Enough she’d slept in her clothes.
No big deal. She’d get coffee—and some of that coffee cake—check the work, fuss with what needed fussing with. Then she’d shower, spruce herself up a bit, and drive into the village.
She needed to get out, stop at the bank and open an account, visit some of the shops, take a close-up look at the bay.
She went straight down to the kitchen. And saw her wineglass standing beside the sink.
“Okay, that’s it. No more crashing in front of the TV.”
After she made coffee, sliced some cake, she took both up to the library. She’d go over the work while she ate.
Since she only planned to work an hour or so, she didn’t bother with a fire.
She spent a little more than two, but knew when good was good.
And this was damn good.
Let it sit, she told herself. It was still shy of nine, so she’d let it sit, get that shower, change, then take one more look before she sent it off to Anna.
When the doorbell bonged, she nearly jumped out of her ancient slippers.
“Jesus! I’ve got to ask if I can change that thing.”
When she went down and opened the door to Trey, her first thought was: Why? Why hadn’t she showered and changed first?
“Morning,” he said. “I hear you have a printer that needs moving.”
“Oh. Anna shouldn’t have bothered you about that.” She stepped back to let him in. “It’s not urgent.”
“I’m heading out to see a client, so it’s not much of a detour. Where’s the printer?”
She had a moment to think he smelled good—fresh, outdoorsy good. And she almost certainly didn’t.
“First floor in the library. I’d like to set it up on the second floor. Can I get you coffee?”
“That’s okay, I’ll be getting some. The client drinks it by the gallon.”
Wishing she’d at least taken a brush to it, she shoved a hand at her hair. “How’s your dad?”
“The boss cleared him to work today, so he’s good.”
“The boss being your mother.”
“You got that. Anna said you’re redoing her website.”
“I’m working on a design I hope she likes.” She walked upstairs with him. “I networked with the printer in Collin’s office to get started, but that’s not really practical day-to-day. It’s helpful to print out some of the design, add it to my mood board.”
“Mood board.” Then he nodded when he walked in, saw hers. “Okay, I get it. That’s a major change for Anna.”
“Too much?”
“I like it, if that matters.”
He hooked his thumbs in his front pockets and studied the board.
Really studied, Sonya noted. Took time.
“Yeah, I like it. She had a college friend do most of the one she’s got now. It didn’t have much, ah, bang, I guess, and was a pain in the ass to load and navigate. This looks like it’ll have the bang.”
“It’ll also be quick to load, easy to navigate.”
They stood, elbow to elbow, studying her work.
“Is this a logo? She doesn’t have an actual logo.”
“She should. That’s one option for it. She wants simple, so I thought a sketch of a vase and candle holder, strong colors. Different shapes, but both her style. I thought a sketch rather than a photo, but we can try that, too.”
“You’ve gotten a lot done in a short time.” He glanced around. “This is a good setup for you. You don’t want the printer down here? Easy access?”
“See that thing?” She pointed to it. “Efficient but unattractive. This room’s too wonderful to have that monster sitting here. There’s a cabinet upstairs.”
“Yeah, DVD cabinet. We’ll haul it up.”
He started to lift it, shot her a look that made a laugh tickle her throat.
“I said monster. Look, it can wait. Maybe I can get John Dee to help you haul it up sometime.”
“Now you’re impugning my manhood.”
He took off his coat, tossed it on her chair.
No flannel shirt this time, but a navy sweater and black trousers.
She actually gripped her hands together when he picked it up.
“It’s so heavy. We really can wait until—”
“I’ve got it.”
When he hauled it up the stairs, she followed him.
“Which side?”
“The left.” She rushed to open it. “Everything else is on the other side now, and the power strip’s right there. God, thank you.”