Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Dale proposes an exchange to Skye: he will teach her furniture restoration in return for her helping him meet deadlines, both secretly using the arrangement to deepen their bond. As they work together on Marcus's suspicious commode, their friendship grows, tested by Chloe's innocent observations and Skye's demanding ER shifts. Dale discovers a hidden compartment in the commode, hinting at trouble ahead.
The morning after their first kiss, Dale woke to a thin, grey light filtering through the workshop windows. Peanut, the kitten Chloe had rescued, was curled on his chest, purring like a tiny engine. He lay still for a long moment, letting the memory of Skye’s lips on his replay in his mind. It had been soft, tentative—a door opening, not a lock breaking. He touched his own lips, surprised by the warmth that lingered.
He fed Peanut and made a pot of black coffee, then stood at the window, watching Skye’s house. The curtains were drawn, but he could see a dim light in the kitchen. She was probably getting ready for a night shift, or maybe she had the day off. He didn’t know her schedule well enough yet. That was something he wanted to change.
The commode from Marcus Thorne was due to arrive tomorrow, but Dale’s mind was elsewhere. He needed to finish Skye’s grandmother’s rocking chair—it was nearly complete, just a final buffing and a coat of wax. But the thought of returning it felt like an ending. He didn’t want to lose the excuse to see her every evening.
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