Page 6 of Take Her from You

I felt nothing for the woman except judgement on how she’d handled breaking up with me. Fun fact: It had hurt. Something inside me had sheared off and broken, and I was done with all thoughts on relationships and any of that level of bullshit.

After her damning words that killed off my love, I wasn’t interested.

Whatever she had to say could be to herself.

Stowing my phone, I set down the heavy saw and shoulder barged the stuck door. It popped open on my first hit, opening to a spacious room with a flagstone floor.

Then I twisted back to locate Daisy’s friend, ready to talk shop with her about the new home we were setting up.

But the lasses were hugging, and my new insta-crush got into her car and drove out of sight without me even being able to ask why.

Chapter 3

Mia

Six AM rolled around by the time I crept back to the aircraft hangar. The darkness suited me, concealing my car in the country lanes. It hadn’t been my intention to stay away all night, but my daughter had needed me, so I’d driven the two hours to reach her and slept around her tiny frame on the borrowed mattress. Then I’d woken early and driven back.

All my things were in the bunkhouse, even my toothbrush, so I had to pop back in to ready myself for the first day in my new job.

I started in thirty minutes, and excitement infused me.

My thrill was undoubtedly a little pathetic—it was just a cleaning job, nothing elaborate, but it was mine. I’d applied and got it. For me, it was a big deal.

The hangar was mostly empty, the big overhead lights chasing shadows across the wide space, helicopters here and there, work stations with tool racks, offices in a block, and big display boards around the section I guessed was the flight schoolarea. A mechanic stomped by, hefting a toolbox. She spared me a wave, and I waved back then continued to the bunkhouse.

Holding my breath, I twisted the door handle.

It creaked.

I grimaced, not wanting to wake my roommate, and pushed it wider to slip inside. Warmth and the scent of smouldering logs replaced the chill and the oil scent of the hangar.

Truth be told, I hadn’t minded spending the night with Tobi. It hadn’t been comfortable, but I’d had a mild panic over the man I’d met here and how I’d reacted to him. He was so far out of my league I was dreaming.

Was I really going to make a move? Offer him…me?

Disgust soured my tongue. I’d spared myself humiliation at his certain rejection and I’d start over when I saw him next.

Hopefully that wouldn’t be too soon.

“Hello, little spy.”

I jumped, whipping around. A light sprang on, and from the doorway of the second dorm, a fully dressed Valentine emerged, one hand holding the frame so he didn’t hit it with his head.

Good God. I’d forgotten how big he was. Easily a foot taller than me at maybe six-five, but not only that, his t-shirt sleeves stretched over biceps that bulged. I’d never in my life seen a man so well made.

“You’re up early,” I squeaked.

“Better than the way I was up yesterday or worse?” He grinned at me.

He was flirting? I stared some more, unable to start a sentence.

“I should probably apologise for that,” he continued, “and tell ye how I cleaned the bathroom thoroughly last night, but the way ye watched makes me not want to bother.”

“I, um…” I stumbled. “It’s early.”

God, what nonsense was I saying?

Valentine squinted at me, choosing to take pity. He went to the wood burner, drawing across a black metal lever beneath the glass window. “Never could sleep in. I left this on high so it would be warm when ye returned.”

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