Page 56 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

It seemed like fate kept giving her little pushes in Gabe’s direction. The question was, did she want to test her resolve?

GABE WAS SWEATING like a fiend in the closed shell of the firehouse. Moving around the work benches he’d bought on craigslist and the office furniture in the back was getting to him, and he’d already taken off his shirt, which hadn’t helped as much as he’d hoped.

He wanted to be able to open the shop before his second rent check was due, and that meant working fast and hard. He’d have asked Chase for help, but his friend went to church with his wife, while Gabe hadn’t gone to church since . . . well, ever.

Grabbing a bottle of water from the cooler, he took a few gulps and then poured the rest over his head and shoulders, rubbing the cold liquid across his skin. It felt amazing but did little to alleviate the heat.

Of course, it wasn’t just the stuffiness of the room that was getting to him. It also was sharing a small space with a woman he couldn’t get off his mind.

“Wow, now that’s something you’d see in a chick flick for sure.”

Gabe turned quickly and found Caroline standing in the doorway of his shop, as if his thoughts had brought her to him by force of will alone.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, sounding harsher than he meant.

“I saw the flier design on the fridge, and I was bored,” she said, either oblivious of or ignoring his obvious irritation. He guessed it was the latter.

“So you just thought you would sneak up on me when I’m trying to work?”

“I thought maybe you could use some help moving things and setting up,” she said, her long ponytail flipping back as she shrugged. “But if you don’t need me, I’ll go do something else.” She spun around, her shapely legs walking away from him in dark jeans and knee-high boots. They did nothing to decrease his desire for her.

Eating up the floor between them, he reached out to touch her arm.

“What?” she said without turning around. “I know your first instinct is to be a complete asshole to everyone, but I am not in the mood to take your shit today.”

She turned to face him and for what felt much longer than a few moments, their gazes fused until he could have sworn sparks erupted.

Really? When did you turn into a fucking poet?

He could tell himself that what he felt for Caroline was just physical—his appreciation for a beautiful woman—but he’d be lying his ass off. He was protective of Caroline, wanting her safe and sound. Just being in such close quarters amped up those feelings—feelings he didn’t want or need.

Especially since she doesn’t even know who you really are.

“I know. I know I can be a dick—”

“You said it, not me,” she said.

“But I would appreciate the help.” She seemed to be waiting for something else, and he added, gritting his teeth, “Please.”

“Fine,” she said, heading over to one of the work stools. “Where do you want this?”

Chapter Sixteen

“Where have all the real men gone?”

—Miss Know It All

TWO HOURS LATER, Gabe had to hand it to her; for a short girl, Caroline was damn strong. She hadn’t balked at the weight of some of the steel benches or whined about being hot. She’d grunted, laughed, and groaned along with him as they’d lifted the last bench into place.

“I think I’m done for the day,” he said.

Her voice was breathless as she wiped her hand across her forehead. “I should probably get home to take care of the kittens anyway.”

He grabbed a water from the cooler and handed it to her. As he watched her hold the cold bottle to her neck, his eyes were drawn to the swell of her breasts, shiny with sweat.

“I appreciate the help,” he said.

“No problem. I needed to work off some tension anyway,” she said, finally opening the bottle of water to take a long pull.