The Firefighter's Twins. Heidi McCahan

to make a place for me to stand.” She looked around the room. “I can balance on the floor thingies—what are they called again?”

      “Joists.” Trent and Shay spoke in unison.

      Shay walked carefully across the narrow boards, toward the stack of plywood. “Stay where you are until Trent and I get things set up.”

      “But what about the glue?” She reached for the gun. “I thought you said this went down first?”

      Shay paused. “You don’t take no for an answer, do you?”

      She grinned. “Not usually.”

      “Fine. Come over here, and I’ll show you how to get started. Trent, if you’ll help me move this plywood, we’ll slide it right in behind her.”

      Natalie proved to be a quick learner. He thought he’d spend a lot of extra time coaching her and waiting for her to maneuver in the small space. But she surprised him by working efficiently. It wasn’t long before they had half the room finished.

      “Isn’t there a chalk line or something we’re supposed to draw?” She leaned back on her heels, resting on a fresh sheet of plywood.

      Shay exchanged glances with Trent. “How did you know that?”

      “I googled installing a subfloor last night.”

      “Were you planning to do this yourself?”

      Natalie brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “If I had to.”

      “I don’t have a chalk line with me.” Shay opened a box of nails, biting back a smile. She was really something. He pretended to fumble around, looking for his hammer—anything to distract him from admiring the way her pink lips quirked to one side as she surveyed their progress.

      “That’s one thing I did remember.” Trent stood and rummaged in his toolbox.

      Natalie hummed softly while they waited. Shay had forgotten what it was like to have a woman around, singing while she worked. He looked away. Despite his best efforts, memories of married life popped up when he least expected.

      “Found it.” Trent held the chalk line in his hand.

      “Excellent. If you’ll hold one end, I’ll grab the other and we can snap these lines.” Shay got back to work with a renewed focus. This project mattered. A home for a veteran and his family mattered. He’d help however he could. If it meant working side by side with a certain farmer’s daughter, then he’d have to make sure they never worked alone.