Page 22 of Forbidden Flame

“There’s nothing wrong with a little hard work,” I said.

He dipped his head slightly. “It is when you’re exhausted.”

“I’m fine,” I said tightly, not liking where this conversation was going.

Heath looked around the room. “The fixtures don’t have to be installed tonight.”

I shrugged. “If I can get it done, why not?”

“I’m worried about you. You’ve been burying yourself in work since your date with Daphne.”

This was the conversation I’d been avoiding since that night. It had been easy to do since everyone was concerned with Hanna and Sebastian’s and Holly and Talon’s dates.

“It wasn’t anything serious, if that’s what you’re asking. I just wanted to support the farm.”

Heath’s eyes narrowed on me. “You didn’t even want to attend, much less bid on someone.”

I blew out a breath. “I like Marley. I wanted to do something to support her, and besides, I’d met Daphne when we were teens. I could tell she wanted me to get her off that stage. She wasn’t interested in any of those guys.”

Heath raised a brow. “You know Daphne?”

“I mean, the girls talk about her. But yeah, when I saw her, I remembered we’d talked once. That time when her family came to check out the farm.”

Heath nodded. “I remember.”

“She looked worried some asshole would win her, so I stepped in to help out.”

“You saved her?” Heath’s voice was disbelieving.

“Something like that,” I said, hoping he’d move onto something else. I slipped under the sink to connect the pipes and had the added benefit of him not seeing my face.

I heard him move closer. “You won the hot-tub date. That sounds like someone who was looking for a hookup that night.”

I slid out from under the sink. “First of all, don’t talk about Daphne like that. She’s not that kind of girl. She’s a single mother. A good one at that.”

Heath’s eyes widened. “You like her.”

I raised a brow even as my heart raced at the lie. “You’re kidding me, right? Why would I go liking a Calloway. That couldn’t go anywhere, and you know it.”

“I know something about liking someone you can’t have.”

“That’s not the case with Daphne.” Even if I wanted it to be, she didn’t want me. “We talked about our lives, our families. It was nice.”

“You expect me to believe that you just talked.”

I threw a rag in his direction, and he ducked. “Since when do we talk about our feelings?”

“I’m just worried about you. Ever since the date, you’ve been working more hours, picking up more shifts at the farm.”

“I wanted to help. Do my part. You’re letting me live in your cabin rent free,” I said, appealing to his responsible side.

“You’re doing me a favor. I didn’t want to let the cabin be vacant. We intend to move back in once Aiden is more settled at the inn. Hopefully, it will be soon.”

“I don’t like freeloading.” I was very conscious of that when I stayed with the Monroes. I worked and did my part. I didn’t want to give them a reason to send me back.

“That’s not what you’re doing. You’re family.”

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the years. I just want to do a good job. Is that so bad?”

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