“Wow. That’s pretty impressive.”
His chest swelled with pride, a reaction he’d never experienced when complimented by his family. “Cheers.”
“Now I feel like I should be paying double what I expected.”
He choked on a laugh. “I think half of your Airbnb fee will suffice. You won’t be getting a hot shower or a decent lie-in while you’re there, after all. But I have some of my own terms and conditions.”
She planted her feet. “I’m listening.”
“No messing with my workspace. No touching my tools, or trampling on things that aren’t yours. No rooting through my cabinets like you were this morning. And respect the wildlife. We take care of the forest here.”
“And I was so looking forward to wielding your axe while hunting foxes.”
“Funny.” She’d be deadly brandishing any of his things. A dangerous woman with a razor-sharp tool... the image both terrified him and turned him on.
“Do you really take care of the forest, though?” Harper enquired lightly. “The way you chop into those trees… That’s like saying a butcher takes care of animals.”
He fought not to take offence. “I always plant a new tree to replace the old, and I never waste the timber. I didn’t realise I had to run my work by you, Miss Sustainability.”
“I was only saying.” She lifted a shoulder, clearly satisfied – perhaps even surprised – by his answer.
“Oh, and one more house rule.” He snapped his fingers. “No going in the shed!”
He must have sounded too forceful, because she frowned. “What’s in the shed?”
“More tools,” he lied.
She cast him a doubtful look but said no more. “Okay. I accept those terms.”
“Good.” He held out his hand. “Let’s shake on it.”
She did, her palm warm and soft, grip just tight enough to make his heart pound against his ribs. He would have to get these feelings in check if he was going to be running into her every day.
He pulled away and they continued perusing the aisles, Harper running her finger across the spines. “So, what will you spend the extra cash on? A new boiler, I hope.”
He deliberated the possibilities. The extra money would do wonders for his family. Plus, there were all sorts of problems that needed fixing in town. The cost of living was affecting everyone, and it would only get worse once winter hit.
“I’ll look into the boiler,” he decided. “I could do without you catching hypothermia.”
“Me too. Though after the month I’ve had, it would be the icing on the cake.” She sighed, flicking through another book. Again, he wanted to ask what she meant, but her expression shuttered as though she already regretted sharing so much.
They’d reached the children’s section, which struck him as odd, but maybe she had children in her family, too. He crouched to peer at the lower shelves, looking for something his oldest nephew, Brook, would like for his upcoming sixth birthday. He spotted an illustrated book about an astronaut that seemed perfect.
Meanwhile, Harper stuck to young adult and middle-grade titles, opting for one that looked Medieval-inspired, featuring a sword and a dragon on the cover.
“I’ve changed my mind about the fairy romance. I’ll be back.” She dashed off, leaving him at the front of the shop alone. Fraser picked up another book about a little girl and an alien travelling through the solar system together for good measure, and then put them on the counter.
“Morning, Stephen.”
“Nice t’see ye, Fraser.” Stephen’s accent was so thick that even Fraser struggled to understand it sometimes. He typed in the prices of the two books at the till manually, then glanced suspiciously in Harper’s direction. “New lady friend, eh?”
Fraser shook his head, snorting. “Not like that. She’s staying in my cabin.”
“Aye, I bet she is.” He winked, placing the books in a paper bag. “Where’d you find her?”
Fraser shifted on his feet. He didn’t like the way Stephen spoke about her as though she was a trinket he’d collected. Maybe that was why Stephen was a perpetual bachelor who resorted to flirting with anybody he could find in the tavern each weekend. “In the woods, actually. Long story.”
“One that we probably shouldn’t tell people.” Harper reappeared, bumping her hip against him as she placed a tall pile of books on the counter. When Fraser whistled at the tower of pages, she shrugged. “I got carried away.”
