“How long you gonna be out?”

“Maybe a week or two. I have some personal stuff I need to take care of. I’ll check in with you every day to make sure things are going smoothly.”

“Everything okay with Lily?” Dan’s voice twisted to concern. He was more than my best superintendent. He’d worked for me for almost ten years now, becoming a dependable employee and close friend.

“Yeah, she’s fine. I’m just helping out an old friend.”

“Got it. I’ll take care of things. Let me know if you need any other help.”

“Thanks, Dan. I owe you.”

“That’s what you pay me for. I’ll be expecting a nice Christmas bonus this year,” he joked.

“You make sure the projects don’t lose another day, and I’ll be happy to write you that check.”

“Consider it done.”

I hung up my cell as I turned onto the road that led to the Davis Farm. The sun was barely coming over the horizon. After rolling to a stop in front of Lottie’s, I retrieved the two coffees I’d picked up from Ida’s on my way out of town this morning.

Walking up the new porch steps, I bit back the irritation that bloomed knowing Billy had already been here helping her out on repairs. I needed to start this day off right with Lottie. I’d been nothing but an asshole since she’d gotten to town. There were still a lot of unanswered questions I had about the reason she left the way she did, but I wasn’t going to get those answers by being a dick. And as much as I hated to admit it, I still had the wild hope that maybe I could make things right between us, where at least we could be friends. I knew friends was the most I could hope for. She’d already made it clear she wouldn’t be staying long.

I rapped my knuckles on the front door, leaning against the jamb as I waited for her to answer. I gave her a few moments before knocking a little louder a second time. I heard some muffled commotion and cursing seconds before the door swung open.

God, she was beautiful. Her face was free of makeup. Her hair a tangled mess on top of her head. Her robe hung open at her sides, giving me a much appreciated peep show of her gorgeous body that was barely covered in a gray silk. I gave her a big smile as her sleepy eyes focused on me.

“Mornin’, sunshine.”

“Tuck, what the hell? What time is it? What are you doing here?” Her squinty eyes darted around me as she looked toward my truck in confusion.

I chuckled. “Six. It’s time to get to work, babe.”

“Work?” Her brow crinkled.

“Yep. I only have the next couple of weeks off. And I assume you have a lot you want done to this place. Which means we need to get started.”

Finally catching up or waking up, her body stood tall with stubborn pride as she narrowed her eyes on me. Her hands perched on her hips. “We never discussed this.”

“We did. I offered. You accepted,” I reminded her, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth.

“That was before. I thought you didn’t want the job anymore.”

“Well, I’m here.”

“Well, maybe I don’t need your help. Billy did a fine job on the porch. And has been more than happy to help me.” She smirked back.

“Don’t push me, sweetheart.” I stepped forward, invading her space, running my nose millimeters from her jaw, stopping my lips an inch from her ear. “I think we both know I’m much better with my hands than Billy. If you need me to remind you just how good I am, I’m happy to demonstrate.”

I pulled away in time to catch the reaction I was hoping for. Her skin prickled along with the nipples below her silk nightgown as she tried to hide the lust in her eyes. It took every damn bit of self-control I had not to take her right then and there.

Friends. I reminded myself.

She crossed her arms, heaving her perky breasts upward. I groaned internally, shoving the cup of coffee toward her as a peace offering. And to get her to release her damn arms before my balls exploded. Her eyes traveled over me suspiciously before she finally conceded and took it.

“Fine. I guess if you’re here waking me up this damn early, I might as well get something out of it.”

I cocked an eyebrow with a crooked grin. “I’m happy to give you what you need, babe.”

“The house! I mean you working on the house.” She smacked at my arm, trying to act appalled. But the smile and heat that overtook her face revealed the truth. This was going to be an interesting couple of weeks. I was either going to finally get some answers or a bad case of blue balls. Most likely both.

* * *

As she drank her morning coffee, I took measurements of the kitchen and bathrooms. Those were the rooms she wanted the most work done in, so it was where I planned to start. I wasn’t sure if the moaning I’d periodically hear coming from her lips was from her enjoyment of the coffee or something else. I was pretty sure I was that something else.

