“Still hurts, huh?” A wince of sympathy crossed his dark face as he loaded the trays of moss roses and Irish moss for delivery. “So what really happened?” he asked, flipping back his ballcap. “My sword lessons not helping you stay safe?”
She snorted. “I don’t have a weapon to protect myself unless I steal yours, and then how would you cosplay in the Renaissance Faire, huh?”
He laughed but waited.
So she kept to her lie. “I did trip on the curb. Yeah, no help for the clumsy—”
“Leya, someone to see ye, lass!” Saul hollered through the open door.
Darn it. She wanted to get the truck loaded and leave, not deal with more people at the end of the workday. “Tell them to deliver to the back!”For Christ’s sake!“I’m busy.”
“I don’t think it’s business.”
“Take a message!”
“She’s over there,” Saul’s smiling voice said. “She’s a little grumpy today. Taken a fall, she did,” he added, his tone rueful. “But pay her no mind. The lass had a long day.”
Seriously Saul? That’s a sure way to scare off a potential customer. Make me out to be a constant grouch.
“Go deal with it quick before Saul goes totally nuts and hooks you up,” Embry whispered with a grin. “I’ll finish this.” He leaped onto the truck bed.
Oh, for crying out loud!Leya flipped the bill of her cap backward, turned, and froze.
Nooo, not him!
CHAPTER5
Aerén saunteredacross the yard with the gait of a man who knew the world was his, and Leya scowled. More so because she couldn’t stop watching or stop her stupid gaze from slowly trailing over him.
Black jeans hugged his muscular thighs, and beneath his unzipped leather jacket, a gray t-shirt accentuated every muscle on his chest. The setting sun added a warm glow to his sky-blue hair, pulled back into a half ponytail, but strands escaped, framing his stunning face. Ugh, as if he needed the help.
“Blow me sideways,” Embry muttered under his breath. “You’re refusing that?”
She barely stopped a snort. Embry had no idea just how dangerous this guy was.
Wait. How did he find her?
Scowling, she jumped off the truck and power-walked up to him. “What are you doing here?” she hissed, yanking off her work gloves.
His gaze skimmed her face, lingering on her sore cheek. “I think this belongs to you.”
What? Her gaze lowered to the book he held out. Darn! It must have slid out of her tote when her bag fell in the alley.
“I went by your apartment to return it. Kel said you usually worked late on Saturdays. And gave me this address.”
Well, that answered how he found her.
She took her book, her fingers brushing his, and the persistent tingle there caused a jolt to rush through her. Shit.
“Thanks…” How she managed to speak and sound nonchalant, she had no idea, while he didn’t appear to be affected in any way. His expression remained as cool as the chilly evening.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
At his set jaw and even stare, nope, he wasn’t leaving this time.
Since he brought her book back…and she wasn’t exactly alone… “You’re gonna have to do so while I work.” She turned to the truck to find Embry had finished loading both the saplings and compost bags. He gave her a salute and wheeled the cart away, whistling an off-beat tune.
Ugh. Now, she had nothing to keep her busy.
