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His head barely tilted. “It’s the right thing to do.”
As simple as that. That was Lachlan Kelly. He wouldn’t protect me because he liked me or cared about me. He did the right thing because it was the right thing. Black and white—no gray.
“Is that why you’re going to help me rebuild the deck?”
He straightened, surveying my chaotic work area. “Nah. That’s because I’m ready for some peace and quiet. Can’t take days and days of you hammering and getting nowhere.”
“What a coincidence, I can’t take it either.” I kicked a plank. “Where should we start?”
“You start by going inside. Then you stay out of my way. It’s not a big deck. I can knock it out in my off-hours and be done in a few days.”
Insulted, I stepped into his space. “Stay out of your way? I’m perfectly capable of doing the work with some direction.”
“That’s the thing—” he tugged the end of my braid, “—I don’t want to give direction. It’ll go faster if I’m on my own.”
My eyes narrowed on him. “Instinct tells me to fight you.”
A reluctant half smile escaped before he hardened his jaw. “But you won’t because you’re smarter than that. Fighting me won’t change things, and it really won’t get your deck built.”
“I can’t pay you.”
“I wouldn’t take it if you could.”
Steeling my spine, I clicked my heels together and saluted him. “Aye, aye. Your wish is my command, captain.”
He bent to pick up the nail gun and glanced at me over his shoulder. “Don’t think that’s how that goes, Elsa.”
“I know you know that’s not my name.”
“Do I?” He didn’t spare me a look as he unwound the cord from the gun. Since I wasn’t one to overstay my welcome—the very idea of doing so gave me hives—I took my damn leave.
If he wanted to build my deck on his own, he could have all the fun in the world doing it. I had more important things to do. I didn’t know what they were yet, but I’d find something infinitely better than baking in the sun next to a sweaty, growling beast of a man.
I went inside, hopped up on the kitchen counter, and drank a big glass of water. So what if I now had a perfect view of the backyard? Ialwayssupervised my work crew.
Two days later, the deck was more than halfway done. I’d examined it when Lachlan wasn’t around, and of course, his workmanship appeared meticulous. He was back at it again, having come straight from work on campus to my backyard.
I poked my head out the sliding door. “Do you need a drink?”
He shook his head, marking the place on a board he intended to cut. “I’m good.”
“All right. I’ll be around.”
His head stayed bent, like it always did when I was around. It drove me crazy. At this point, I wasn’t sure if I wanted Lachlan’s attention because I liked him or because he didn’t give it to me. I wasn’t a girl who was used to being ignored. After a year of being casually dismissed by him, I was close to grabbing onto his massive shoulders and demanding he look at me.
I wasn’t there yet, though.
I snagged a bag from the fridge and tromped back outside. “Is your door unlocked?” I asked.
His fingers flexed on his level. “The sliding door is. Why?”
“I have something for Julien.”
His head turned sharply in my direction. “What?”
“That’s between him and me.” Flipping my ponytail, I crossed my yard and his, and stepped into his cool house, feeling Lachlan’s glare on my back the whole way.
“Phantom,” I called. “Get your lazy ass out here.”
