Page 4 of Worthy

“And you were showing them around?” I borrow his term from last night.

“Just being hospitable.” He manages to look bashful and mischievous all at once. He’s really too beautiful for his own good.

“Of course you were.” I have a pretty good idea of what he’s referring to when he sayshospitable, and while part of me wants to be offended, my libido is intrigued.

“Offer still stands.” He interrupts my wayward thoughts, and as I focus back on Cade, I’m vaguely aware of the other guy drifting away, so it’s just us.

“What offer?” I squint.

“Showing you around.” He holds my gaze, waiting.

“I can find my own way. I just need you to move the trailer.”

“Yeah.” He ducks his head and rubs the back of his neck. “That’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“Why not?” I frown.

“I need a special hitch for that trailer.” He jerks his head towards it. “The truck with said hitch is on another job site right now.”

“You’re saying I’m trapped here? Did you not see the car when you pulled up this morning?” I clutch the straps of my bag, so I’m not tempted to ball my hands into fists.

“I saw it.” He nods in affirmation. “But I didn’t think you were supposed to get here until next week. Figured no one was around to drive it yet, so I sent the truck to another site.”

“How can the only truck capable of moving that trailer not be attached to it?” I grunt.

“That truck has to move several trailers around to different sites. I can’t leave it parked immobile all day when I need it for other projects.”

“Great,” I mutter under my breath. “How long?” I can feel my anger rising, which is a good thing because it distracts me from the butterflies. I really don’t need to be experiencing those all summer.

“Today at least. Tell you what, take mine.” He fishes in his pockets for some keys and holds them out to me.

“You’re giving me your car?” I feel my jaw hanging open.

“Truck. You okay to drive one? It’s a lot bigger than what your uncle left for you.” His blue eyes drift between the Subaru wagon he’s currently blocking in, and the massive pickup parked in the street. At first, I think he’s making another lewd joke, like he did with the machinery comment, but when I look at him, keys extended, I realize there’s no pun intended. He’s just double-checking I’m good to drive such a large vehicle.

I want to be offended, but I look every bit the part of California surfer I am, and we don’t drive things this big, so I can’t blame him for the question. Still…is this really happening?

“You’re willing to give me your truck? You don’t even know my name, why would you give me a vehicle?” My words are skeptical, yet I find myself holding a pair of keys as I say them.

“We blocked you in. Seems fair.” The sunlight glints over his broad shoulders as he shrugs.

“I’m a total stranger to you.”

“Cade.” He extends his hand.

I hesitate, knowing this is a bad idea, but it’d be rude to decline. The second my hand touches his, a spark of electricity zings up my arm, and I tighten my grip to keep my knees from buckling.

Since when does a handshake make me weak in the knees?

“Maddox.” I say a little thank you that my voice is steadier than my legs, noting the way his forearm flexes as he shakes my hand, whichdraws my eyes up his arm and over his firm chest. It’s just as smooth as his face.

“Sexy. Now we aren’t strangers anymore.” He smiles in a way that suggests we were never going to be strangers.

I drop his hand before the contact scalds me. “Are you trying to make me feel better about taking your truck? What if I wreck it?”

“It’s insured.”

“What if I have plans to leave town?”

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