by Lori Foster
“I’m not helpless. I can take care of myself.”
She said that so defiantly that he almost smiled. “Sure. But if you just need a hand with something, any heavy lifting, we’re right next door.”
“Muscle for hire?”
The smile cracked, and from that came a laugh. “You do seem to pick and choose what you hear and don’t hear.”
She looked at his mouth, and sighed. “I heard all of it. I’ll consider the dog once I have the yard ready. I don’t know enough about guns to get one.”
“I imagine Nathan could teach you.”
“Three guys right next door, and a sheriff next door to them. How much safer could it get?”
She was cute when she teased. Maybe he should tell her about Sullivan across the street. Talk about a badass...but no. He wasn’t going to do Sullivan’s work for him.
“The other side of your property butts up to woods. No lights. Wild animals.”
She scoffed. “Wild animals, huh?”
“Middle of the night, when you hear noises you don’t recognize, or maybe even gunfire nearby, no one is going to seem close enough.”
“Now you’re just trying to scare me.”
True. She needed to stay alert. Because he watched her, he could almost see her thinking as she put the business card on the refrigerator with a flower-shaped magnet. She turned pensive, too quiet.
“I mean it,” he said, drawing her out again. “If you need anything—”
“No.” All too serious, she laced her fingers together and looked up at him. “You’re really nice. I mean...really nice. All of you are. And I appreciate it. What we got done today would have taken me at least a week on my own. I’d been hopeful of just getting unloaded and getting my bed together so I’d have a place to sleep tonight.”
His thoughts veered in directions that they shouldn’t, thoughts that included her and a bed. Fewer clothes. Less talk.
“Before buying the house, I lived with roommates. Four of us in a small apartment. And before that I lived with a relative.”
Relative—not parents? He wondered about that, but then she continued explaining.
“I’m happy to be on my own. You don’t have to worry that I’ll impose on you, not for any reason.” She rocked to her heels a little, her fingers laced tightly, looking uncertain, self-conscious. “I’m grateful for the offer of a helping hand, and as reassuring as it is to know there’s backup so close by, I want to do this, the rest of it, on my own. It’s important to me.”
Yeah, it had been important to him, too, so he understood. But understanding and believing she could do it were two different things. She lacked muscles, yet much of what needed to be done would be labor intensive, work that included heavy lifting, pulling and endurance. Given her clumsiness with the dolly, he doubted she knew her way around the toolshed. What her house needed would require more than a hammer or a screwdriver.
To be sure, he asked, “You have experience with remodeling?”
“No. But I’m not dumb. I can read instructions.”
Instructions wouldn’t really cut it, but rather than belabor the point, he merely nodded. “Let’s go eat.” He’d be glad to get that part of it over with. Whether his brother or nephew realized it, Honor Brown was going to be trouble. With her next door, their peaceful bachelor existence would soon be shot to hell.
Honor bit her lip. Her gaze dipped down to his chest, then shot back to his face. Her eyes were big and innocent when she said, “Only if you put on a shirt. Because otherwise, I just can’t do it.”
Jason sighed. And so it began.
2
HONOR WASN’T USED to eating with three men. It astounded her how fast the pizza got devoured. But then, she’d pretty much inhaled her own slice, too. Working up a hunger, it seemed, overshadowed other concerns—like feeling self-conscious and knowing she was an intruder despite their efforts to put her at ease.
They all chatted easily, except for Jason, who seemed introspective. He’d gone from staring to teasing, to warning, and now quiet.
At first she’d worried that she might have offended him. But how? Not by asking that he wear a shirt, because that was a request he’d ignored.
The man was still half-naked.
And it couldn’t have been from accepting his help, because he was the one who’d bullied his way in and insisted on...being wonderful.
She rubbed at her temples. When she’d thought about neighbors, she never imagined any like these.
“You okay?” Colt asked.
A fast smile, meant to reassure him, only amplified the headache. “Yes. Just a little tired.”
