She pretended to weigh the statement. “Okay, yes, so I’m athletically challenged. I do have other good features though.”
“Such as?”
Her chin notched up. “I have great hair.”
“Wow, that was fast.”
“It’s all in the conditioner, my friend.”
“I’ll take your word for it. But I have great hairandI’m athletic.” He flung his hair aside with dramatic flair.
She laughed as her gaze flickered over his long dark hair and bushy beard. “You may have a lot of hair, Boss, but that doesn’t make it great.”
“Ouch,” he said through a smile.
“I mean, it’s summer and all that hair must get pretty hot. Are you barbershop-phobic or something?”
“I’ll have you know I’ve been very busy.”
“Too busy to shave?”
“Maybe.” He sent a mock scowl her way. “Some women like the lumberjack look, you know.”
“Is that a fact?”
“That’s what I hear.”
“Well, some women actually like to see a man’s face once in a while.”
“Are you saying you wanna see my face, Wentworth?”
A nervous laugh escaped. “That’s not what I’m saying at all.”
“Okay... just making sure.” If someone had told him a month ago they’d be flirting, he would’ve said they were crazy. But here they were, trading quips and sly glances. And if he wasn’t mistaken, Lauren was blushing a little.
“So why’d your parents buy this adjacent property if they weren’t planning to do anything with it?”
“Years ago when it came up for sale, they were worried about who might buy it. And they didn’t want some competing resort or hotel ruining the serenity of the cove.”
“They didn’t want to put up more cabins?”
“Because of the way the property curves around the cove, there’s not a lot of lake frontage. Besides, they figured eight cabins were plenty to handle. It’s been a buffer more than anything.”
Soon the woods ended at a bunch of brambles. He moved through them, using the bolt cutter and holding branches back for Lauren. “I didn’t realize it was this overgrown.”
“I can’t wait to see the inside.”
“Hopefully I can get that ancient lock off.”
“Looks pretty rusty,” she said when they reached the big barn door.
Moments later he snapped the lock with no problem.
Lauren was fairly bouncing on the balls of her feet. She helped him untangle some vines from the door, and then he gave it a push. It opened slowly with a loud creak.
“Needs new hardware.” He stepped inside and it took a minute for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. And oh, jeez. The place was filled with junk.
Lauren swept past him, a rapturous expression on her face. “It’s just perfect!”
