Chapter 2

2

DENVER

B ryce sent this woman here. It had to be Bryce.

I was being pranked. That was the only explanation for why this gorgeous redhead with curves for days was now sprawled on the floor next to me. And surrounding that gorgeous woman was an entire box of spilled nails I’d now have to pick up.

But none of that explained why I was so annoyed right now. No, that would be something I couldn’t put my finger on. It was the fact that I was more worried about this woman’s safety than how she’d messed up my work site.

“Are you okay?” I asked, standing over her, hand on each hip.

Her eyes were closed as she sat, legs in front of her. She wore shorts, which was wise in the heat but not so smart when there were a bunch of sharp nails all around.

“Fine, she said. “Just embarrassed.”

And with those words, the last of my irritation crumbled. Before I moved to Rosewood Ridge, I’d grown used to women acting weird around me, starting in middle school but progressing well into adulthood.

I knew the signs a woman was trying to impress me. But the whole thing just made me feel self-conscious today. It also made me want to know exactly what she was thinking.

“Here.” I held out a hand. “I’ll help you up.”

I realized my mistake as soon as she slid her hand into mine. There it was again—a rush of warmth that went through me at the feel of my skin against hers. Nothing like that had ever happened before, although I’d certainly lusted over women based on far less than our hands touching.

With one firm tug, I had her on her feet, but she immediately removed her hand and crouched, snatching up clusters of nails that she rested on the palm of her hand.

“I’ll get those,” I said.

She shook her head. “I made the mess. I’ll clean it up. It’s like a game.”

“Yeah, my grandma had a game like that when I was a kid,” I said. “But they were plastic sticks, not sharp metal that can draw blood.”

She paused and looked up at me. “Are you saying you’re worried about me?”

The smile that teased the corners of her lips went straight to my dick. Damn, this woman was pushing all the right buttons without even trying.

“I’m not having one of these volunteers get hurt on my watch,” I said.

That was exactly what I’d told my buddy Bryce. I wanted to work alone. I could get far more accomplished just moving from item to item on my list than with volunteers. I’d have to describe what needed to be done, then follow them around to make sure it was up to par.

But this wasn’t about my responsibility as an unwilling volunteer coordinator. No, this had everything to do with the tug I felt on my heart every time I looked at her.

This beauty had me thinking about dating again, and I’d cut myself off from that two years ago, when a woman tried to snag me into paying child support on a baby that wasn’t mine. The timeline didn’t even add up. I had to go through the courts to disprove my paternity and get out of it. It cost a hell of a lot of money and stress.

As a result, I was determined to stay away from not just women, but people. Because people pretty much sucked.

“What’s that sound?” my volunteer, who’d still been scooping up handfuls of nails, froze in her movements and looked around.

I froze too and listened as closely as I could. After a few seconds of silence, I heard it. A buzzing sound, like a silenced phone vibrating. My gaze flashed over to the nearby kitchen table, where I’d set my cell while I worked.

“Excuse me,” I said.

When I glanced at the screen, I saw Bryce’s name and snatched up the phone. This would be my chance to congratulate my buddy on a successful prank. But one look at my helper, who was doing her best to fit a bundle of nails back into the box, told me I wouldn’t do that.

I’d have to thank him later for sending a hottie my way. He might see it as a prank, but I saw it as a favor.

“Hey,” I said into the phone, turning my back to my helper. “What’s up?”

Maybe he’d at least tell me the woman’s name. If not, I should introduce myself. It was the polite thing to do. She probably already knew my name, though, since someone had sent her here.

“You busy?” Bryce asked.

“You know I am,” I said. “What do you need?”

“We need someone to drive to Knoxville to pick up the tarps,” Bryce said. “I know it’s a haul. The boss man will reimburse your gas.”

One thing was on my mind as I mulled over his request. The woman behind me. I turned in time to see her gathering another group of nails. I could turn her over to someone else, maybe send her to that trailer where Bryce was doling out work assignments. Or I could take her with me. It was a no-brainer.

“We’re on our way, I said.

I heard Bryce say, “Wait!” as I hit the end button. I knew he was about to ask about the other part of that “we.” I’d been very clear I was working alone, so this would be his chance to get my thoughts on the woman he’d no doubt sent my way.

I didn’t have time for that. I had some tarps to pick up.