His gaze snagged on her lips. He gripped the edge of the desk, recalling how much those lips had distracted him when she’d placed the ring in his pocket. He couldn’t afford any more distractions. “Why don’t you fly back to Nebraska? I’ll call you when I know something.”
“Have you not heard a word I’ve been saying?”
“I’ve heard all the words.” Nate forced his gaze to the front door in need of a new paint job. He’d add it to the list. The square glass in the upper half of the red door revealed a few more hours of daylight yet. This time of June the days stretched long. And Nate feared they were about to get longer if this woman didn’t leave.
“I can’t go home without that ring. Not only would I never forgive myself for losing something so valuable, but if Oliver finds out the ring’s gone, he’ll move to Germany.”
“Are we talking about the moose who headbutted me? Because Germany might be a good place to send Oliver.”
McKenna grabbed her suitcase handle. “You obviously don’t understand.”
“I obviously don’t. Kind of like the way you don’t understand how we’re technically not open this week.”
“Why are you technically arguing with one of your customers? That’s bad business. I’m telling your mom if I ever meet her.”
“I’m telling my mom we need better security.”
“Talk to Ms. Doing My Best. She certainly intimidated me into spilling everything I knew.”
Nate lowered his face to hide a fleeting smile. He could only imagine what McKenna had babbled at the airport.
“Listen,” she said, drawing his attention back to her lips.Don’t go there.Eyes.Not any better.Nose. Cheeks. Chin. Forehead. Where was the safe zone on this distraction? Even her freckles enchanted him. “I’m more than happy to help out while I’m here,” she was saying when he finally settled on the tip of her right ear. “Looks like you’re in the middle of several projects. Surely you could use an extra set of hands.”
“He could,” Gus yelled from the kitchen. “Heard him complaining about that very thing just this morning.”
Nate angled his head toward the kitchen. “Excuse me, but that was a private conversation between me and the goats.”
“Well then, next time don’t blather so loud about it,” yelled Gus.
“Are the goats good listeners? That’s good to know,” said McKenna with the type of smile that said she knew she’d won. She was staying.
“I can’t pay you anything. So if you’re thinking this is a way to earn some extra cash—”
“Not at all.” McKenna lifted her hands. “In fact, I was thinking maybe we could work out some sort of trade deal here. I’m a photographer with a degree in graphic design. I know a thing or two about designing great websites. And no offense, but this place does not have a great website.”
Nate couldn’t argue with that.
“Give me room and board while we wait to hear back about the luggage and ring, and I’ll not only be your extra set of hands, I’ll do what I can to jazz up your mom’s website. With her permission, of course. Also, full disclaimer, I’ll be using any photos I take while I’m here to bulk up my portfolio. I’m hoping to land my dream job in Los Angeles soon.”
“Los Angeles?” Nate folded his arms and leaned on the check-in desk. “Why on earth would you want to move to Los Angeles?”
“Did you not hear the dream job bit?”
Nate sighed. Considering he’d finally landed his dream job in Buffalo, he couldn’t fault a girl for wanting to do whatever it took to land hers. And his mom’s website did need the help. No denying that. Also no denying how much he could use that extra set of hands around here.
He straightened and massaged the kink in his neck. “Fine. I suppose.”
“Can you please contain your enthusiasm? I’d hate to get the wrong impression that you’re excited I’m staying.” She pulled her roller suitcase toward the stairs and continued talking to him over her shoulder. “By the way, a gentleman would offer to carry my luggage up the stairs for me. Just saying.”
“Is that because the gentleman isn’t aware that your room is down the hallway?”
She turned on the bottom step. “My room is downstairs?”
“Down the hallway, left of the kitchen. It’s our wheelchair-accessible room. We also rent that room out to the wild ones when we need to keep them isolated from other guests.”
She shook her head. “You should’ve given up the bench.”
“I should’ve kept driving. Um, excuse me, miss? Just where do you think you’re going?” Nate leaned over the top of the check-in desk.
