“Yeah, your wit isn’t too bad,” Harper replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but her heart was still doing that fluttering thing she couldn’t quite control.
Dammit.
When they finally made it to the garage, Cas and Dale set the desk down with a gentle thud. “There you go,” Cas said, brushing his hands off. “Ready for its makeover.”
“Thanks, guys,” she said, genuinely grateful. “I appreciate it.”
Sadie nodded, slipping her arm around Dale. “Yeah, thanks. That was a quick response.”
“Anytime.” Dale winked. “Just let us know when you need more muscle.”
Cas grinned, his eyes still on Harper. “Yeah, we’re happy to help. Especially if it means seeing you get all flustered.”
Harper’s cheeks went hot again. She laughed, trying to play it off. “I do not get flustered,” she insisted, but even she could hear the unconvincing waver in her voice.
“Sure, you don’t.” He chuckled. “But it’s kinda cute.”
She shot him a look, but there was no denying the warmth spreading through her.Great, she thought,I’m definitely attracted to this guy, and I need to figure out how to shut it down.
But as Cas’ smile lingered, and her heart fluttered, she knew it wasn’t going to be that simple.
Chapter Three
Cas leaned against the side of the garage wall, watching Harper already hard at work dusting off the old desk with a soft cloth and determined sweeps of her hand. A shaft of sunlight filtered through the open garage door, catching the fine particles in the air like tiny glittering flecks. He admired her focus, the way her brows furrowed as she examined the desk for its flaws and imperfections, assessing what needed to be fixed.
Beside him, Dale stretched his arms, pretending to yawn. “Well, I think my work here is done,” he said with a wink. “Time for this hired muscle to hit the road.”
Harper glanced up with a grin. “Thanks again.”
“No problem.” Dale slapped his shoulder. “And you’ve got the expert here.” He tilted his head toward Cas. “Besides, it’s probably better if we don’t cramp his style.”
Caspian rolled his eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Harper. He’s just looking for an excuse to get out of work.”
Sadie laughed, patting Dale on the back. “Come on, let’s go grab a coffee. You’ve earned it.”
Dale laughed and gave Harper a two-finger salute. “You two have fun.”
With that, Dale and Sadie left the garage, their playful banter trailing behind them. Cas was glad for the few minutes alone with the beautiful blonde. He watched as she ran her fingers over the carvings of the desk, clearing away the dust and debris.
“This thing’s got some real character,” he said, moving closer to get a better look. “You don’t see craftsmanship like this anymore.”
Harper nodded, her eyes never leaving the desk. “I know, right? I just hope I can do it justice. A little love and elbow grease should bring it back to life.”
He smiled, impressed by her enthusiasm. “I’ve got no doubt you will.”
She looked up at him, her blue eyes catching the light. “So, what’s been going on at the ranch? Any big plans now that you’re back?”
Caspian wasn’t dumb. He noticed how she changed the subject, but he decided to let her. “There’s always something,” he replied, moving to lean against the workbench, crossing his arms. “Right now, I’m working on a few projects to spruce things up a bit. We’ve got some charred wood from the barn that burned down a few weeks ago. I was thinking of repurposing it, maybe for some furniture or something. What are your thoughts?”
Cas had no idea why he’d said all that. Another reason to keep his distance from this woman, except, so far, he was doing a piss-poor job of it.
Harper’s face lit up. “Charred barn wood? That sounds amazing! Yeah, I think you should be able to make something out of it. And if there’s any extra, I’d love to buy some for a few projects.”
“Sure.” He smiled. “There’s plenty. Maybe you can come by and have a look at the house and see where it could go. I’d be happy to hire you to do the work, too.”
Damn. His mouth had done nothing but run wild since she’d shown up.
“Oh, I…sure, I’d be happy to look,” she said, that pretty blush returning to color her cheeks. “I also need to get a truck. Any advice on where to look?”
