Page 35 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

He stomped up the steps and reached for the hammer. She leaned away.

“If you take this hammer from me, the next thing I use it on will not be a piece of wood.”

“It’s thirty degrees outside, Anika.”

“Thirty-five and sunny with no wind. Makes a difference,” she tossed over her shoulder as she turned her back on him and resumed her work.

“It’s winter.”

“Really? Is that why there’s snow on the ground?”

A noise that sounded suspiciously like a growl came from behind her.

“You should be inside resting. Or eating.”

“Eating?” She turned and frowned.

“Yes. You need to keep up your strength.”

“And I will. But Nicholas, there are some days when I can barely stomach a cup of broth. It’s normal.” She gentled her voice as she saw the tension in his shoulders, the trace of helpless uncertainty on his handsome face. “I’m not going to do anything to endanger the baby.”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t like seeing you work like this.”

“Well, tough. This is part of my life.”

“Do you want it to be?”

She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said talking about selling the inn was off the table until further notice.”

“It is. I’m not asking about selling. I’m asking if you personally want this inn to be a part of your life. Because the impression I got yesterday was it doesn’t make you as happy as it used to.”

Stunned, she stared at him. How did this man see so much about her? How did he know her so well, sometimes almost better than she knew herself?

“I’m not comfortable answering right now.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Because I wouldn’t share yesterday?”

“One, I don’t have a good answer. And two...” She swallowed past the hurt. “I’m not comfortable sharing with someone who’s only going to take and not give. It doesn’t matter if you’re the father of my child or my lover or my friend. I’m not confiding in someone who sees our relationship as a one-way street.”

He stared at her for so long she wondered if he was going to say something or just turn around and leave.

“I’m going to stay and help you.”

She cocked her head. “That’s funny. What I heard was ‘Anika, may I stay and help you?’”

His lips twitched. “Yes. That.”

She let out a breath. “This kind of project isn’t my favorite on a good day, let alone in the winter and two months pregnant.”

He pulled off his scarf, crouched down next to her and looped it around her neck. That intoxicating mix of cinnamon and wood wrapped around her, warming her in a way the wintry sunshine had failed to do.

“Let me take a turn.”

Something in his voice caught her. He held out his hand. Slowly, she handed him the hammer, accepting his offer of help.

“Thank you.”

He nodded, something poignant flashing in his eyes before he turned to the pillar. By the time she came back out with mugs of steaming tea, he already had the rotted wood removed and was attaching the new base.

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