She gave him a mock scowl.
He chuckled, his gaze clinging in a way that made her pulse quicken.
“Did you stop by just to make fun of me?”
“I actually thought we’d go check out the barn before the weekend guests arrive.”
She’d stumbled across the structure last week and had the idea of turning it into a wedding venue. Another income stream would be very healthy for the family business. But Jonah hadn’t seemed impressed with the idea. “Really? You like my idea after all?”
“I just said we’dcheck it out.”
“It kinda sounds as if youlikemy idea.”
He rolled his eyes. “Are you free or what?”
“For the moment.” Tossing him a cocky smile, she went to let Tammy know where they were going. Then she slipped out the door while Jonah held it open. He was a gentleman; she’d give him that.
She had a bounce in her step as she walked. She was thrilled he was giving the barn a look. His parents would never get on board with the idea if Jonah wasn’t, since he would soon manage and someday own the place. She’d only peeked through the dirty windows because the door was locked in place.
“Hang on,” he said as they passed the toolshed. “Let me grab the bolt cutters.”
She waited outside the building, her thoughts returning to the barn. As ideas and questions filled her head, she dictated them on her phone. “Check exterior stone base and roof shingles, period. What is flooring situation, question mark. Is structure sound, question mark.”
“Pushy woman with ambitious goals, period.”
She whipped around.
Jonah muttered into his phone. “Drags others into folly, period. Won’t take no for answer, period.”
Lauren scooped a pine cone off the ground and whipped it his way. It smacked him in the eye. She gasped, then covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
His gaze locked on her for a long moment, and then he turned away.
“Jonah, seriously, I didn’t mean to hit you in the eye.” She stepped closer. “Are you okay? Are you bleeding?”
He raised his phone. “Woman has strong arm, period. Atrocious aim, however, period.”
***
Jonah tossed a smirk at Lauren even as she palmed her heart. “Very funny. I thought you were mad at me.”
He made a show of squinting from one eye. “I probably would be—if I could see you.”
“Maybe if your hair wasn’t so long,” she teased.
They started toward the far end of the property and were soon enveloped in the shade of the woods.
She gave him a sideways glance. “Seriously, is your eye all right? It looks a little red.”
“It was only a pine cone, not a butcher knife.”
“Well, it’s not every day you bean your boss in the eye with a projectile. I promise it wasn’t on purpose.”
“No kidding. I saw your athletic prowess on the court yesterday.”
“Hey! That’s not nice.”
He liked this new playful side of her. “It is, however, true.”
