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“No.” Beth shook her head. “Just point me in the right direction. I can handle the rest.”
Craig snorted. “You can’t load by yourself.”
“You’d be surprised at what I can do.” She smiled at his raised brows, leaving out that she’d bring Liberty on the second trip. “You’re nice to offer, but I’m sure you have your own work to do. Where do I go?”
She didn’t know if Nathan was still behind her or not, but that was where Craig’s gaze went. With obvious reluctance, he motioned toward the building she’d pegged as the stable.
“Thanks,” she said, and glanced over her shoulder. “And thank you, Mr. Landers. You’ve really saved my butt. Next time you’re in town I owe you a beer.”
His stunned expression was priceless. Though she hadn’t meant to shock him. Or for him to actually look at said rear end. In fact, the beer offer had just slipped out. She’d only meant to impress on him that she was truly grateful.
She hurried toward her truck, ignoring the stares of the men working on an ATV engine, then briefly exchanged a smile with a dusty cowboy riding a chestnut past her. By the time she got behind the wheel, she was a little shaky from too much sun, adrenaline, or maybe too much Nathan Landers. Bad time to remember she hadn’t replenished the water she normally kept in the pickup. At least she’d brought her work gloves.
Throwing the truck into Reverse, she started to back up, cringing when she ground the gears. This was the first manual shift she’d ever owned, but after three months she usually did pretty well. Of course she’d have to drive like a moron now, with a dozen men watching her. Nathan was probably having a chuckle. Though no reason for her to give a crap.
She still wished she hadn’t mentioned the house, since it had seemed to upset him—but she had a feeling he was generally a grouch. A damn good-looking one. She darted a look in the rearview mirror.
He hadn’t moved. Except he’d put away his phone and was focused completely on her. Arms crossed, of course, feet planted wide, an amused look on his handsome face. Well, wasn’t she just tickled pink that she could provide him with a little afternoon entertainment.
She forced herself to concentrate on the gearshift and slipped into Drive. She wondered how much he was still grieving. According to Rachel, since his wife died he’d been sticking close to home. No mention had been made of what caused her death, though Beth doubted that mattered to a person in mourning. She’d never lost anyone close to her.
That wasn’t entirely true. She’d suffered loss. Her mother wasn’t dead, not as far as Beth knew, but for as long as Beth could remember, Paula Wilson had repeatedly disappeared into bottles of booze and the bed of any strange man who’d promised to take care of her.
Beth’s older sister had followed a similar path, including getting pregnant at sixteen. Giving birth to beautiful baby Liberty hadn’t been enough to straighten out Candace. Most nights she’d left the little girl with Beth. But when the toddler had started calling Beth “Mama,” quick as a wink, Candace had latched on to no-good Lenny Ramsey, packed up Liberty and torn away the only person Beth had truly cared about.
And Beth’s father? She’d never known him. Like any child she’d been curious about him at one point. But eventually she’d reasoned that if Paula had been attracted to him, and vice versa, he had to be a loser, so why bother searching? She honestly didn’t even think about him. All that mattered to her now was reestablishing a bond with Liberty. And Candace, too, though her sister didn’t seem anxious to let go of her bad habits.
Beth spotted the three stacks of lumber just inside the barn and sighed. The order wasn’t nearly enough for what she needed for the whole renovation, but more than she cared to load by herself. No complaints, though. If the workers showed up tomorrow, this would all be worth it.
After reversing the truck close to the lumber, she pulled on her bulky work gloves and got out. As she lowered the tailgate, she caught movement in her peripheral vision and turned to see Craig and another guy jogging toward her. Beyond them she could see Nathan Landers still rooted to the spot, facing them.
“We’ve got it, Beth,” Craig said, lifting his hat and sweeping his long, dark blond hair off his forehead. “Why don’t you wait over there on the chair by the fridge?” He motioned with his chin. “Get yourself something cold to drink.”
“You want your boss to have a coronary? He’s watching you.”
“Nah, Nathan sent us over.” Craig grinned. “I knew he wouldn’t let you do this yourself. You know Troy?”
Tall and lanky, Troy looked younger than Craig. He immediately doffed his hat and mumbled a greeting.
