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If Levi hadn’t interrupted them, who knew how far things might have gone? Crystal’s response to the kiss had shocked Zach. He’d gone from zero to sixty the second she’d opened her mouth and leaned into him.
He raked a hand over his head. Crystal drove him up a freaking wall. When she’d said he must think she was ugly, he’d been speechless. He’d never found her more attractive. She didn’t grasp that what he saw in her had nothing to do with flawless skin and a painted-on face. She’d followed through with her promise to detail the room, coming back Friday night, whenshe had to have been exhausted. His mom had sent pictures of the flower border and was thrilled.
The more he got to know Crystal, the deeper he sank. Like it or not, she was working her way into his heart.
Meanwhile, Levi had piled on the guilt when he’d come to help finish the paint job. He’d told Zach how upset Crystal was and accused him of acting like an adolescent. He didn’t need lectures from his playboy brother.
Maybe Levi had a point, as much as it killed him to admit it. Ghosting Crystal wasn’t the most mature way to handle a problem. He needed to thank her for making the room beautiful, clear the air, and keep his damned hands off her.
Movement by the lake caught his eye. Crystal stood on the shore with a fishing rod. No camera crew around and she was outside of camp. She wore khaki pants and a long-sleeved floral shirt. Maybe the sensible clothing would help keep his overactive libido in check. But, that hadn’t worked when they’d painted together.
He hiked closer and paused as she cast a line and reeled it in fast. She must be using a lure, although he’d found that the best bait for bream in shallow water was night crawlers.
Didn’t matter. Right now, he needed to talk to her. He stepped through the brush, making sure she could hear him approach so he wouldn’t startle her.
She turned, caught her breath, and pursed her lips, facing the lake again. “What do you want?”
“To talk to you.” He stopped a few feet away and crossed his arms.
She snorted. “Nice body language. Doesn’t look like it.”
Shit.
He uncrossed his arms and checked out the exposed parts of her skin. Relief washed through him. The meds must haveworked because the rash was almost gone. “I’m here to thank you for helping my mother and to clear the air.”
Her shoulders stiffened, and she faced him. “You’re welcome, and what do you mean clear the air?”
“This thing we have for each other isn’t going anywhere because you’re leaving soon. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable during the time that’s left. Can we please put what happened behind us?”
She lowered her head, studying the grass, or mud, or maybe her feet. After a second, she nodded. “You’re right. We should.”
“Okay, then?” he asked, unsure of how easily she’d accepted his words. So unlike her not to argue.
“Yup, all good.” She grabbed her fishing rod and squinted at the worm wriggling on the hook.
Way too big. That’s what she’d been casting and reeling in fast? His brain screamed at him.Walk away. But he couldn’t. “What are you doing?”
“I’m practicing fishing because we’re filming this scene later. Why?”
“You’re not going to catch one like this. You have to—”
“I admit I don’t know what I’m doing, but I watched some YouTube videos, and I have to try. You aren’t allowed to help me, Zach.” She lowered the worm into the water. “Poor thing. I hate this.”
His heart wrenched for her. He knew what it was like to have to do something that went against his nature. Came with the territory, being in the army. “Hold tight. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“What for?”
He waved a hand and headed to the UTV. He might not be able to help her, but he could show by example. Maybe he needed his head examined because he’d sworn he was going to clear the air and stay away from her. Yet, he couldn’t. He appreciated her grit and determination. Something he hadn’texpected from her. She deserved a fair chance, and he’d give her one.
Back at his house, he grabbed his fishing gear, bait, and a cooler of ice.
He parked a distance away from the area since he didn’t know when Sydney and Trevor were supposed to show up. When he reached Crystal, he noted that she’d switched to an artificial lure, which was still way too big.
She shook her head. “What are you doing? I don’t understand. You aren’t allowed to help me, and I don’t want to break any rules and hurt your business.”
That made him want to help her all the more. “I’m gonna fish.”
“Right here?” She gestured to where he stood. “There’s an entire lake and you’re going to fish right freakinghere?”
