Page 44 of His Greatest Treasure

Gracie strokes my arm before dashing inside, leaving me alone on the sidewalk with her son.

His closeness screws with me. Despite my best efforts, I’ve begun to grow comfortable around him. He’s kept to himself since dinner the other night, but I’m learning that that isn’t unusual for him. Every time I ask something a little too deep or personal, he pulls back as if he’s scared I’ll bite.

I wouldn’t unless he provoked me to.

His inability to open up is a sign as obvious as any. I’m not in the place to be prying apart the brick wall he’s laid around his heart, but like a fool, I’m interested enough to try.

Nodding to the shop, I say, “You can say hi to her too. If you want.”

“Does her father talk to you like that often?” he asks, replacing my question with his own.

“Would it matter?”

“Yeah, princess. It would matter,” he grunts, features tightening with frustration.

“Don’t start with the princess, Oliver. I’m far from it.”

“We’ll stay here and help you until he arrives,princess.” He sounds almost playful when he says it, so I let it go.

“There’s not much to do. And I prefer to stay busy once she’s gone.”

“She’s with him every second weekend?”

I smile slightly. “Now who’s keeping track of whose schedule?”

“I’ll admit it when you do.”

“So . . . never?”

“Never works.”

I tug at the tie in my hair and shuffle to the side when the technician rounds his van and stomps back into the shop. Oliver tracks his every move, only looking back at me once he’s out of view.

“I’m getting the air conditioning fixed,” I tell him before he can ask.

“He’s tracking mud inside.”

“You should see the mess on the tiles.”

His throat bobs as he stares at me, swallowing my body with the intense glimmer in his eyes. “I’m not leaving until he’s gone and Nova’s father’s shown up.”

“Why? We don’t need a babysitter.”

“I don’t want to babysit you, Avery. You just don’t have to be alone all the time. Let us help you.”

“We did use your pool,” I admit on a limb, wanting or maybe needing to say something honest after that. “Nova loved the frog. She told me to ask if she could be the only one to use it, but I told her she had to ask you.”

“It’s hers. Only hers.”

My heart flutters. “Thank you.”

One step and he’s right in front of me, no more thana foot away. His cologne swirls between us, combining with the heat to make my head swim. I want to say something snarky just to poke at him and see if he’ll come even closer.

“You don’t like asking for help, and that’s fine. But I’m going to give it anyway. It would make both of our lives easier if you just accepted that.”

“Why do you want to help me so badly?” I blurt.

He balances a hand between us, fingers strained and curled as if he’s fighting to keep from touching me. I’m devious enough to contemplate grabbing it myself, but I don’t.

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