Page 23 of All My Heart

“Morning,” I said, but my voice was rough, like I'd been gargling with rocks. I felt like I'd been up all night drinking instead of working out. My muscles were sore; sweat was dripping from my body.

I lifted my shirt to wipe the sweat from my face, and when I finally dropped it, Luna's gaze was fixated on my stomach.

“Like what you see?” I couldn't help but ask.

She jerked as if she'd been caught doing something naughty.

Had she used a vibrator last night? Did she use it on her clit, or did she slide it inside? I wasn't going to be able to hide my hard-on in these shorts.

Her white shirt molded perfectly to her chest, revealing a tantalizing amount of skin and the globes of her breasts. Then it flared out enticingly over her hips.

I lifted my gaze to the sky, thinking about my commanding officer, the last mission I went on. That did it. I took a deep breath, then swore.

I heard her mumble, “That seems to be a problem.”

But when I snapped my attention back to her face, it was carefully smoothed out.

“Did you have a good run? Knock anyone down a hill this morning?”

“It's still early,” I said wryly.

She looked up at the sky, where the sun had only just risen. “That it is.”

“You're not going for a run today, are you?” I asked her.

She grimaced. “I'm a little sore from yesterday.”

That was my fault. “You should ice that knee and take some anti-inflammatories.”

“I took some when I woke up. I'm sure I'll feel fine by tomorrow.”

My stomach twisted. I didn't like that I was the one who hurt her.

“You get any work done last night?”

I ran a hand through the wet strands of my hair. “I lifted weights instead. I wasn't sure where to start.”

Luna swallowed, then nodded. “Yeah, I'm not sure I'm the best one to help you.”

“You wanted to earlier.” What had changed?

“I'm not technically here on vacation. I have to work, and I need to prove to my brothers that I take my job seriously.”

“Helping me renovate the cabin could be a way to prove yourself to your family.” Why was I making another offer for her to work with me when she clearly didn't want to? I wasn't ready to give up yet.

Luna looked up at me, using her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. “You think so?”

“I don't say things I don't mean.”

She considered me for a few seconds, then said, “I believe that.”

“It's probably my military training. Sometimes we only have time for a few words, and we have to make them count.” I let out a breath. “So what do ya say? Want to work on the cabin with me? I know you'd work your magic, and it will be incredible.”

Her forehead creased, which only made her more adorable. Her sun-streaked hair, tan skin, and the freckles that dotted her face drew me in. “You don't know anything about me. How do you know I'd do a good job?”

“Luna. You grew up in construction. You absorbed all the knowledge, whether your brothers want to believe it or not. Plus I can tell by the way you dress that you have an eye for style.” She was bright and sunny, and any idea she came up with would be better than mine. I'd been living in barracks or rented apartments for a decade. I'd never had to study design elements or know what would sell a house.

Luna sighed. “Okay.”

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