The fact that Zach took up so much of her head space was ridiculous. If he wanted to ignore the obvious attraction between them, then Martin was right that Zach didn’t deserve her.
After changing into her silky tank and matching tap pants, she sat down on the cushioned, floral seat at the corner desk. Since sleep wouldn’t be coming for a while, she wanted to look through Chelsea’s ideas and really get a good feel for the overall theme, then dissect each room in her head to figure out the best plan of attack.
The more she flipped through and studied pictures and small notes written in Chelsea’s elegant hand, the more excited Sophie became. So excited, she pulled out her sketchbook and started outlining the foyer and sketching in a chandelier, cushioned bench seating, and a large circular table with a vast floral arrangement adorning the center.
These sketches were going to keep her sane. She’d used her pencil art to concentrate on healing after the accident. Now she would use it to keep her mind on the project, and not on the man in charge.
Chapter Ten
Already a hell of a day and it wasn’t even lunchtime.
Zach pulled his work truck into a parking spot right in front of Knobs & Knockers. He could’ve had Macy bring him the supplies when she closed for the day, but he needed to speak with her anyway, and he needed a break from that damn pipe in the main floor bathroom of the Sunset Lake house before he threw a stick of dynamite in there and called it a day.
But if he wanted to sell his home and stay at the mansion while fixing it up, he preferred the bathroom renovated . . . or at least in working order.
First, though, he had to talk to Liam. And wouldn’t that be a fun time on top of all the other bundles of excitement he’d already experienced?
Yanking on the door to the hardware store, Zach stepped inside as the bell chimed over his head.
Wearing her signature plaid shirt and dark hair in a ponytail, Macy greeted him with a smile.
“Hey, Zach.” Her smile quickly died on her face. “Oh no. Whatever the project is, you don’t look happy. It’s the Sunset Lake property, isn’t it?”
Sighing, Zach leaned onto the scarred wood counter. “I’ve just started. I swear it’s trying to kill me, and Chelsea is somewhere laughing her ass off at my expense.”
Macy reached across the counter to pat his arm. “You know everything you’re doing would make her happy, and that’s all that matters.”
Zach grunted, though he knew Chelsea would love that her brothers were moving ahead with her dream. Well, two of the three. And that was all that was keeping him partway sane.
Rubbing his eyes with his forefinger and thumb, Zach shook his head. “I need some PVC pipe cut.”
Macy straightened, tipping her head to the side. “You look exhausted. What else is wrong?”
Zach couldn’t prevent the sarcastic burst of laughter that slipped out. “I have puppies. They yip all night. I think they’re in cahoots with Chelsea’s spirit.”
Macy stared at him, her lips quivering. “Dogs?”
“If you laugh, I will bring the mom and her little fur balls and drop them off to you. Then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
She didn’t hold back another second. Macy laughed so hard she ended up with tears running down her face. She waved a hand toward him.
“I’m sorry, Zach,” she said between fits of laughter. “I’m just trying to imagine you taking care of a litter of puppies.”
When the door chimed again, Zach glanced at the robust man with silver hair and dark eyes that matched Macy’s.
“Maybe your dad will cut that pipe for me instead of laughing,” Zach muttered.
“I’ll cut your pipe,” Macy told him as she wiped beneath her eyes. “Come on back and tell me what you need.”
Phil Hayward came around the counter and eyed his daughter. “Hassling the customers again?”
“Oh, it’s just Zach.” Macy smiled up at her father. “He doesn’t count.”
Zach wasn’t offended in the least by her words or that he’d been the fodder for her laughter. Macy was one of the few people he was comfortable around. She was easy to talk to and joke with and he knew she felt the same or she wouldn’t go out of her way to agitate him.
“If you’re done mocking me, I’ll meet you in the back.”
Macy gestured for him to go ahead. “After you, dog whisperer.”