“She works too much.” Lexie shoulder-bumped her. “I’ve tried to get her to play a little, too, but she’s the original party pooper.”
Lexie, at least, seemed right at home. But then she always did. Confident, beautiful and fun—that described Honor’s best friend.
They were polar opposites.
As if she’d known the guys forever, Lexie had heckled Hogan, teased Colt and praised Jason. She also repeatedly put her head back and drew in deep breaths, closing her eyes as she did so. With the scents of freshly mowed lawn, earth, flowers and trees all around them, Honor understood her reaction. Jason’s backyard was a half acre, same as hers. But while hers was nearly impassable with weeds, his was park perfect.
A gigantic elm kept them shaded, and with the help of an occasional gentle breeze, the summer day became more comfortable. Honor glanced around at the neatly mulched flower beds, the velvet green grass and the well-maintained outdoor furniture. His garage was spectacular, matching his house. Every so often she caught the faint scent of oil, gasoline and sawdust.
She also smelled sun-warmed, hardworking male. Not at all unpleasant.
“Where do you work?” Colt asked.
“She’s a stylist,” Lexie offered. With a nod at Jason, she said, “Honor could do all sorts of amazing things with your hair.”
Honor choked on her last drink of Coke.
Unaffected, Jason ran a hand through the dark waves. “I have a barber but don’t make it there as often as I should.”
“He’s always working,” Colt said. “He’s usually out there in the garage before Dad and I even get out of bed.”
“Good thing messy looks so sexy on him, then, huh?”
Colt laughed. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Lexie half turned to face the garage. “You guys have a lot of vehicles.”
“The blue truck is mine,” Colt told her. “Dad drives the motorcycle. Or when it rains, he takes the Escort. Uncle Jason has his own truck, the red newer one, and the gray SUV. The flatbed truck he uses for deliveries.”
Wow. Honor glanced over and saw that the two-story garage also housed a fishing boat on a trailer and another, older truck parked front and center.
“Who drives that one?” Lexie asked.
With something close to hero worship, Colt said, “Uncle Jason was hired to work on it.”
“Hired?”
“Yeah, that’s what he does. He fixes things. He’s really good, too. All these old houses? They’re always needing something repaired and usually Uncle Jason can do it. Everyone around here hires him for stuff.”
“Sounds like it keeps him busy.”
Colt snorted. “Yeah, sometimes too busy.”
“I don’t mind.” Jason’s gaze cut to Honor, and his voice deepened. “I enjoy working with my hands.”
Honor felt like he’d just stroked her. She caught her breath, shifted in her seat and tried to think of something to say.
Clearly tickled, Lexie looked back and forth between them. “So you’re a handyman?”
Again, Colt bragged. “More like a contractor. He can build things from the ground up, including the plumbing and electrical. Or make stuff like custom gates or stylized shutters, or repair just about anything.”
“Nice,” Lexie praised.
“He’s a jack-of-all-trades.” Hogan toasted Jason with his
Coke. “Whatever’s broke, Jason can fix it.”
Jason gave him a long look. “Maybe not everything.”
“Right. Can’t fix big brothers, can you?”
Tipping his head slightly back, as if he’d taken that on the chin, Jason replied, “I only have one older brother, and far as I’m concerned, he’s not broken.”
Colt went silent, and God, Honor felt for him. Too many times she, too, had been caught up in the middle of family squabbles.
“So, with the truck,” Lexie said, interrupting the heavy tension, “are you doing engine or body work?”
Before Jason could answer, Hogan said, “Why are you so curious, anyway?”
Lexie leveled him with a direct stare. “I was making conversation.”
With a sound halfway between a laugh and a groan, Hogan sat forward. “We already covered that he can do anything.”
“Anything is a big word. I mean, can he get the stick out of your butt? Because seriously, you’re being a pill.”
