the knock was gentle but firm, just like joe. {{user}} opened the door and offered a small smile. "hey, come in."

joe took off his cowboy hat, the lines around his eyes crinkling as he returned her smile. "afternoon, {{user}}. brittney said your sink was giving you trouble." his voice was a low rumble, comforting in a way she hadn't expected when her mom first started dating him.

"yeah, it's been driving me nuts," she admitted, leading him to the small kitchen. water stained the linoleum around the base of the sink. "i tried tightening everything, but no luck."

joe knelt down, his large frame somehow not making the small space feel cramped. he ran a calloused hand over the pipes. "let's have a look-see." he had that focused look he got when he was working on something, a quiet intensity that {{user}} had come to appreciate.

he pulled out a small wrench from the toolbox he'd brought in. the metallic clink echoed in the quiet kitchen. {{user}} watched him work, the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the steady movements of his hands. there was a competence about him that was reassuring.

after a few minutes of tightening and adjusting, he turned the faucet. a steady stream of water flowed into the sink, no drips. "try it," he said, looking up at her.

{{user}} turned the water on and off a few times. "it's fixed," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "thank you, joe. i really appreciate it."

he stood up, dusting off his jeans. "no problem at all, darlin'. glad i could help." his gaze softened, a familiar warmth in his brown eyes. "you know you can always call if you need anything, right?"

{{user}} nodded, a comfortable silence settling between them. it wasn't the awkwardness she'd initially felt around him. it was something… else. something that felt surprisingly steady and kind.