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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Cash

Gray’s pickup jolted over the bumpy path that wound through the Treehouse B&B grounds. I bounced on my seat, which was torn and patched with duct tape, while a motorcycle-shaped air-freshener dangled from the rear-view mirror.

“Just park here,” I said as The Roost came into view atop its small hill. There was a graveled parking area off to one side.

The truck gave one last jolt as it hit a dip in the ground and stopped.

“You need some new shocks, dude.”

Gray chuckled. “Would cost more than the whole truck. Just be glad I’m hauling your ass around.”

“Hey, no shade on your baby.” I patted the dash as Gray parked. “I’m damn glad you’re here, and with a monster toolbox and a skill set I don’t have. Thank you, man, seriously.”

Gray raised one eyebrow. “I am getting paid, right?”

“Yeah, of course.” I’d pass along my pay from Declan if need be. Gray was going to make this job ten times easier to pull off.

“Then thank you, ” he said. “I’ve been saving up for another motorcycle. Had to sell my last baby.”

That explained the motorcycle-shaped air-freshener. Gray looked like a guy who knew his way around a bike. I wasn’t one to stereotype, but he rocked the bad boy look with shaggy hair and tats.

We got out of the truck and went around to the back. Gray lowered the tailgate, and I jumped up to unhook the ratchet straps keeping his big-ass metal toolbox on wheels in place.

“This thing couldn’t have been cheap.”

“Nope.” Gray pulled out a ramp, then joined me to help wheel it down. “Cost about as much as the whole truck.”

“How’d you swing that?”

“Eh, tried to make a full-time go of the remodel gig. I was picking up a lot of jobs over the winter. Folks wanted their vacation houses or rentals repaired before the tourist season.”

I nodded. “Makes sense. So, why did you apply at Swallow Adventures, then?”

Gray worked for the boat tour company that Hudson owned—and Sawyer planned to buy into.

“It’s good regular work. These jobs come when they come, and really, I can work around my boat tours most of the time.”

“Well, I’m glad?—”

I broke off with a grunt as we shoved the toolbox over the gravel and onto the dirt path. It wasn’t the smoothest trip, with bits of rock and grass in the mix.

We didn’t talk much as we hauled it up the steps built into the path. Thankfully, it wasn’t too steep of an incline and a hell of a lot less overgrown than the last time I’d seen it.

Declan must have cleared the way.

Gray let out a low whistle. “Who is that? ”

I damn near lost my grip on the toolbox. A few feet ahead of us, Declan wielded a machete, hacking away tall weeds and grass. Though it was still early in the day, he was shirtless—tanned muscles rippling through a surprisingly strong back.

All that gardening has done nice things for his body…

“Cash?” Gray asked with a laugh. “You okay over there?”

No. No, I really wasn’t. I think I swallowed my tongue.

Declan turned, pulling out an ear bud. “I didn’t hear you come up. Sorry. Am I in the way?” He stepped to the side, making room for us to pass, and tossed the machete into the grass. “I hoped to be done before you got here, but these weeds were…”

“A bitch?” Gray supplied with a smirk, his gaze skimming over Declan’s glistening chest.

Declan smiled. He fucking smiled for Gray. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“Come on.” I gave the toolbox a shove, forcing Gray to stop ogling my— Well, my friend, I guess.

Declan didn’t seem to mind Gray looking, which was odd. He’d told me he wasn’t into dating or relationships, but?—

I squashed the stupid jealous thoughts trying to surface. Declan was just being nice to a guy who was going to help remodel his property. I needed to be nice, too.

We rolled the toolbox past Declan and through the front door of the house. As soon as we made it inside, Gray busted out laughing.

“Damn, your face, man,” he said. “You’d think I was swooping in to steal your man.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled. “Did you have to stare? Some people don’t like to be ogled like a sex object, you know.”

This only made Gray laugh harder. “I was not ogling him. Jesus. You’ve got it bad.”

I flipped him the bird, but just then Declan stepped inside. He’d put on his shirt but left it unbuttoned, giving tantalizing glimpses of his chest and stomach. Somehow, that was worse.

“I’m going to serve breakfast to the guests in about half an hour. Do you two want me to bring you something?”

“That would be real nice,” Gray said, stepping forward to extend a hand to shake. “Hi, Declan. I’m Gray. I think Cash is too flustered to make introductions.”

Declan glanced my way, brow slightly furrowed. “Flustered?”

“Ignore him,” I said. “You know I never get flustered.”

Declan chuckled. “That’s true. You’re the most unflappable person I know.”

“Really?” Gray murmured. “ Interesting .”

I shot him a warning glare, and he raised his hands with a shit-eating grin. “I believe I’ll have a look around and give you two a minute.”

Once he was out of sight, Declan said, “What was that about?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Gray has experience with remodeling work. He knows what he’s doing so you won’t have to worry I’m going to screw this up.”

Declan frowned. “I wasn’t worried about that. I trust you, Cash.”

My heart squeezed. “Really? Because you once said I didn’t take anything seriously, and I just wanted you to know that I take this— I take you— very seriously.”

Declan stepped close enough I could smell the grass and sweat clinging to him. “I never should have said that to you. It was wrong.”

