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“Fine. Just been doing a lot of crawling around today.”
He reached into the bin and unearthed a half dozen cardboard pieces wrapped in lights. “Why don’t we go get the tree, and I’ll help you with the lights.”
“You don’t need to do that. You look like you’re in the middle of a project.”
“It can wait. The Heron is my first priority.”
“All right.” She stood and put a hand on the rail. “I’m too sore to say no.”
He moved in closer. “Are you sore from working on the porch or from what we did yesterday?” His gaze was steady on her face. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, Shane.” She looked away from his too-intense stare. “You didn’t hurt me.”Not physically.
He tipped up her chin so she’d meet his gaze. “Don’t lie to me.”
She jerked out of his hold and backed up. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He caught her wrist, drawing her back into his personal space. He traced a thumb along a lock of hair that had slipped from her French braid. “I was wrong to do that yesterday.”
She looked out over the water. She didn’t want to know he’d regretted touching her.
“Kendall.”
Sunshine.
Not Sunshine. The sharp longing stabbed her in the chest. God, she missed him. Missed his touch, missed his gruff voice and dry humor. Making sure all the things she craved didn’t show on her face, she put on her easy smile. “It’s fine, Shane. Yesterday was just two people scratching an itch.” She shrugged carelessly. “Just fucking, right?”
A muscle in his jaw rippled, and he dropped her hand. “As long as we have that straight. I’ll go get my keys.”
She rubbed weary eyes and went inside for her purse. “Mom,” she called out. “We’re heading into town. Got a grocery list?”
Lily came around the corner, a sheet in her hand. “Just a few things. We’ll need to do a big order for the guests later in the week.” She stopped in front of Kendall. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She took the list.
“Don’t take that tone with me, young lady.”
Kendall clamped her jaw tight and went to the sink. She stuffed the list in her purse, then opened the cupboard and shook out a few ibuprofens. She filled a glass of water from the tap and swallowed it down in greedy gulps, hoping she could get rid of the anger with her thirst.
She stared out the window. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just tired.”
“If by tired you mean lovesick, then yes.”
“Mom, please.”
“Have you tried to talk to him?”
“Can we not do this now? I’ve got to go.”
“Go on, then.”
Kendall fled, meeting Shane at the truck. She got in without a word and studied the landscape. She noticed more than just the front fence had been fixed. A rough-hewn bench had been added next to the water. “Did you use the lumber from the old fences to make that bench?”
“Yes. Some of it was still good to use.”
“I appreciate it.”
“It’s practical to repurpose the wood. The trails are a nice walk and good for snowmobiles. I figured it was a good spot to sit and look out at the water.”
