Page 48 of Bad Call
He glanced up, squinting against the sun. “Hey, you. What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing. I had some errands to run, and I always take a different route home so I can try to learn the ins and outs of this town.”
“I see.”
“You gonna tell me what you’re doing?”
“Oh, this? Side project.”
“Come on, Collins. Quit being mysterious.”
He chuckled. “Why don’t you get out and lend me a hand, and maybe I’ll fill you in?”
That was an offer I couldn’t pass up. Hopping out of the truck, I walked over to his tool bag, picked up his electric drill, and pushed the button, testing to see if it worked. But of course it worked, otherwise, why would he have it with him?
“You just love to push buttons, don’t you? Mine in particular.”
“Bet you can’t imagine what I’m thinking right now,” I smirked.
“I’m sure I can,” he laughed, grabbing the drill from my hands before I pushed it again.
The sound didn’t go unnoticed by another familiar face. Rawlings barked. I turned and realized that she was lying in the shade of a nearby tree. I went to her immediately, kneeling down to rub between her ears. She licked my cheek, panting, her stinky doggy breath on my face. “Hey, baby girl, miss me?”
“Hand me that ratchet.”
Thank God I knew what he was referring to, so I didn’t look like a total clown. I handed him the tool and watched as he tightened the bolts on the base of the post. “What is that thing?” I asked.
“A mini free library. You add a book and take a book. It runs on the honor system.”
“Really? That’s pretty cool. I’ve seen a few of these around town, actually. Did you make this thing?”
“I made all of them and probably more that you haven’t seen yet.”
I couldn’t have been blown away more if a tornado touched down and scooped me up. “You made these? How?”
He laughed again, a rich warm sound that made me feel good inside. Happy. “With a saw and wood.”
“That’s not what I meant, smartass.”
“I’m handy like that,” he shrugged.
If anybody knew that firsthand, it was me. “You’re definitely talented with your hands.”
“I was talking about building things,” he corrected, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
“So, you just make shit and donate it?”
“That’s exactly what I do. And don’t ask me why. The right question to ask is why not? Shouldn’t everyone give back to their community and work to make it a better place?”
“Y-yeah. They just… don’t. I guess you walk the walk and talk the talk.” Damn, that was sexy.
“I guess I do.” He grinned, handing me back theratchet. Casey stood back and brushed his hands off on his shorts. “Give it a try.”
“What am I supposed to do with it?”
“Open and close the door? Wait, hold on.” He hustled over to his tool bag, pulled out a small paperback book, and handed it to me.
“The ‘Beginner’s Basics to Playing Baseball,’” I read aloud. I reached for the little glass door, gently opened it, and slid the book onto the shelf inside before shutting the door again. “It works.”