Jake and Emily headed back out to the truck, waving to familiar faces on the way.
“Thanks for the save,” he told Emily as they crossed the parking lot on the way to his truck.
She bumped her shoulder against his side. “It’s going to be okay. We got this.”
When they reached his truck, he unlocked the passenger door and then snatched his hat off her head and stuck it on his. She watched him with a look of awe. “Are you staring at me because the hat looks better on me?” he joked.
She shook her head. “I’m just really impressed by how you take care of everyone around here. You’re like Splendid Lake’s very own caped crusader.”
He snorted.
“Seriously, you are. You’re helping the downtrodden and taking care of neighbors. You’re kind of amazing.”
He rolled his eyes. “Get in the truck.”
“Yes, Superman.” She saluted, and he laughed.
Later that afternoon Jake crouched on the roof of the barn and swiped the back of his arm over his forehead and his face. He glanced back toward where Vince, Rico, and Eddie hammered plywood to replace the rotted boards. The afternoon sun was brutal, and he was convinced it was at least a hundred and fifty degrees.
Jake took a long draw from his bottle of water and moved to the edge. Below him, Emily sat on a stool and wrote in her notebook. He grinned as he recalled how she’d begged and pleaded, trying to convince him that she was perfectly capable of hammering pieces of plywood. While he’d been impressed with her enthusiasm, he told her there was no way he was going to allow her to stand on the roof and risk her life.
An amusing argument ensued, during which she lectured him on equal rights, girl power, and how she’d take all the necessary safety precautions, and Jake had somehow managed not to smile at how adorable she was. Finally, Emily conceded, and then shesettled on a stool and spent the next couple of hours pouting and drawing while he and the orchard employees worked.
“Hey,” he called down to her. “How are things down there?”
She tented her hand over her eyes and squinted up at him. “Boring. Why don’t you take a break?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Jake pivoted toward where the three other men worked. “You guys up for a break?”
They all nodded and wiped their foreheads.
“Let’s call it a day and get back to it tomorrow,” Jake said, and they all agreed. “Thanks for your help today.”
After gathering their tools, the men climbed down the ladder. Once on the ground, Jake thanked the workers again and then stowed the tools and supplies.
Emily linked her arm with his. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Jake allowed her to steer him through the orchard, and soon they were out by the dock. He breathed in the fresh scent of the lake and scanned the path leading to her childhood home. “You want to take a walk over there?”
“Over where?” She scrunched her nose and turned her back to him.
“To your folks’ house,” he told her gently. “Maybe it would be good for you to go visit it. I’ll stay with you the entire time.”
She kicked off her Birkenstocks and then began to yank off her shirt, revealing a black tank top, before she placed her phone on the dock.
“Whoa!” He tried not to stare at how the tank top hugged her curves. “What are you doing?”
She held her hand out to him. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?” He lifted it from his pocket.
She took it and set it on the dock next to hers. “We’re going for a swim. Take off your shoes.”
He did as he was told and kicked off his sneakers and socks. Then he reached up behind his neck and pulled off his T-shirt.
Her eyes meandered over his chest for a few moments before she snatched his hat off his head and dropped it beside their shoes and shirts.
Then she grinned. “You first,” she said, pushing him toward the end of the dock.
