“That’s wonderful.” My voice was flat, but my heart was pounding. Surely, it was nothing more than excitement at the chance to ditch the futon.
“You like it?” He bounced his pecs. Left. Right. Left. Right.
I couldn't look away. He knew it, and he liked it.
“What? No! Wonderful that you’ll take the job. I really need that couch.”
“Looks like it’s Cash to the rescue again. See you in a minute.” He turned and walked out of sight before I could tell him that he absolutely wasnotcoming to my rescue.
I was hiring him. Paying him money! Doinghima favor.
He thought of me as nothing more than a walking disaster in need of a rescue. I was going to show him that he had never been more wrong about anyone in his life.
I re-applied my lip gloss as I headed for the door. Someone was going to set Cash straight about our little arrangement. That someone was going to be me, and I was going to look good while doing it.
CHAPTERTHREE
Istood in the breezeway between our two apartments and waited for Cash to round the corner. I shifted all my weight to one foot, crossed my arms over my chest, and made a face serious enough to intimidate my fourth-grade gym teacher—the guy with the chin mole who loved to deal out penalty push-ups if we stared at it for too long.
My charm repelling shields were fully charged and cranked up to the max. I was ready to have thatchatwith Cash.
My heart leapt into my throat when that moose of a dog bounded around the corner. I’ll admit my knees might have wobbled a tad, but that didn’t shake my resolve to put Cash in his place. The moment he stepped around the corner of the building I spoke up.
“Let’s make sure we understand each other. I don’t need you to come to my rescue. I need a furniture mover, plain and simple.” I tucked some of my loose hair behind my ear and got the rest of it out of my face with a toss of my head.
My words had no effect on Cash’s smooth strides. He continued walking toward me, his eyes never releasing my gaze. I was halfway tempted to like it, but the saner half of my brain reminded me what players like him did to girls like me.
Been there. Done that. Bought the tee shirt—and subsequently burned it!
I was so over guys like Cash. Once I earned my grandmother’s good favor, I was out of here. It would only be me, my guitar, and the open road as I toured the country playing my music for anyone who would listen.
He stepped up to me but held his dog back as he grinned. “Fair enough. You don’t need a rescue. I hear you loud and clear… Willow.”
Hearing my name in his mouth made my stomach dip. Was it the way he ran the tip of his tongue along his bottom lip before speaking it? Or was it the way he held the long O sound at the end just a little longer than most people?
I had no idea what it was, but it made my insides heat up—and that wasn’t cool.
I’m immune. I’m immune. I’m immune.I repeated that mantra to myself. But it didn’t chase away my need to brush the goosebumps from my forearms. Before I’d cleared all of them away, Cash turned away and slid his key into his doorknob.
“Wait! What are you doing?” Why had I asked that dumb question? It was obvious what he was doing. He was unlocking his door, ready to leave me standing there all by myself. “Don’t you want the job?”
He swung his door open and turned Moose loose to run inside. “I absolutely do. I take every odd job I can find these days.”
Something shifted in his face when he spoke the words. For the first time in two years, I felt like the real Cash had just spoken to me. I couldn’t help but be curious about his need to take on odd jobs.
Was money tight? Was he struggling?
I shook off the feelings of sympathy trying to take hold of my heart. He probably just wanted pocket money to impress some poor woman who wasn’t as savvy at spotting phony guys as I was.
“I figured I’d better get Shadow fed, watered, and bedded down before I moved that furniture for you.”
I felt the urge to protest. Ihadhired him for an immediate job, and I wasn’t so sure I liked the idea of waiting around. I think Cash sensed it because the next thing he did was to ask for my opinion—and the crazy thing was, he seemed to actually be interested in my thoughts on the matter.
“I mean, if that works for you,” he said. “I could just give you his leash while I’m working.”
I stepped back, holding both hands up in surrender. “No! That’s fine. You’re fine. Take care of him first.”
He shook his head as if I’d just said the silliest thing he’d heard all day. “That’s what I thought. See you in a few minutes.”
