Page 3 of Enticed by the Mountain Man
“You made this?”
“Yeah.”
Her voice softens. “It’s beautiful.”
I shrug. “It’s just a box.”
Her gaze flicks up, steady. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
I move past her and reach for the chisel. The air feels heavy now, charged. She doesn’t look away, and I can feel the weight of her eyes on my back.
“Can I help with something?” she asks after a moment.
“No.”
“That was fast.”
“Can’t have you around the tools. You could get hurt.”
“Maybe I’ll surprise you.”
This girl.
She walks around the workbench. The smell of her, sweet and something floral, cuts through the scent of sawdust and oil. I grip the edge of the table.
She moves toward the ladder that leads to the loft, curiosity written all over her face.
“What’s up there?”
“Storage.”
“What kind?”
“The kind that’s none of your business.”
That earns me a grin. “So, secrets, then.”
“Maeve.”
“Yes, Graham?”
“Don’t.”
Of course, she climbs the ladder.
I curse under my breath and move to steady the base, my hands gripping the rails tight. “You planning on falling to prove a point?”
“I’m fine,” she says, looking down at me. The smile she gives me isn’t innocent. “Besides, you’d catch me.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” I mutter.
She laughs and stretches up, reaching for a shelf that doesn’t need reaching for. Her shirt lifts just enough for me to catch the curve of her lower back. My throat goes dry.
“See anything interesting?” I ask, my voice rougher than I intend.
“Not yet.” She glances down again, eyes glinting. “But I’ll keep looking.”
I grip the ladder tighter. “Maeve, I mean it. Get down.”
