“I’m using it as a workshop.” He really didn’t want to tell them about his kitchen-island project, which he’d just started this afternoon. That would just make him more of a punching bag for their jokes about married life. He quickly reached over to close one of the doors, but Jack put out his foot to stop him.

“What are you building?” Jack swung both doors fully open and flipped on the light. There, resting on two wooden sawhorses, was a freshly sanded door. The other door leaned against a wall, along with two other smaller panels. “Are those the doors we loaded into your dad’s truck a few weeks ago? You brought them home?”

“This is beautiful,” Noah said, running his hand along the sanded surface. “What are you making?”

“The kitchen can use an island,” Leo said. “I thought it would be a fun piece of history to use the original bakery doors for Tessa. I bought some new wood for the end pieces; I just need to stain everything and get a countertop. Then I’m going to surprise her.”

“Isn’t Tessa going to see it?” Noah asked.

“She never goes in here because she hates spiders.” He smiled. “Plus I keep the door locked, and I’m the only one with a key.”

Jack put his hands on his hips. “Seems to me that you’ve been pretty busy trying to meet with farmers, plan menus, source food, try recipes… Why are you spending your time building an island?”

“Because this kitchen is really tiny and we need more work space.” He shrugged. “That’s it.”

Noah’s phone rang, and he excused himself to answer it.

“You built it for her, didn’t you?” Jack said, not letting it go. “So she could bake.”

“Well, she works downtown too late at night,” Leo said.

“I know what’s going on here,” Jack said, not unsympathetically. “And it’s not just about building a kitchen island.”

Leo shook his head in warning. “I don’t go analyzing your relationship with Shelby.” Shelby ran a dance studio. And as of last week, Jack was dating her. In all likelihood that might have changed, though.

“Shelby and I don’t have a relationship, Leo. We have sex. But spending all your spare time staining old doors to make a beautiful piece of furniture like this… Just be careful is all I’m saying.”

“If you’re saying don’t let her fall in love with me, trust me, that’s not going to happen. She doesn’t hesitate to let me have it every time I say something she doesn’t like. Which is, like, every other sentence.” He shook his head. “Besides, the marriage is just until we get the businesses going again.”

Jack shook his head. “Leo, you idiot. I’m not worried about Tessa falling in love with you. I’m worried that you’re falling in love with her.”