Page 39 of The Harborer
Shane’s fingers pressed her arm gently, commanding her attention. “You don’t need to say anything, but you do have people waiting on drink orders … unless you wantmeto try and fill them.” His mouth twitched with a smile.
“Oh Lord, no!” she blurted out, and everyone laughed. The sound cracked her chest open and released some of the tension that had been coiling there.
Chapter 14
The Right Move
Amy looked around theliving room, feeling out of place and out of sorts in her new apartment, even though familiar objects surrounded her. Only yesterday, she’d been living with Micky. That life seemed like a distant memory.
The space wasn’t bad. It was Fall-River-funky, which added to the charm she’d been drawn to when she had first seen it. Light splashed across the white walls and the dark, creaky wood floors through corner windows. They looked out on a shabby pocket park that spanned several blocks and was flanked by the railroad tracks, giving her a modicum of privacy on this side. The whistle and chug of the locomotive would be noisy, but she’d probably be working when the train rolled in and out of town anyway.
Right now, dusk was gathering outside, its purply-blue hues blanketing the hodgepodge of possessions that defined her life.Some furniture came from her storage loft, some were unused furnishings from her shop, while others were on loan from Winona’s own stash of pieces stored in her basement.
At least she had a blow-up mattress she could cover with fresh sheets, where she could lay her weary bones for the night. Hopefully it wouldn’t spring a leak.
Shane perched his hands on his hips, his gaze surveying the stacks of boxes and collection of odds and ends. “Well, I think that’s it.”
Amy turned grateful eyes to him. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
His caramel irises met hers and locked on. “I’ve already told you. You don’t have to thank me.”
“Yes, I do. First you cut your fun time short last night to take me home, then you come as soon as I call early this morning.” As ifthathadn’t been enough, he’d whisked her away from a borderline-volatile situation, he’d slaved away in her coffee shop, he’d lined up a work crew, and he’d helped that crew move her. On his day off.
That move had included taking her to Micky’s house for the rest of her stuff. Thank Gaia she’d been spared having to look her new “ex” in the eye. He hadn’t been anywhere in sight when she and her intimidating posse had arrived. Odd that only yesterday, not knowing Micky’s whereabouts had sent her into a frenzy. Today, it had been a relief.
After her moving crew had packed up everything, she’d left nothing behind but the key.
“As if all the time you’ve put in on my behalf today wasn’t enough, you spent what was leftof your day off hanging window coverings and getting me settled. That’s above and beyond, Deputy.”
“I didn’t hang anything. That was all Charlie. He’s the guy with the tools, remember?”
“I saw you helping him. Besides, you did plenty more I didn’t list, and that’s huge,” she argued.
“Friends take care of friends,” he answered simply.
Unable to hold back the dam that wanted to burst, she let a few leaks spring in the form of quiet sniffles. “And now I’m not only babbling, but I’m crying at the same time.”
Something akin to panic danced in his orbs. “W-what can I do for you?”
“You’ve already done too much.” She closed the distance between them and tipped her head back to stare up at him. Exhaustion radiated from the outer corners of his eyes and in the grooves bracketing his mouth, but it didn’t detract from his handsome features. A dusting of golden stubble along his jawline enhanced the whole rugged effect he had going. “How about I do foryouand treat you to dinner? I bet you’re hungry after your workout today.”
And honestly she wasn’t ready to be alone just yet.
He chuffed a laugh. “Yeah, that pound of pastries didn’t really stick. Or the pizza. Or the nachos.”
“Hollow leg,” she tsked. “It’d be nice to eat like that and not gain any weight. All I have to do islookat pizza, and my hips expand. I wish I had your metabolism.”
“Your hips look perfect to me.” His eyes widened as if he hadn’t meant to let the words slip out. “What I meant was, I’ve been watching them all day, and … Shit. This isn’t coming out right at all.” He smoothed his nape, but his eyes remained fastened to hers, and unreadable thoughts seemed to stream behind them. “I don’t mean to sound like I’m … like I’m coming on to you by, you know, commenting on how you look or how I think about you because that wouldn’t be right, especially after …” He trailed off, obviously flustered. He was kinda cute when he got all tongue-tied.
Wait.Had he just made a stab at confessing deeper feelings for her? Could it be he was attracted to her too?
And there it was. She had just admitted to herself that shewasattracted to him. She’d been sneaking peeks at himall day, mesmerized by his movements as though seeing them for the first time. Masculine, unaffected, graceful. Power flexing in lean muscle.
Her heart fluttered in her rib cage at the possibility he felt the same way about her. Was it wrong to feel something for someone on the day you ended your relationship with a different someone?
Without a doubt.
“I’m not taking it that way, but it does sound pretty nice from where I’m standing,” she admitted. Her ego needed the shoring up.