“I’ve seen you playing pool at the bar, haven’t I?” She smiled when his eyes widened in surprise, a pleased grin tugging at his mouth. The only reason she’d noticed him was because of his bright red hair, but she kept that to herself. “I really can handle this, you know,” she said, picking up a board and transferring it to her truck.
Craig hefted five slats at once.
So did Troy.
Show-offs. She stood back and watched for a moment. They worked fast. She decided to go for broke and lifted three boards...and tried not to whimper. They weren’t heavy, just unwieldy. She swung her load around and missed Troy’s ear by a hair. And only because he had good reflexes.
“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry.” She slid the boards onto the bed and spun around to Troy. Cupping his jaw with her hand, she searched his face. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Fine,” he mumbled, blushing furiously.
“You sure?” she asked, inspecting his cheek. His skin was warm, probably because she was embarrassing him. But would he admit it if she’d grazed him?
“Um, Beth.” Craig took her shoulders, turned her toward the back of the barn and gave her a gentle push. “Go sit. We’ll do this faster without your help,” he said, and started laughing.
“My balance was off,” she protested, squirming away from him. “I can still—”
“You trying to maim my men, Bethany?”
Nathan’s voice made her jump. And not just because it was deep and rich and warmed her from the inside out like a decadent sip of Rémy Martin. Very few people called her Bethany, and none of them said it like that.
She turned to find him standing in front of a maroon-colored truck with the Lucky 7 logo on the door. The pickup hadn’t been there a few seconds ago. It was a really big extended-cab model you couldn’t miss. The kind the towing company had used to repossess trailers in the park where she’d lived as a child.
“I’d appreciate you doing like Craig asked and stepping aside,” he said to her, his mouth curved in a faint smile as he pulled on tan leather gloves. Then he dropped the tailgate. “Boys...lets load the Dodge first.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Craig said, and exchanged a puzzled look with Troy.
“Hold on.” Beth had no intention of moving. “I don’t want this to be a big production. Or infringe on anyone’s time. I really am capable of doing this myself.”
“I’m sure you are,” Nathan said, and then ignored her and grabbed a whole stack of lumber. “You want to be useful? Grab me a bottle of water out of the fridge.”
Well, didn’t he sound like a man used to giving orders? She glanced at the other two who’d gotten very quiet, then reminded herself she wasn’t in charge here. He could change his mind, renege on giving her the lumber and she’d be crying a river come tomorrow. On the upside, standing by and watching him move wasn’t a bad deal. His rolled-up sleeves bared his corded forearms, and the light blue shirt was fitted enough that she could see the play of muscle across his back every time he hefted a load.
He stopped to adjust his Stetson and looked at her. “Do you know where the fridge is?”
Pressing her lips together to keep from making an unwise remark, she turned to Craig and Troy. “While I’m at it, would you like something?”
“No, thanks,” Troy mumbled.
“Yeah.” Craig flashed her a grin. “See if there’s a beer.”
She didn’t see Nathan’s expression, but she could imagine it wasn’t pleasant seeing how Craig ducked his head and laughed.
“Just joking,” he said, stopping to sweep his hair out of his eyes. “I’ll follow you to town and get you unloaded. By then it’ll be quitting time and I’ll buy you a beer.”
“I’ll take care of Bethany,” Nathan said, and, God, she had to stop letting his voice make her all gooey inside. “I have to go to the Food Mart anyway.”
She nearly dropped the bottle she’d grabbed from the ancient refrigerator. Catching the shocked looks on Craig’s and Troy’s faces, she knew her surprise was justified. Even if Rachel hadn’t told her Nathan stayed away from town, Beth couldn’t see him going to the Food Mart. He’d send someone else.
After he dropped that little bomb, the rest of the job was finished mostly in silence. She heard Craig quietly bet Troy twenty bucks that their boss didn’t know where the Food Mart was located. Naturally Beth pretended she hadn’t heard. The two guys were shooting her curious looks, probably thinking the same thing she was...that she might have something to do with Nathan Landers’s sudden itch to go to town.
And, Lord, she hoped that was true. She got a little tingly just thinking about what it could mean. Long cool nights in Blackfoot Falls could use a pinch or two of something spicy. And he looked like a man who’d know just which ingredients to use.
“What now? You want the paint, too?”
