He wondered if saying those words had been as hard for her as he imagined. As much as he wanted to, there was no denying the chemistry between them. No denying the way she looked at him—had been looking at him for months. Like he was the juiciest steak on the menu and she hadn’t eaten in a week.
“I know exactly what kind of woman you are.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re strong, Rory. The kind of woman who won’t take a handout. Who wants to get ahead on her own.”
She looked taken aback for a moment before snapping her mouth closed and giving a short nod. “That’s right. So you can understand why I won’t be able to accept your offer.”
“And what if my time came in exchange for yours?”
Her brow furrowed. “How so?”
“You’ve been workin’ on some homes in town. Doin’ some designs for a few people.” Forfree, which Nash thought was dumb as hell, but he wasn’t about to bring that up now. “And word’s gettin’ around Havenbrook that you’re the one to call if someone wants the best.”
She stood a little taller at the compliment. “That’s nice to hear, but I’m afraid I’m still not followin’. And I’ve gotta pick up the girls from Momma’s soon, so you’ll need to spit it out.”
“Ever think about why it is you feel comfortable snappin’ at me like that when you wouldn’t dream about doin’ it with anyone else?”
A flush spread over her cheeks. “Perhaps it’s because you’re the only one who irritates the livin’ daylights outta me.”
“Keep tellin’ yourself that, princess.”
She huffed, holstering her nail gun before crossing her arms. “Are you gonna get on with it or not?”
“I’m proposing a partnership.”
Her brows lifted. “A partnership of what?”
“After I finish up Miss Norma’s remodel, I’m startin’ on Mrs. Gene’s. She’s demanded I get you in to work with me on design.”
Rory’s mouth fell open, shock replacing her anger for a moment until she seemed to catch herself. “Oh. Well, that was awfully nice of her, but I’m just not sure I’ll have time. It’s already a juggle since the girls don’t start school till next month, and I’m workin’ at town hall three days a week. Not to mention tryin’ to get everything here squared—”
“We can work around your schedule for any client work. And I can pull whatever shift you need over here to help in exchange.”
She snapped her mouth shut and stared at him for long moments, her eyes broadcasting her fears so clearly, they might as well have been thought bubbles above her head. She was scared to death about working so closely with him again. There was no denying the sparks that had flown between them when they’d both been working together on The Willow Tree. And now that she was newly divorced, there wasn’t anything she could fall back on as an excuse.
Except her sister, or that she used to babysit him, or the fact that she was damn near royalty here in Havenbrook and the only thing royal about him was his last name.
“I’ll have to think about it,” she finally said, her voice and posture so proper, even while she looked like a home-improvement warrior with sawdust on her chin.
“You do that, princess. But let me know soon. Mrs. Gene isn’t gonna be happy when I tell her you’re playin’ hard to get.”
She huffed, her fists clenching at her sides. “I amnotplayin’—”
“What’s with all the upside-down glasses all over in here?” He lifted his chin to the cup in the corner of the dining room. He’d seen two others in random places on his way in.
“Nothing,” she said far too quickly.
“No?” He strode over to the one in the corner and squatted, which was when he saw a tiny black dot encased beneath the glass. He reached out to lift it.
“Don’t!” she yelled, then cleared her throat and brushed a hand down the front of her shirt. “If you must know, there are spiders under those glasses. I don’t, um, believe in killin’ ’em, so I’ll deal with ’em later. I just haven’t had a chance yet.”
“Spiders.”
“That’s what I said, didn’t I?”
He hummed, standing to his full height and taking in her stance. She was jittery, her eyes continually darting over to the glass next to him as if to make sure the spider hadn’t somehow figured out how to escape. “I could—”