I caught her more than once checking me out as I worked. And I’m not too proud to admit I might have been playing it up some, flexing my biceps more than necessary as I moved things around. I figured it was fair play. I’d had a swollen cock since the moment she opened that door. And the sounds of her murmuring moans were only solidifying that I stayed hard for the unforeseeable future.

By the time I’d moved into the bathroom, I was pretty sure she’d caught onto my game. She chose that moment to position herself at the side of the bed in direct view of the bathroom opening. She hiked up her leg, bending at the waist, meticulously rubbing her vanilla lotion into her creamy skin, making sure I had prime view of her work and her ass.

I inhaled a deep breath through my nose, letting out a muttered curse. The woman was going to drive me fucking mad. She glanced over her shoulder at me with her devious smile and bright blue eyes. Yeah. She knew all right. Game on, baby.

The rest of the day we continued to challenge each other’s restraint. By the time I was packing up to leave, I was pretty sure not even a hundred cold showers were going to help deflate the ridge in my pants. The little redheaded vixen had me so worked up, I couldn’t stay near her any longer without being the first to break. Besides, there was a lot to get done in a short amount of time. And our cat and mouse game was only delaying things, no matter how much I was enjoying it.

She followed me outside as I loaded up my truck with the few tools I’d pulled out. She leaned a hip against the porch railing as she watched me. Her hair pulled back, gray tank and cutoff shorts made her look like the young girl I’d fallen in love with years ago.

“So you’re done for the day?”

I could’ve sworn I heard disappointment in her voice.

“Yeah. I need to run into town and order some materials. Are you sure you’re good with me selecting everything?”

She shrugged. “Sure. It’s not like I’m going to be living here. Just make sure they look nice and updated. I trust your opinion, Tuck.”

I nodded, my mind stuck on the fact she mentioned her time here was limited. I needed to focus on that and stop letting myself think there could ever be more between us than a quick fling.

“I’ll be back in the morning to start demolishing the kitchen. Try to get everything packed and moved out of there before then.”

“Okay.”

I stared at her, knowing I needed to leave, but having trouble forcing my body to move. The last time I left her staring after me on that porch as I drove away, she disappeared from my life.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Lottie.”

“I’ll be here.” She gave me a teasing smile, but it fell as soon as she realized the impact of her words.

I gave her a weak smile before turning to walk away.

“Tuck!” she yelled in a panic.

I rotated to look at her. “Yeah?”

“I—” Her eyes darted around as she searched for the words she wanted to say, her fingers brushing over her forehead before she tucked her hands in her back pockets. “Thank you. For helping me.”

I nodded and climbed into my truck. There were so many things I wanted to say, but not one damn word would fall from my mouth.

* * *

Over the next few days, I did my best to focus on the work, but it seemed neither one of us could help but torture the other. She’d sit around the house in skimpy shorts and shirts and I’d retaliate by working shirtless. It wasn’t until she decided to one up me—finding reasons to be where I was working, brushing her sexy little body against me—that I nearly broke. A man could only take so much.

I was out front where I’d set up my saw, cutting some lumber for some temporary supports. I’d removed a wall to put in a new header, opening up the kitchen to the living area. Lottie strolled out onto the porch with her phone pressed to her ear, wearing her jeans and a button-down shirt she’d tied in a knot above her navel, revealing her lean midriff. She had on the riding boots I’d bought for her seventeenth birthday.

She’d fawned over the boots for nearly a year but hadn’t been able to afford them. I saved every dime my dad paid me from that summer harvest to buy her those. Anything to see Lottie’s face light up and her eyes smile.

“Sure. Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. It’s my responsibility anyway… Okay. See you soon.”

She hung up the phone as she stepped off the porch. I watched, following her jean-clad ass as she walked toward the horse barn. I shook my head, forcing myself to stop staring before I cut off a damn finger. I turned on the saw, making my final cut through the two-by-four. As the shrilling sound of the saw ceased, I heard the agitated roar of a horse and a panicked Lottie. I dropped the board, running for the barn.

Lottie was holding the reins of Apollo with fear in her eyes as the horse reared its front legs up at her.