She blinked at the gallon cans she’d been absently staring at—ten of them had been stored beside the lumber and now stood alone against the wall. She turned to Nathan and grinned. “You offering?”
His mouth curved in what could pass for a slight smile. “Thanks, boys,” he said to Craig and Troy. “Go ahead and knock off early.”
“You sure, boss?” Craig’s face lit up. “Woody’s gonna pitch a fit.”
Nathan jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
The guys didn’t have to be told twice. Quiet Troy let out a whoop and they both tore off toward the bunkhouse.
Beth shifted her weight from one foot to the other, suddenly feeling off balance now that they were alone. She needed to get in her truck and head back to town. Give herself time to think. Her gaze drifted to the paint. “I’ve screwed up your project,” she said, pulling off the gloves she’d ended up not needing. “Now you have paint but no lumber.”
“One has nothing to do with the other.” His gaze fell on her hands, and she wanted to childishly hide them behind her back.
Her nails were horrible, dirty and jagged. She hadn’t had a manicure in ages. Not since she’d moved to Blackfoot Falls. “What should I call you?” she asked, and saw that she’d confused him. “And don’t say boss. That won’t fly.”
There it was again...the almost smile. “Nathan.” He took off his hat and ran his hand through his dark hair. “Craig calls you Beth. Is that what you prefer?”
She had to think about it. These days only her sister called her Bethany, probably out of habit. But Beth did love the way he said it. “Either one.” She shrugged. “Beth is shorter.”
Neither of them moved. They just looked at each other for a long silent moment that should’ve been uncomfortable but somehow felt natural. Standing this close, she could see that he was bigger than she’d first thought. Broader and taller...maybe more muscular, but she wouldn’t know for sure until she saw him naked. If she ever saw him naked. Oh, she really hoped so.
She cleared her throat and took a step back. “Well, I guess we should head to town. I’ve taken up enough of your afternoon.”
He blinked, then ran his gaze down the front of her shirt to her jeans. “Come with me,” he said, and walked farther into the dim, cavernous barn without a backward glance, as if it hadn’t occurred to him that she wouldn’t follow.
A little nervous that the shadows seemed to gobble him up, Beth hesitated and glanced over her shoulder. Craig and Troy were long gone. “Were you waiting to get rid of the witnesses?”
The words were barely out of her mouth when light flooded the barn and she whipped her gaze back toward the spot where she’d last seen him. He stood partly under the steps to the hayloft, between a cabinet and a workbench, watching her with a look of amusement. “You must be from the city.”
“I’m from Montana,” she said, a tad defensive and hoping he didn’t think she’d really been nervous. To prove she wasn’t, she strolled toward him, casually glancing at the bales of hay stacked as high as her shoulders, at the assortment of tools hanging on the rough-hewn walls, and inhaling the scent of oiled leather becoming more pungent this far inside. And tried to ignore the acceleration of her pulse the closer she got to him.
“Where?”
“Outside of Billings.”
He barely reacted yet still managed to communicate “case closed.” Oh, but he was so wrong. He gave Billings too much credit. She’d seen more than half the world. As far as cities went, Billings was peanuts.
She stopped several feet away to watch him rummage through a drawer. Without looking up, he said. “You have to come closer.”
“Why?”
Nathan glanced up then, amusement gleaming in his eyes. “What do you think I’m going to do to you?”
“I have no idea.” In spite of her effort to play it cool, her laugh sounded nervous, so she gave it up. “Why do you think I was ready to bolt?”
He held up a large can of paint thinner. “The light’s better over here.”
“I knew it was something like that,” she muttered, and saw the corner of his mouth twitch before she sneaked another peek at her stained hands and awful nails.
“Let’s see.”
She slowly exhaled, then placed her hand on his outstretched palm. Of all the things she might’ve anticipated, this scenario was so far down the list that... Oh, hell, it hadn’t even made the cut. It wasn’t so much about the touching...it was his unexpected gentleness that made the contact feel irrationally intimate.
“Do you give manicures, too?” she murmured, watching him use a clean rag to rub each stain off her hand.