“I know why you would think?—”

“I was wrong,” he cut in, his eyes holding mine captive. They were more compelling even than his naked chest had been. Because in them, I could see so much emotion. “I’m sorry.”

My breath hitched. Jesus. What was wrong with me? It wasn’t that big of a deal. Yes, I wanted Declan to believe in me. To trust me. But I was used to people underestimating me. Used to being seen as the one-dimensional party boy, the flirt, the fuckboy around town.

Declan hesitantly cupped my shoulders. “I want to hug you, but I’m all sweaty and?—”

I pushed into his arms, hooking my arms around his back. “I don’t care about that.”

“Okay,” he said softly, one hand stroking down my back. “Thanks for doing this for me, even though I didn’t always treat you right.”

“You treat me fine,” I mumbled into his shoulder. “Better than fine.”

The hug lingered. As my emotions settled, I became more aware of his body against mine. I wanted to slip my hands under his shirt and stroke over that sweaty skin. Maybe kiss his neck, then along his jaw…

I pulled away. “We should get started.”

Declan’s arms dropped to his side, and I could have sworn a look of regret passed over his face. “Yeah, of course.”

My gaze dipped to his chest then away. I bit my bottom lip hard to hold in the flirty comments that would love to escape.

“Do you really find me that attractive?” Declan asked, sounding baffled.

My gaze jerked to his. I wasn’t shy in the least, but knowing that Declan didn’t return the attraction made it more exposing than usual for me. I swallowed hard.

“You already know I do, but I’m sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. I’m trying to tone it down.”

“I’m not uncomfortable.” He sounded surprised. “I know you’ll respect my wishes. It’s just… You could have any man you want. I don’t know why you’d pick me out of all of them.”

“Maybe those men are too easy.”

Declan chuckled. “Well, that’s one thing I’ll never be.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m okay with that. We’re really not so different.”

He looked incredulous. “How do you figure that?”

“Well, people don’t see me for all that I am, and I’m guessing it’s the same for you. But I see you, Declan, and I still like you. And maybe…you like me too.”

Declan was the one flustered this time. He reddened with an adorable blush and pulled his shirt closed. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. You’d be better off focusing on someone like your friend Gray.”

“Gray?” I snorted. “No. Not happening.”

“Real nice,” Gray said, emerging from the hallway. I didn’t want to think about how much he’d overheard. “I’m considered a fairly attractive guy, I’ll have you know.”

That was modest, considering he had the facial structure of a leading man in Hollywood, even with his rough edges.

“Meh,” I said. “Been there, done that.”

At Declan’s horrified look, I clarified, “Not with Gray specifically. Just guys like him.”

Shit. That wasn’t much better judging by Declan’s expression.

“Uh, right. I should…” Declan waved a hand toward the door and beat a swift retreat.

“Smooth,” Gray said as he rejoined me in the living room.

“Yeah, you don’t have to say it. I always become an idiot around him.”

“That’s cute. You think you’re not an idiot the rest of the time.”

“Rude!” I slugged him in the arm, and the fucker barely flinched.

He chuckled. “Seriously, man, you two should go for it already. You’re both putting off some very needy vibes.”

“It’s complicated,” I said.

He rolled his eyes. “So make it simple.”

Oh, if only I could. If only I could press Declan to a wall and kiss him and make him believe I’d accept whatever he wanted to give me. But then, was that true? I wasn’t doing the greatest job of accepting only friendship, not when I only wanted to get closer to him every time we were together.

Still, Declan hadn’t denied that he liked me. His eyes seemed to plead for me to give him something he didn’t know how to express. I wasn’t ready to give up on the idea that maybe we could have something.

And so what if it looked different from other relationships? I’d never seriously dated anyone before. Being with Declan always would have been different for me. Something deeper and meaningful.

As long as I had a hand and toys, I could get the sexual release I needed. I’d been doing it for months, hadn’t I?

But it was all a moot point if Declan left Swallow Cove.

With a sigh, I turned to Gray. “Where do you think we should start?”

“Well, we’re still waiting on cabinets for the kitchen, so I think we should start in the living room. Get the floor patched up. Get up on the roof and track down the leak, so it doesn’t just keep damaging the walls.”

Declan had cleared the place of trash and broken glass, but now the damage to some of the flooring was even more evident.

I nodded. “And all this paneling?”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the rustic wood planks of a cabin, but the 1960s imitation paneling that covered the walls.

He wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, that’s pretty outdated. The best bet is to pry it off the sheetrock. It’s glued, essentially. If we’re careful, we can preserve the sheetrock, sand it down, and then paint it.” He gazed around with a considering look. “It would be kind of awesome to give this the cabin vibe though, considering the original wood floors. We could do some wainscoting over the bottom third, give it a more updated panel there? Maybe a lighter wood to keep the room brighter since the flooring is darker?”

I nodded. “I’ll have to talk it over with Declan first, but I think that sounds good.”

Gray’s lips twitched, but thankfully he refrained from teasing me about my Declan obsession. Good thing too, because I needed his expertise and he might quit if I kicked his ass.

“We’ve got plenty to keep us busy until we reach that point,” he said. “Do you know where Declan keeps the ladders around here?”

“He’s got a garden shed. We can try there.”

He nodded. “All right, let’s get to work.”