“Calm down, Apollo,” she tried to soothe with a shaky voice.

The horse roared and reared again. I moved slowly around Apollo, giving a wide berth to avoid upsetting him further.

“Whoa, buddy,” I soothed in a calm, even tone as I steadily took the reins from Lottie’s hands.

She released them, stepping back behind me. As he settled down, I clicked my tongue, calling him to me. I waited for him to take the first hesitant step before reaching out to massage and scratch his neck.

“That’s it, boy.”

He grunted and snorted, releasing a small blow of air from his nose.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. He just senses your nervousness. It’s making him nervous. The better question is what’s wrong with you? I’ve never known you to be scared of anything, Lottie. Especially not Apollo.”

“I’m not scared,” she denied with a huff. “It’s been a while...that’s all. I was going to take him for a ride and then he started to flip out before I could get the saddle on him. It’s like he doesn’t remember me.”

I continued to hold him steady as she looked onto him with sad eyes. Apollo had been her horse since they bought him at an auction her sophomore year. She’d ridden him around the farm daily come rain or shine. She took a deep breath as if to calm herself. Taking a small step forward, she reached out her hand. Apollo jerked and I held him tight.

“Easy, boy.”

She controlled her own flinch before pressing her hand firmly against his forehead. She ran her hand slowly down toward his muzzle over the one white spot that contrasted with his solid black coat. Even with his age, he was still a strong, beautiful thoroughbred. Much like the woman standing next to me.

She took the reins from me once again, slowly making her way around him as her hand continued to glide down his neck and side. The affection of her touch had me jealous of the damn horse.

“Good boy,” she murmured, pressing her cheek to him as she continued to pet him. He nickered in greeting, stomping his hoof once with contentment. I retrieved her saddle, placing it over his back. They continued to rebuild their bond as I watched.

Annoyed with my jealousy of wishing we could do the same, I decided to leave them to it. “You good?”

“Yeah,” she replied with a smile, not looking back at me. I gave Apollo one more pat and turned to leave.

“Tuck,” she called my name, halting my steps.

I glanced back over my sagging shoulders to look at her.

“Ride with me?”

I faced her, shock coursing through me, making me unable to respond.

“I—”

“Sorry. Never mind. Forget I asked.” Her cheeks flushed as she looked away from me.

“No,” I said harsher than I meant to. Her head jerked back up to me. “I’ll go. Give me a minute to wrap something up and saddle your mom’s horse. Then I’ll be ready.”

“Okay.” She nodded.

* * *

After bracing the framing where I needed to, I went back to the barn. Lottie and Apollo were still getting reacquainted when I walked back in. The joyous smile on her face as she fed him treats and spoke softly to him had caused me to stop still, a sharp pain in my chest. The woman took my breath away. She looked natural and content as if she’d belonged here in this barn. She’d always belonged in my eyes. She belonged with me. I just couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t see it.

The image made everything even more confusing in my head. I knew she’d never wanted to stay in this town, never wanted anything to do with the family farm. I cursed her father for tainting it for her. It seemed she could never keep the bad memories from outweighing the good.

Apollo huffed happily, nudging his head into her shoulder. She laughed a lyrical laugh. Her eyes lifted, catching my gaze.

“Hey.” She smiled. “You ready?”

“Yeah,” I replied through my strangled vocal chords. I cleared my throat, walking to the stall Evelyn’s horse was kept in. I gave Dolly a quick brush before saddling her up and leading her out of the stall.

We walked the horses outside the barn. I waited for Lottie to mount her horse first, in case she needed some assistance. The woman climbed on top like it was second nature. I couldn’t help the dirty fucking thoughts going through my head as I watched her do it, wishing I were the one she was straddling. Once again I was envious of that goddamn mammal. I needed to tamper my thoughts if I was going to make it through this ride without being in a world of pain.

Once I was seated, Lottie gave me another sexy grin. “Race ya to the pecan tree!”

Before I could register her challenge, she was kicking Apollo’s side and clicking her tongue, getting a jump start on me.

“Yah!” I hollered my command through my grin, giving my horse a nudge, chasing my little redheaded vixen through the fields.