all.
    “Samantha. Your father needs to talk to you.” Barry walked out the door waving his cell phone.
    “Give me a minute.” She pulled in a long gust of air. “Crap. Crap. Crap.” A glare of volcanic proportions met Ski’s innocent hand as he tried to help her up. “Why are you still here?” She stood and wiped her hands on her jeans.
    “I want to help.” Ski slid his hands into his front pockets.
    “You’ve helped enough. Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
    The words cut, and the tone shriveled his— well, something. Why did he need a reason to be here? He lived here. “Just trying to find out what’s going on with my home.”
    “Well, things are under control.”
    “Really? Because things don’t look under control.” Had he just said that? Pretty soon he’d be in line to kick his own ass.
    “You know what? I get enough of that between my father and Barry. I don’t need it from you.” Her snarl grew. “I’ll get my job done, Mister Kaminski. Of course, it would go a lot quicker without constant mindless interruptions from the babysitter.”
    “Well, don’t let me interrupt you then, Samantha .” He walked past her and stomped through the front door. The smell of chemicals and rubber filled his nose.
    He needed out. Out of this cesspool of noise, stench, and anger. He was through with her. He tried. He failed. It was time to just move on. If it was only that easy.

~»ΨΡ«~
    Chapter Six
     
    Ski
    THE SUN streamed in the back windows of the house on Friday morning, the construction noise a dull roar in the background, and the view of Samantha a dull blade in his back. He’d made a point of avoiding her— he didn’t need to hear again how he was in the way or wasn’t wanted. He got that message loud and clear the first time.
    Her black hair shone as she sat on her bumper and wrote in her tablet. She looked amazing in this light. Hell, in any light. He was so screwed.
    “Enjoying the view?”
    Ski spun around to stare at his frat brother Ryan. “What are you doing here?”
    “Hi to you, too. Yes, the ride up was nice, very scenic. Thanks for asking.” Ryan waved a hand. “The place looks great.”
    “Yeah, Sammy has everything under control.”
    “Sammy?” Ryan asked, and of course that meant she walked in just in time to hear that. Could his luck possibly suck more?
    “What have I got under control?” Samantha looked Ryan up and down.
    Great. Ski could almost see her comparing Ryan to him. Ryan had on jeans and a button-up shirt and his perfect brown hair was in place— well, as in place as Ryan’s hair got. He looked like he at least tried, though. Ski, on the other hand, was standing there in sweats and T-shirt, with bed head. Homeless men looked more put together.
    “Hi— Samantha, right? I’m Ryan Kent. We talked last month.”
    “Ryan. The deposit guy. Nice to finally meet you in person.” Samantha was all business, playing cordial hostess. Ski recognized that particular tone of voice. His mom used it at every doctor-party function his