Honor frantically tried to think of a way to hedge the impending storm. Lexie wasn’t reserved. If Hogan chose to be snarky, she wouldn’t hesitate to give back tenfold. Worse, she might well drag Honor into it.
“It’s a fascinating business,” Lexie said, “though apparently you don’t think so?”
“I’m proud of my brother.”
“Yes,” Lexie quipped, her tone dry. “That was so obvious.”
Taken off guard, Hogan eyed her.
“But then, who wouldn’t be proud of a handsome, accomplished, well-mannered man?” Lexie smiled with menace. “Speaking of that, I’m a fashion buyer for a boutique. If you ever want to step up your game, I could make some suggestions. And maybe Honor could update your hairstyle. You have the potential to be almost as hot as your brother.”
Hogan’s eyes flared, then narrowed.
“Lighten up.” Jason clapped him on the shoulder. “And, Lexie, thanks, but honestly Hogan already has more dates than he can handle.”
“Now, that is fascinating,” Lexie said.
“He does both,” Colt cut in, clearly not anxious to talk about his father being out on the market. “Uncle Jason, I mean. You asked about the truck?”
Lexie gave Colt a genuine smile. “So I did.”
“He does body and engine work. But this time Uncle Jason’s just tricking it out some.”
Honor watched the back-and-forth conversation, noting the indulgent way Jason looked at his nephew, while also feeling the growing tension from Hogan. But why?
The quiet smothered her, especially with the palpable acrimony now flowing between Hogan and Lexie. After clearing her throat, Honor asked, “Is that what we interrupted? You were working on the truck?”
Jason shook his head. “Tractor.” He nodded toward the side of the garage. “The owner of the truck is making up his mind between two options I gave him. Today I was repairing the tractor, but it needs a part I won’t have until tomorrow. I’m at a standstill on both projects, so you didn’t really interrupt. I was already done for the day.”
Hogan ran a hand over his face, popped his neck and finally worked up a smile. “He built the garage a few years back.”
“You helped,” Jason reminded him.
“By help, he means I followed directions. No idea where Jason got the knack, because our dad wasn’t the handy sort. But if there’s an upside to us staying with him right now, it’s that he’s teaching Colt.”
“And Colt does appear to have the knack,” Jason added.
Both she and Lexie looked at the garage with new eyes. Wow. Just...wow.
Honor said, “It’s unlike any garage I’ve ever seen.”
“You should see the shed he did for Sullivan,” Colt bragged. “And the gazebo for Nathan.”
“Sullivan and Nathan?” Lexie perked up with interest.
“Other neighbors,” Honor said before Lexie could get started. She pushed to her feet while saying, “This was really wonderful. Thank you again, all of you.”
When she started to pick up their paper plates, Colt took over. “I got it.”
Unbelievable. She’d never known such a polite young man. “Are you sure?”
He grinned, looking like a younger version of his uncle. “Positive. It all just goes to the can.” He gathered up everything and walked off.
Honor turned to Hogan. “You did an amazing job with him.”
“Thanks. He’s always been an easy kid. Smart, friendly and self-motivated.”
Again, Honor wondered about Colt’s mother. Had she taken a hand in molding such an impressive young man?
Hogan said, “I need to take off now, too.”
“Big date?” The way Lexie asked that, it was clear to one and all she didn’t expect it to be.
“Actually,” Hogan said, “yes.”
In an effort to stem new hostilities, Honor stepped in front of her friend. “I hope we didn’t hold you up.”
“Nope. I have a few minutes yet.” His frown moved past Honor to Lexie. “Guess I need to go change, though.”
Laughing, Lexie asked, “Need help?”
His dark expression morphed into a reluctant grin. “I think I’ve got it covered.”
She nodded while yawning. “I need to get going, too.”
“Gotta catch up on your beauty sleep?”
Honor almost groaned...until Lexie laughed again.
“Good one,” she said, and then she held up her palm, leaving Hogan no choice but to high-five her. To Jason, she teased, “The differences aren’t just in looks, I take it.”
