Behind Closed Doors (16 page)

Hell, him just coming to Blackfoot Falls was reckless enough. Someone was sure to have seen him. He knew better.

“Of course I have time for you,” she said. “Please, sit.”

He eyed the folding chair. It was old and on the flimsy side. “When do your guys normally clock out?”

“Soon. I can tell them to leave now. They’ll still be paid so they won’t care.”

“No, it’s all right.” He shoved a hand through his hair, pissed at himself. He was being such a thoughtless jerk. “I didn’t consider the possibility one of them might mention that I was here to Liberty.”

“They don’t interact with her. Especially now that she’s spending her afternoons at your place.”

Nathan glanced around the makeshift office. The room was small, yet she’d managed to make the space work for her. A pair of filing cabinets doubled as a counter for the microwave and supply bins. Her desk needed some help, although he doubted the sheet of plywood was permanent.

He spotted what he was looking for...too bad the only other chair was just like the one he was afraid to sit on. Slowly he lowered himself to the metal seat. “I hope this sucker can hold my weight.”

“It will,” she said, in spite of her nervous expression as she watched him settle in. “I would’ve offered you my chair, but I busted a spring yesterday so it’s not all that comfy.”

He smiled at the speck of glaze clinging to the corner of her mouth. He wouldn’t tell her. Given the chance, he’d lick it off later.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Go ahead. Say it.”

“What?”

“Why you think I busted a spring. Too many cinnamon rolls?”

He laughed. “Hell, no. I’d never say anything like that. Think I’m stupid?”

Beth did that cute thing with her lips. Not exactly a pout, but sort of.

“I’ll tell you what I was thinking. Later. When nobody’s around.”

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. “I’m sending them home,” she said, and got up.

He caught her arm as she came around the desk. “Yeah, that wouldn’t make them wonder what I’m doing here.”

“Right.” She glanced down at his hand slowly moving up her forearm. “I should give you a tour. You know, show them we have nothing to hide.”

“Don’t we?”

“You know what I mean.”

“For the record, I’m sorry I didn’t call ahead.” Nathan drew back his hand. “We should have met elsewhere.”

Beth stared at him for a moment, then glanced at the open doorway. “I think it’ll be fine, so we might as well take that tour.”

He got to his feet and followed her out to the hall. Her jeans fit her well, though he doubted any pair could do her justice. The woman had a world-class ass. He knew firsthand, and he’d better stop remembering right now.

“We’ll go this way,” she said, leading him away from the hammering. “Three of the rooms are almost finished.”

“I noticed you’ve had some roof work done since last week.”

“Yes, and the back siding has been replaced.”

The narrow doorways and hall, the low ceilings and small windows all spoke to the age of the building. He supposed most people would consider it quaint. Made him feel hemmed in. They couldn’t even walk side by side comfortably, which forced him to stay behind her. He wasn’t complaining. The mesmerizing sway of her hips kept him plenty occupied, but he still wasn’t clear on what they were doing. Whether she was really giving him a tour or trying to get away from the noise and workers at the other end.

Even though she hadn’t slowed, he ducked his head for a quick look in a room they were passing. It was tiny, with white walls and a nice wooden floor that needed minimal refinishing. Just like the hall, the room was bare of litter and construction debris.

She was waiting for him just a few feet away. “I know the windows are too small, but I’ve decided to leave them alone. There’s no view from these east rooms, only Main Street. I’m concentrating on the parlor and west room windows since they face the Rockies. Unless it’ll be a bigger headache to swap them out later down the road. Any thoughts?”

“Sounds reasonable. What does Mike think?”

She frowned. “Mike?”

Much as Nathan wanted to take back the question, it was too late. What a sorry jackass. The words were already out there. No point in pulling his toe out of the water. “Burnett. Didn’t you meet with him last night?”

“Oh, that Mike. He’s a finish carpenter. I doubt he’d—” Her brow furrowed, she studied a small spot on the wall, then smoothed her palm over the new drywall. “Huh. You’re right. It wouldn’t hurt to get his opinion. Mike’s smart, and wow, talk about good with his hands. I bet he knows a lot about general construction, too. I’ll offer to buy him dinner and see if he won’t mind me picking his brain.”

