Frankie watched in fascination as his strong throat worked as he drank. She struggled to keep her expression bland while troubling thoughts circled through her mind. In only a matter of days, this man had managed to send her into a full-blown tailspin. She should be focused on work, but instead she was obsessed with everything about him—the way he walked, smiled, joked. She would love nothing more than to take his heart and give him her own. It was nearly all she could think about.
But that way was impossible. It would only lead to heartbreak.
Chapter 9
It took them two more hours to finish the rest of the tubing installation. John couldn't remember ever having done it so quickly. Frankie was a fast study and even set the taps on the last few trees. It was obvious she loved being outside from the rosy glow on her cheeks and the smile on her face. He imagined she spent the majority of her time in nature with her work.
"I think we're done," he declared, admiring the network they'd built. "Thanks for the help today. It's a relief to get this set."
Frankie groaned as she swiped a hand at the sweat on her forehead. "I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired. My arms won't work tomorrow."
"I have some special liniment made by one of the artisans I mentioned. I'll give you a massage before we go to bed." He gave her a lusty glance that belied the innocent tone of the comment as he shouldered his backpack. The thought of his hands coasting along that smooth skin made his body tighten.
How in the world could he be so horny when he was utterly exhausted? He wasn’t eighteen anymore, or even the right sideof thirty, but there was something about Frankie that revved his engine and made him feel young again.
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's not polite to tease a woman with a massage?" Frankie joked. It was obvious her mind was traveling a similar path. She was easy to read as everything she felt was splayed all over that gorgeous face.
Her eyes narrowed at his deep chuckle, but he turned before she could say anything. "Come on," he urged over his shoulder. "You keep thinking along those lines and I'll have your feet up in the crisp autumn air in no time." He started for the trailhead, which was thankfully downhill most of the way.
Frankie was quiet on the ride back to the cabin, which was unusual. For the past few days, she’d chatted his ear off. But now, her silence felt off and a bit ominous. John couldn’t help wonder if she didn't want to be there.
He parked in the front of the cabin and leaned an arm against the steering wheel, forcing himself to make the offer. "I'm sorry I didn't ask you before. I just assumed you'd want to stay the night again. But if you'd rather head back to the inn, I can take you into town."
"What?" Her lovely hazel eyes widened. "No, I'd love to stay here. That is, if you don't mind me hanging around." She tapped her temple. "I was just thinking of work. I need to check in with my boss soon or she'll call out the guards on me."
"Angus will want a walk after being in the cabin all day. That should give you some quiet time to call her if you'd like."
"That would be lovely, thank you." Her face flickered with an emotion he couldn't read.
"What is it?" he asked, still on alert.
"Nothing to worry about really. It's just that my boss can be a bit tenacious if she thinks I may have… Umm…" She cleared her throat and looked away, her shoulders arching up to her ears. "You know."
John chuckled. This girl.
In nearly every interaction they’d had, she was strong, courageous, and fearless. But here she was, curling into herself at the thought of her boss learning that they’d spent the night together.
"How would your boss know anything?" Other than the fact that anyone with half a brain would know exactly what she was thinking from the expression on her face.
"Well, for starters, this cabin looks nothing like my room at the inn and she's already seen that. Plus, I'm complete rubbish at hiding anything from her, so once she asks a question it will just snowball into a thorough interrogation and end with her wanting a picture of you."
John stared at her for a moment, his delight warring with his need to laugh. "Give me your phone."
Her brows shot up. "What?"
"Come on." He wiggled his fingers at her. "Your phone. Unlock it."
Her eyes narrowed, but she handed him the phone. He pressed the camera icon, then leaned over the center console and draped his arm over her shoulders, pressing his head against hers. He held up the phone and said, "Now, smile." There were several clicks before he handed it back to her. "There. Now you'll have a few selfies to send her once the interrogation begins."
"You have no idea what you're starting with this." Frankie's voice was heavy. "The woman is a monster. She thrives on gossip, the more sordid the better. Plus, it’s past ten there so she’ll be several glasses of vino in by now."
John laughed as he got out of the truck. "I'm not scared. After all, I’m an ocean away."
"Well, I have to go home in a few days and she terrifies me!" she shot back, scurrying out after him.
He grimaced at her comment. He didn’t want to think about that. "I'm feeling pasta for dinner tonight," he said, keeping his tone light as he opened the cabin's front door. "What do you think?" He waited for her to walk through before following.
"It sounds amazing." Frankie stood still, staring up at him, a furrow between her brows. "I thinkyou'reamazing," she continued, a lovely rosy blush moving up her cheeks as she spoke. He wanted to follow the path with his lips. "This time I’ve had with you is more than I could have ever hoped for and I'll treasure it always."
