Page 85 of My Husband Problem

She also sips lemonade, and I notice we're sitting next to a rolling cart covered with a cheerful yellow-and-white striped umbrella. The cart has a pitcher of lemonade, another that I assume is sweet tea, and one that is bright red, and I would say is fruit punch, but you never know around here. Behind the pitchers are several glass bottles, including vodka, rum, tequila, and a couple of others I can’t identify from here that people can use to add a twist to their drinks. There’s a huge bucket of ice, some colorful straws, and even paper umbrellas.

I am sure it’s not Andi’s addition to the party, but I love that she positioned herself next to the drinks.

I watch as Nora happily passes out the pudding cups, and she and Sutton then settle in to take in the “show”.

“We finally got your front walk fixed,” a guy named Blake says to me.

He doesn’t even live near here.

“I didn’t realize my front walk was bothering you,” I tell him.

“Just noticed it a couple of times.”

“They’re here!” Suddenly, Beckett comes bounding down the front porch steps, leaps athletically over the square of wet pavement, and sprints to the curb.

Everyone turns to watch him as he greets the pickup truck pulling up at the curb. He converses with the driver for a moment, then helps him unload four cardboard boxes from the back of the truck, stacking them on the sidewalk.

Beckett faces the crowd. “Come and get ’em!” He rips open a box and holds up an item from inside.

It’s a purple T-shirt, the same purple as the Revelers hockey team's primary color, with the bright yellow words "Team Declan" printed across the front.

My eyes widen as the small crowd of people surges forward.

It only takes Beckett a few minutes to hand out a shirt to nearly everyone present. He also has buttons, and those, too, are gone in under ten minutes.

I notice no money changes hands.

My head is spinning with all of the activity.

Wes comes down the front walk with the men he actually employs following him a few minutes later.

“Okay, we’re wrapped up for the day,” he tells everyone. He smiles at me. “We’ll be back tomorrow to finish and clean up.”

I nod. I have no idea what else needs to be done.

Without fanfare, everyone starts packing up the food, drinks, chairs, and blankets.

I watch people load up their trucks and cars or start walking toward Main Street again.

Andi hugs me. “See you later.” Then she’s off.

Nora and Sutton load items into the Parks and Rec wagon that they did not arrive with and head toward City Hall with the small crowd.

The hockey players pile into pick-ups and drive off.

My neighbors all start toward their houses.

I’m so caught up in watching everyone disperse seemingly as quickly as they arrived that I don’t realize Declan is standing right behind me.

“Productive day.”

I turn to him, my gaze taking in all those muscles encased in dark gray cotton up close. I try to hide my reaction by propping a hand on my hip. “Is it going to be a regular thing that you just do things without asking first?”

His gaze is intense, almost hot. “Only things that need to be done immediately to keep you safe.”

That makes my heart trip. Dammit.

“In other things, I’ll definitely consult you,” he says. “For instance, I kept the porch and the door the same neutral color and style. Now you can paint it or decorate it however you want to.” He pauses. Then his voice drops slightly. “Consent is very important.”