Nathan just stared at her as he continued to kick himself. He hadn’t behaved this awkwardly since high school. One night of great sex and he’d become a blithering idiot.

Shit.

Hell, if she
was
seeing Burnett, Nathan had no right to complain. Exclusivity wasn’t something he could expect. They weren’t in a relationship. Far from it. The polar opposite, now that he thought about it. Which sucked...the not being exclusive part anyway.

“Hey,” she said. “Come here.” She took his hand and tugged him closer. “Feel this.”

“What?”

She pressed his palm against the wall. “This shouldn’t be there. You feel those bumps?”

Hard to focus on anything but her pink lips and the sweet scent of her skin. But he managed to nod.

“I mean, obviously I know the place is old and I want to maintain the historic feel. Maybe these small imperfections will help...” Her gaze faltered, and she lowered her hand from his.

So it wasn’t just him. They were standing too close to each other. Her warm breath hit him where he’d left the top of his shirt unbuttoned. Her body heat seemed to be coming at him in waves, rolling over him, causing all kinds of havoc.

Yet she hadn’t moved away. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could refrain from kissing her.

Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug and she finally stepped back. “I’ll leave the bumps alone. If they bother me too much I’ll cover them with pictures.”

Forcing his attention back to the wall, he followed the slight ridge with his thumb. He needed the time-out for his damn cock to settle down. “Are there many areas like this?”

She shrugged again. “I noticed one earlier.”

“Whoever worked on this should’ve told you.”

“Ideally.” Beth sighed. “See, that’s the thing. I’m used to a certain level of professionalism that I haven’t found in Blackfoot Falls. Let me finish,” she said when he smiled. “I’m not being bitchy, really I’m not...”

“I know.” He rubbed her arm, then urged her to keep walking farther away from the hammers. “I brought in a general contractor from Kalispell to build my house. Most of the people he subcontracted came with him. Guys around here can be hard workers. But they’re ranchers or cowboys. They have a plumbing problem or leaky roof, they patch things up without worrying about making it look pretty.”

She stopped at the next room, peeked in and let out an exasperated sigh. Half the walls were covered with red flocked wallpaper. The rest had been stripped, revealing several small holes in the dingy plaster. Looked as if they might’ve come from bullets.

“This has been my project. Removing wallpaper. I still have four rooms left.” She tilted her head to the side. “Maybe I should leave the rest. Just for flavor.”

“No.” Nathan laughed. Even he knew that red wallpaper was nasty. “I’ll help, if you want.”

She turned to him, blinking. Puzzled. As if she hadn’t understood. “Really? You’d do that?”

“Yes.” And dammit, he’d done it again. Acted without thinking. Him helping her strip wallpaper? He could practically hear the gossip now.

“That is so nice.” She glanced away before he could tell if the sheen in her eyes meant tears were close behind. “I would never take you up on the offer, so you can relax.”

“As long as I’m not causing you grief with your family, I’ll be here anytime you need me.” He watched her swallow. Hard. As if she had a big lump blocking her throat. He wasn’t sure why, though. He wished he could offer more. Even if it meant everyone in two counties speculating about his life, he’d help her if he could. While he still had no desire to feed the local rumor mill, he couldn’t let that stop him from trying to make her life a little easier.

He just hoped she wasn’t getting weepy.

Anne had cried all the time. Mostly when she’d wanted something. Early on he’d figured out the tears were a form of manipulation. Knowing the cause hadn’t changed anything. Either he’d given in to her or walked out of the room, same as always. With Anne, the easy way had been good enough for him.

Beth was different. She was strong and determined, and she stepped up when she was needed. It seemed she kept heaping on responsibility even when she was too weighted down as it was. Now, at least, he understood why. He’d met Candace earlier when she’d dropped off Liberty. It was hard to believe the two women were sisters.

“Nope,” Beth said, continuing to walk. “As much as I appreciate you being such a sport, and God help me, I’ll probably have to kill myself for turning you down, but this project is completely on me.” She stopped again at the end of the hall and gestured through an open doorway. “This is my room.”

He looked inside. And deflated like a popped balloon. He’d gotten excited thinking she’d meant a real room, with a real bed. The light green walls looked freshly painted. Modern-style blinds covered the small window. The oak floor was in good condition, but still needed to be refinished.

