Page 7 of The Outlaw's Code

“Fine. Okay,” I relented. “But you better tell me if you start feeling under the weather. I’m going to feel awful if I somehow make things worse for you.”

“You have my word.” Calder beamed. “Now, let’s get out there. I’m going a little stir crazy being cooped up in this cabin.”

Calder wasgood at farm work.

Frustratingly good.

I quietly watched him as he reset a fallen gate, balanced a post on his shoulder, looped a rope like he was born to do it…

It was hard denying him access to the farm when it just seemed like it was his calling. I’d somehow managed to keep to myself as we worked alongside each other, keeping ourconversations short. But it always felt like Calder was trying to pull more and more out of me, asking follow-up questions about things I’d said, providing his own running commentary on whatever we were working on.

That was frustrating to me, too. While a part of me wanted to answer his every question, I needed things to stay the way they’d been before.

We weren’t friends. We’d barely been co-workers.

We weren’t anything.

And that was how I needed it to be.

“Are you going to help me move this panel or just keep standing there?” Calder said with a grin, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Actually, I think I can get it?—”

“Wait, Calder—” But it was already too late. The panel had been resting alongside a barn, but the size of it was deceptive. I’d moved panels like it before but unless Calder knew its exact dimensions, trying to move it himself would’ve spelled trouble. As he picked it up, it wobbled in his grip, his legs almost going out from underneath him.

I rushed into action, steadying Calder from behind, one of my arms wrapping around his waist, while the other reached for the side of the panel. When I was sure it was safe, I helped guide the panel down towards the ground, my arm still wrapped around Calder. We stayed like that for a moment, Calder in my arms, hearts beating fast as I tried to regulate my breathing.

Warmth.

I’d felt it then, so close to Calder. There was something between us, something fleeting, a spark of electricity underneath my fingertips, but what if it was all in my head?—

I practically scrambled away from him, letting him go. When I did, he turned around, his eyes meeting mine. There was an expression I couldn’t read on his face, half confused, half something else.

“Sorry,” I apologized immediately. “I didn’t want you to hurt yourself. I should’ve given you more space. I?—”

“It’s fine. You were just trying to help,” Calder’s words were distant, even though he was standing right in front of me. “Thanks.”

There was an unnamed tension between us, as Calder’s gaze broke away from mine.

Shit.

Does he know?

I’d always been attracted to Calder, but I’d gone out of my way to hide it. Of course, now with us being in such close proximity, it was probably more obvious than ever. It didn’t matter how much I tried to keep my distance, it didn’t matter how much I’d thought Calder may have been flirting with me or looking at me differently.

Calder was never going to be interested in me, not like that.

“We should get you back to your cabin. I don’t want you risking any other injuries?—”

“You’re right. I should head back,” Calder interrupted, his tone warming a bit. He looked over at me then, a curious look in his eye. “But… I don’t really want to. Maybe we can find something else for me to do? Something that involves less panels?”

“Maybe we could feed some of the animals?”

“Sounds perfect.” Calder’s smile was wide.

Oh.

Maybe he doesn’t know?

Or maybe he didn’t care. For all I knew, Calder was flattered at the idea of me having some stupid crush on him, a straight guy having his ego stroked by someone like me fawning all over him. I inwardly kicked myself for wasting any time even thinking about it.

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