About Renovations 4: Full House

by Anah Crow and Dianne Fox
26 pages / 13200 words
ISBN 978-1-60370-669-8, 1-60370-669-0
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc

Just when Ven and Toby finally have the perfect life, the life Ven never thought he'd have, Toby's ex throws a wrench in the works, but not in the usual way. Brenda needs Toby's help and offers him half of every week with his girls while she takes on some continuing education.

Toby is thrilled, right up until Ven stops coming home from work on time when the girls are there. Ven is struggling with the idea of being a part-time family of four, and not because he doesn't want the girls. Things blow up one night, and only hard work keeps Ven and Toby from pulling their family apart.

Sample

Ven's watch chirped at him to tell him it was five o'clock. A quick glimpse through the window he was installing confirmed that in the way the sun was hitting the trees. He wedged the window into place with a few shims and picked up his drill. He had two more windows to go. The footsteps overhead were Candy and her new guy, Mario, tarping what hadn't been finished. Ven dropped the top pane of the window down in the sliders and stuck his head out.

"Yo. Up there. Five p.m. I don't pay y'all overtime."
           
"Yeah, yeah." Candy peeked over the edge, pushing up her safety glasses. "But you'll work us 'til six."
           
"I'll work you as long as I have to for the schedule, but not today. Tell the guys doing the deck it's time to wrap up." Ven pulled his head back in and slid the window up so he could get it installed and move on. He was looking forward to getting out of here on time, for once. He'd been missing Toby something fierce, with their schedules not matching up lately and all.
           
Speak of the Devil. A black BMW pulled into the driveway, right beside the half-full dumpster. Toby didn't usually finish up at the office until well after five, but Ven remembered that he was supposed to be in court today. They must've finished up early, because there was Toby, stepping out of that little car looking like something straight off the cover of GQ. Goddamn.

Two windows to go. Ven made a frustrated little noise in the back of his throat and kicked his toolbox, then picked up the next window. The alcove and the bathroom had to be done and then he could go bounding down to see his man. Setting a good example sucked. He adjusted his tool belt. Less thinking about sucking would get things done faster. With another little groan of despair, he slid into the alcove and tore down the plastic over the window framing.

He was on the last window when Toby's leather-soled shoes sounded on the bathroom's tile floor. "The house is looking good. Deck's coming together." Toby's voice had that edge that said he was thinking about more than just renovations.
           
"Roof's almost done." Ven would have turned around but he was holding the window in place with his hip and leaning up into the drill as he secured the center top. Eight screws to go. No time at all. "Glad you like what you see."
           
Ven was pretty sure, after all this time, that Toby liked looking at him, even when Ven was dusty and gritty, layers of sweatshirt and T-shirt clinging to his skin, sweat tracing down the small of his back. Even in the colder months, Ven could work up a sweat if he was keeping busy. Looking was one thing, though. Ven was thinking he should grab a shower when he got home to keep from getting dirt all over Toby's pale skin. Last screw. Ven turned to look at Toby, all sweet and tidy and pretty. Maybe a little dirt wouldn't hurt.

"Maybe we'll get it finished up before the rain hits." When Ven turned around, Toby was smiling. He didn't seem too worried about getting dirty, not if the way he came up to steal a kiss was anything to go by.

About the Author - Anah Crow, Dianne Fox