Six
Two days had changed everything.
Forty-eight hours had switched the course of her thinking and made Cassie question every single thing she knew.
Yesterday, Haydan had treated her with utmost respect. Like a gentleman at every turn while they were in town. He’d bought her a set of old mason jars and a stack of wood someone had cut from a colonial house that was being torn down. Even though she’d had money, he’d insisted on paying for her hot dog lunch so he could call it their first date. He tickled her to death with how cute he was. Big brawny grizzly bear, catering to his mate. His hand had always stayed on her. Lower back, around her shoulders, holding her hand.
Haydan orbited her, as if she were precious to him.
As confusing as it all was, his touch felt good now. Important even. His patience was also making her care for him more. This was dangerous territory. If she opened her heart to a man, he could destroy her. But the more she waited for Haydan to screw up and disappoint her, the more he surprised her in the best ways.
Last night, he’d taken her to 1010 and tucked her in before he kissed her forehead, lips lingering for a moment, then left. She’d fought the gnawing, instinctual urge to booty call him in the middle of the night, because whatever he was doing and whatever timeline he was working, was actually making her feel better—more steady and even.
This was good for her, taking things slower with him.
And this morning he’d stood between her and Harper when the child had Changed and blasted an arc of fire. He’d taken a burn across his chest to protect her. More proof that Matt had chosen wisely when he’d handpicked a mate for her.
“You want to see the landing where I’ll be working?” Haydan asked her.
They’d just finished a picnic lunch of sandwiches and chips near the bonfire, and currently Bo was eating the rest of her leftover bread crust. The other lumbermen and women had gone up to move equipment to a new job site Damon Daye had assigned them. Logging season was starting tomorrow, but Tagan had told Haydan to take today off and spend it with Cassie, a gift she was infinitely grateful for.
The more time she spent alone with Haydan, the more she liked him, and the more she liked herself.
“I do want to see it, but I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You won’t be. Go put on your hiking boots, and I’ll grab us a couple of waters.”
She rolled up out of the neon green plastic chair by the barren fire pit and made her way toward 1010 as Haydan jogged off in the direction of his singlewide.
Movement caught her attention in Riley’s shed, though, and Cassie made her way to the open door. Inside, Riley was squatting in front of a chair, running a paint-tipped brush down the leg of it. The fabric had little cartoon birds and trees in different shades of blue and silver, and the paint job Riley was doing was an antique white finish.
“That looks really good.”
“Thanks,” Riley said, turning with a ready smile. She blew a strand of short, dark hair out of her face. “I usually work on the front lawn, but it’s cool enough today to work in here.”
“Can I ask a favor?”
Riley stood and set her small can of paint on a work bench, then hooked her hands on her hips. “Anything. Shoot.”
“Can I possibly use your workshop and your tools? I’ll pay you for any materials I use. It should be just some wood glue and a few screws.”
“Sure, and don’t worry about paying me back. What are you making?”
“I was thinking about making those mason jars into little shabby chic candle holders. Maybe attach some of that old wood Haydan got me onto the back of them so someone could hang them on a wall.”
“Like a country sconce?”
“Exactly.”
A grin split Riley’s face. “Hell yes, a girl after my own heart. That sounds awesome. If you ever want to sell stuff like that, my customers eat up shabby chic décor. Just let me know, and I’ll add it to
Two days had changed everything.
Forty-eight hours had switched the course of her thinking and made Cassie question every single thing she knew.
Yesterday, Haydan had treated her with utmost respect. Like a gentleman at every turn while they were in town. He’d bought her a set of old mason jars and a stack of wood someone had cut from a colonial house that was being torn down. Even though she’d had money, he’d insisted on paying for her hot dog lunch so he could call it their first date. He tickled her to death with how cute he was. Big brawny grizzly bear, catering to his mate. His hand had always stayed on her. Lower back, around her shoulders, holding her hand.
Haydan orbited her, as if she were precious to him.
As confusing as it all was, his touch felt good now. Important even. His patience was also making her care for him more. This was dangerous territory. If she opened her heart to a man, he could destroy her. But the more she waited for Haydan to screw up and disappoint her, the more he surprised her in the best ways.
Last night, he’d taken her to 1010 and tucked her in before he kissed her forehead, lips lingering for a moment, then left. She’d fought the gnawing, instinctual urge to booty call him in the middle of the night, because whatever he was doing and whatever timeline he was working, was actually making her feel better—more steady and even.
This was good for her, taking things slower with him.
And this morning he’d stood between her and Harper when the child had Changed and blasted an arc of fire. He’d taken a burn across his chest to protect her. More proof that Matt had chosen wisely when he’d handpicked a mate for her.
“You want to see the landing where I’ll be working?” Haydan asked her.
They’d just finished a picnic lunch of sandwiches and chips near the bonfire, and currently Bo was eating the rest of her leftover bread crust. The other lumbermen and women had gone up to move equipment to a new job site Damon Daye had assigned them. Logging season was starting tomorrow, but Tagan had told Haydan to take today off and spend it with Cassie, a gift she was infinitely grateful for.
The more time she spent alone with Haydan, the more she liked him, and the more she liked herself.
“I do want to see it, but I don’t want to be in the way.”
“You won’t be. Go put on your hiking boots, and I’ll grab us a couple of waters.”
She rolled up out of the neon green plastic chair by the barren fire pit and made her way toward 1010 as Haydan jogged off in the direction of his singlewide.
Movement caught her attention in Riley’s shed, though, and Cassie made her way to the open door. Inside, Riley was squatting in front of a chair, running a paint-tipped brush down the leg of it. The fabric had little cartoon birds and trees in different shades of blue and silver, and the paint job Riley was doing was an antique white finish.
“That looks really good.”
“Thanks,” Riley said, turning with a ready smile. She blew a strand of short, dark hair out of her face. “I usually work on the front lawn, but it’s cool enough today to work in here.”
“Can I ask a favor?”
Riley stood and set her small can of paint on a work bench, then hooked her hands on her hips. “Anything. Shoot.”
“Can I possibly use your workshop and your tools? I’ll pay you for any materials I use. It should be just some wood glue and a few screws.”
“Sure, and don’t worry about paying me back. What are you making?”
“I was thinking about making those mason jars into little shabby chic candle holders. Maybe attach some of that old wood Haydan got me onto the back of them so someone could hang them on a wall.”
“Like a country sconce?”
“Exactly.”
A grin split Riley’s face. “Hell yes, a girl after my own heart. That sounds awesome. If you ever want to sell stuff like that, my customers eat up shabby chic décor. Just let me know, and I’ll add it to
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