Still focused on his task, he responded with a patient smile, making her feel like a flustered twelve-year-old girl who didn’t know how to talk to boys yet. The way he was acting reminded her of the way she treated the guys she met at the Watering Hole. She joked around with them all the time, never taking any of them seriously when they tried to hit on her. They were all younger than her, and none of them were her type.
Oh, damn, payback was really gonna be a bitch. Nathan was the first man she’d met in Blackfoot Falls who appealed to her. She was twenty-nine and she guessed he was in his early thirties. Good age difference in her book, but maybe he simply wasn’t interested. Maybe he didn’t care for blondes or tall women. Maybe he was the sort of man who would never get over his dead wife.
“There you go, Bethany,” he said, meeting her eyes, his gaze lingering. “The sink is over in the corner.”
“Thanks.” She did a prompt about-face so he wouldn’t see her giddy smile and scooted off to wash her hands.
He’d done a thorough job of getting rid of every little mark.
She’d wager he was just as thorough in the bedroom, and holy crap, did she ever want to find out if she was right.
3 (#ulink_544998ac-692c-5cc5-b775-99145f291c90)
NATHAN WATCHED HER stop to stretch her back. Bethany had clearly waited until she thought he couldn’t see her. Though she hadn’t complained once, and even tried to increase the loads she carried from the truck to the front porch, he knew she wasn’t used to this much manual labor. Twice he’d asked her to step aside and let him finish. Might as well reason with a mule.
If he’d known she was going to be so stubborn, he would’ve brought Craig with him. But Nathan hadn’t been thinking about getting the job done quickly or efficiently when he’d offered to bring the lumber. The fact was, he hadn’t thought much past those long legs and smoky hazel eyes.
“I changed my mind,” he said when she returned for more boards. “I’ll take some water.” He hefted six slats onto his shoulder and caught her eyeing him with a suspicious frown.
“I saw a whole big bottle of water in your truck. Think I don’t know you’re trying to get rid of me?”
“You have some interesting paranoia issues you might want to get checked out.” He lowered his load to the second stack they’d started and then reached for the two boards she’d snatched off the truck. “Your water is probably cold. Mine isn’t.”
She narrowed her gaze, staring him down and holding firm to her bundle...until his knuckles grazed her breast and she let go. He hadn’t meant to touch her like that, but her startled reaction made him smile all the same. Luckily she didn’t see because he’d already walked past her.
He set down the boards and shook his head at the pair of new dark green shutters. The loose white siding around them was in sorry shape. A good wind could carry off the weathered clapboards. “You do realize you’ll have to take these shutters down again.”
“Yes, I do.” She pulled off a glove and scratched the tip of her nose. “To fix the walls and windows. And the new door will have to come off, too,” she said, stepping back to admire the repairs. “That’s okay. We won’t get to the front for a while. The place can look nice in the meantime.”
The right side of the porch had been reinforced, but the plank floor on the left was still sagging. At least the steps had been replaced. “You working mostly on the inside?” he asked.
“Yes, I know I should make the most of the good weather but I take whatever labor I can get when I can get it.” She removed her second glove and stuffed them both between her clamped knees while she loosened her ponytail. A breeze played with her long wavy hair, the honey-colored strands getting away from her as she tried to secure them in one hand. She put her hair back in the ponytail, more tightly this time. “I’ll admit, at first I hadn’t considered the weather turning quickly. I’ve never tackled anything like this before.”
The sound of someone gunning a neglected engine snapped him out of his trance. “You’re a brave woman,” he said, annoyed that he’d been staring when he should’ve been hauling lumber.
Pulling her gloves back on, she followed him to his truck. “Or stupid. Guess I’ll know in a couple of months.”
He threw a look at the tired white structure as he grabbed another load. “That might be too optimistic.”
“I know.” Bethany sighed. “I wouldn’t care when it got done except I promised Rachel I’d have it completed in time for her wedding. She has friends who’ll need accommodations.”
“Rachel?” He stopped and thought for a second. “Little Rachel McAllister? She’s getting married?”
Bethany laughed, and she didn’t hold back. “Little? Are you sure you’re thinking of the same Rachel I’m talking about?”
Nathan smiled. “I don’t know her well. I went to school with her two older brothers until the eighth grade,” he said, and caught her puzzled frown. “County-line dispute. When the dust settled, my brothers and I went to Twin Creeks High.”