Yeah, maybe Mike Burnett could take care of that for her.

Like hell.

Nathan’s mood started migrating south, but he had to admit, he might need to take a few steps back. Who Beth saw was none of Nathan’s business. But if he recalled correctly, Mike was that easygoing guy who’d played baseball in high school and had been popular with the girls. A couple of years younger than Nathan. And hadn’t he married Ellen, whose folks owned S & S Cattle Company?

“Come on.” Beth was frowning at him. “It’s not that bad. Plus, I’m not finished with it.”

“What?” He realized he’d been frowning. “No, it’s nice. Small, though.”

She pointed at the wall. “I’m putting a door there and using the adjoining room as part of my living quarters.”

“That’ll help.” He couldn’t see her being happy here in this tiny space with no view. But then he never would’ve pictured her living in her sister’s house. The night he’d dropped off Liberty had been a shocker in more ways than one. ’Course, that made more sense now, what with no beds at all in this place.

“I found an area rug online that I want,” she said, smiling, her gaze sweeping over the room. “That’s why I went with green walls. I know I did things backward, but it’s my house. My room.”

Her eyes met his. She seemed genuinely happy. What he’d initially mistaken for pride in her handiwork was simple joy. He smiled back and touched her flushed cheek.

“With that mansion of yours, I know this doesn’t seem like much to you...”

“No, that’s not—”

She nipped his objection with a finger to his lips, her eyes bright with pleasure. “Run-down as it is, I own this place. It’s all mine. No one can take it away from me.” Her happiness dimmed, and embarrassment flickered across her face before she turned away. “Acting as my own general contractor is not a mistake I’ll be repeating. I had no idea how much work it would be.” She shrugged. “I probably shouldn’t admit that, since I have my sister and Lib fooled into thinking I’m the smart one in the family.”

“Wait,” he said when she tried to steer them back toward her office. “I’m not done looking around.”

She rolled her eyes, but let him draw her into the room.

“Does the door lock?”

“What?” She pulled her hand from his grasp. “No. Uh-uh. We’re not doing that with the guys still here.”

“No, we aren’t doing
that,
” he agreed, and grinned at her glare. “Will we be able to hear someone come down the hall?”

“Normally, yes. Those guys are never quiet. But now? We wouldn’t hear a peep because that’s the way my life has been going.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”

He rested his hands on her waist, watched excitement flare in her hazel eyes, then pulled her against him as he lowered his head. Their lips touched. Hers softened under the pressure of his mouth, and she leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his chest.

Too late it registered that he should’ve waited. A few more minutes and the workers would be gone. He knew he couldn’t trust himself around her. That was why he’d taken off on Monday for Butte. He could’ve seen Tim Wagner’s Arabians at the next auction. He’d ended up cutting the trip short because he’d been unable to stay away.

She tasted every bit as sweet as he remembered. Some of it was the cinnamon glaze... The thought made him smile and he drew back to look at her.

Her quiet whimper almost masked the sound of someone approaching.

He released her, and motioned with his eyes toward the door, which they’d neglected to close. She froze, listened to the faint voices, then quickly moved around him to the window and fidgeted with the blinds.

“I’m surprised you didn’t choose a room that would give you a view of the Rockies,” he said, then tried to clear the hoarseness from his throat.

“I considered it.” Beth was quick on the uptake, responding casually. She’d turned in his direction but carefully avoided making eye contact. Her cheeks were still flushed. “I need paying customers more than I want a view. Anyway, I’ll be too busy to be hanging out in here much. The bed-and-breakfast concept literally means providing breakfast. Go figure.”

“You look thrilled.”

“Tickled pink.” She shrugged. “Put a gun to my head and I can cook. But baking? I’m hopeless. If Marge can supply enough muffins and rolls, I’ll buy them from her. Otherwise, I’ll hire someone to handle breakfast. Or maybe I should stick to making the place a no-frills inn. Any thoughts on that?”

“Can’t help you there.”

Beth glanced past him. “Done for the day?” she asked, and Nathan turned to see a short, stocky guy nod. The young man standing behind him avoided eye contact and stared at his boots.