Jason lifted a brow. “No, they aren’t.”
Without comment, Hogan headed off for the house.
“Well.” Honor watched everyone depart. Hogan went into the house from the back door. Lexie headed off to the rental truck. And Cody hadn’t returned from taking away their trash.
She and Jason were alone and with every fiber of her being, she felt it. Hoping not to be too obvious, she took a step back, then another. “I should get going, too. I need to drop off the truck tonight so I can get my car back. After I run Lexie home, I need to stop at the grocery. It’s going to take me a few hours to get back here, and I still have to get things set up for the morning.”
“What kind of things?”
“Alarm clock, coffee and I have to unpack enough clothes to get ready for work in the morning.”
He had been looking down at the ground as they walked to the curb, but now his head lifted and he stared at her. “You have to work tomorrow?”
“Yes.” But it wasn’t a matter of having to. “I’ll be taking all the hours I can get for a while. There are so many things I want to do to the house, but it all takes funds.” Funds she didn’t have. What money she’d saved would go to dire necessities, so overtime helped to pay for the extras she wanted.
“You have to be tired.”
“A little.” She rolled her aching shoulders, but resisted the long stretch. “I’m both excited and exhausted and I don’t know if I’d be able to sleep in anyway.”
“Excited?”
There were a hundred different reasons for her excitement, and one of those reasons was standing before her. Jason Guthrie was about the sexiest man she’d ever met. His careless hair, strong features, dark eyes and that body... Yup. The body definitely factored in.
But she also liked his intense focus, the way he smiled with pleasure at his nephew and his up-front honesty. That honesty had stung a little, since he clearly felt she was out of her league. Then again, he’d pitched in and done what he could to make her move-in easier.
How could she not admire him?
Naturally she wouldn’t say any of that to him, so instead she shared other thoughts that would hopefully reaffirm for him that she was here to stay. “The move, the house—now that it’s officially mine and I’m here, there are a million things running through my mind. What to do first, how much money I’ll need, how to do it and when to do it.” Forgetting her reserve, she whispered, “Tonig
ht, I might just dance around and enjoy it all.”
“Yeah? Since you don’t have curtains yet, that could be interesting.”
Heat rushed into her face. “After I get the windows covered, then I’ll dance.”
Amusement curled his mouth. “Spoilsport.”
Their shoulders touched, electrifying Honor. She took a step to the side, ensuring that it wouldn’t happen again. Remember that he wants you gone. Remember that he wants you gone. Remember...
“I get it,” Jason said. “First big night in your own place.” Lifting a brow, he added, “And yeah, curtains might not be a bad idea. Or at least tack up a sheet or something.”
Maybe, Honor thought, he didn’t dislike her as a neighbor as much as she’d assumed.
Stopping in the side yard, well out of range of everyone else, Honor looked up at him. Way up because he was so much taller than her.
He stopped, too, his expression attentive.
She shouldn’t ask, but she had to. “When we first met...when I hit your trash can?”
“I told you, no big deal.”
“I know, but...is that why you kept staring at me?”
Those gorgeous dark eyes caressed her face. He glanced toward Colt, then over to watch Lexie climb into the passenger seat of the truck.
Finally his gaze came back to hers, and the impact took her breath.
“For one thing,” he said, low, “you’re attractive.”
Without thinking about it, Honor smoothed her ponytail and tucked a few loose tendrils behind her ears. “Um, thank you. But I’m such a mess today.”
His gaze warmed even more. “Messy and a mess are two very different things.”
That deep voice made her pulse race. She was so unused to compliments from men she wasn’t sure how to respond, so she just nodded and said, “Okay.”
A fleeting smile teased his mouth before he grew somber. “I also recognize trouble when I see it.”
She tucked in her chin. “Trouble?”
“You.”
“Me?” The question emerged as a squeak.
“You don’t fit the mold, Honor Brown. Not even close.”
A rush of umbrage helped to steady her voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
