Shit. She wasn’t giving up.
He stopped, and she damn near bumped into him. That sweet scent from before was back, and he figured it was her hair.
“If we’re playing twenty questions, I think it’s my turn.”
“We’re not play—”
“What’s your last name?”
Her tongue swiped across her bottom lip, and Jesus, his cock twitched. Which was inconvenient as hell because he had no time for whatever this was. He shouldn’t be thinking of Faith. Naked. Her hair entwined in his fists while he sank into her.
“Black,” she replied softly.
“What?” He scratched at the stubble on his chin, feeling like he’d just opened a can of worms he should have left closed.
“My last name.”
She was lying. He’d bet his favorite Bruins cap.
The two of them stared at each other for a good five seconds before he cleared his throat and pointed toward the deck. “I should help Candy to her room. I think she’s had enough.”
“I can do that. I have an early day tomorrow so, um, thank you for the barbecue. It was nice.”
“Are you working?”
“No.”
He watched her help Candy up from the chair, and then Liam and Taco followed the two of them into the house, all the time wondering what it was she would be filling her tomorrow with.
“You can stop making eyes at her. She’s gone.” Walker’s voice was dry, but his eyes were lit with something else entirely.
“Fuck off.”
His buddy took the hint and changed the subject. “Building cottages? Really?” Walker stretched and tossed his empty beer bottle into the cooler.
“I could use the help.”
Walker didn’t bother to hide his concern. “What the fuck are you doing here? This was supposed to be a two-day thing. You were going to come back and get some closure. The old man was dying. But it’s been well over a month now. Christ, you’re setting down roots. Making friends. Flirting with a lady who’s hiding her own shit. It’s getting messy, brother. Just saying.”
“Are you going to stay and help me out?” Not in the mood for a sermon and pissed that his pal was right about everything, Gus’s voice was sharp.
Walker muttered something, but Gus didn’t catch it. Walker eventually sighed and nodded. “How long are we talking?”
“Another month. Maybe. They asked me to oversee the cottage restorations, and I want to see them through. Told meto do the hiring so I’m asking you if you’re up for some hard physical labor.” He winked. “Or maybe you’ve gone soft.”
“You wish.” Walker flashed a grin. “We need to let Dozer know. Back off on taking anything high profile for the next while.”
“Agreed.”
“And I need my own place. The sofa in your apartment isn’t going to cut it. That thing will break my back.”
“There might be some rentals on the lake. I can make some inquiries tomorrow.”
“When are you going to tell the old man who you are?”
“I don’t know if I will.”
Walker grabbed another beer from the cooler and tossed it at Gus. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
