She dumped the ground coffee straight from the can. Who needed measurements? Jax. She groaned and hit the “start” button then marched into her bathroom and brushed her teeth. Glancing in the mirror, she curled her upper lip.

  Her hair looked like an owl’s nest. She had grooves in her flesh from the stupid quilt, and half her mascara stained her cheeks. After brushing out the knots, she washed her face and threw on a hoodie, sweat pants, and fuzzy socks. The coffee pot beeped, and she slid across the linoleum, righted herself and poured a cup.

  The sawing stopped.

  She tiptoed to the front door. Her neighbor—Ms. Hadderly—was out there talking with Jax. He nodded a few times then walked into her yard. They stared up at the tree.

  What was up there? Pressing her nose to the cold pane, steam from her coffee fogging it up, Cassie strained to see whatever it was they were looking at. Jax headed toward his truck and pulled out a ladder.

  Oh no.

  Yancey must have gotten loose. She hurried through the kitchen and out the back door since her porch was torn up. She shivered. The sun had barely peeked through the dusty clouds, leaving the morning air frigid at best.

  Jax was climbing the ladder into the sweet gum tree. Ms. Hadderly waved at Cassie, and she raised her coffee cup in return.

  “I don’t see a cat, ma’am.”

  A cat?

  “No, honey. He’s not a cat. He’s a bird.”

  “A bird?”

  Cassie snickered into her coffee cup. “They have wings and tweet,” she hollered. “Sometimes they crap on your windshield. Ever been crapped on, Jax?”

  “I don’t do subtext, Cassidy,” he hollered back from the leaves. She had a good look only at his knees on down.

  “But you obviously understand it,” she countered and moved closer.

  Ms. Hadderly shook her head. “All that commotion had Yancey worked up, so when I opened the door to see what was going on, he flew out. His wings are clipped, so he can’t go far.”

  “Ow!” A few curses ensued. “Sorry, ma’am.”

  “Oh my.” Ms. Hadderly’s eyes grew rounder than the inside of a toilet paper tube.

  “He’s rude.”

  “No, I’m just afraid Yancey got him. He’s known to peck.”

  Somewhere up where tree tops glistened, Jax Woodall was getting pecked to death. He had it coming.

  Leaves fluttered.

  Curses strung like streamers.

  And Yancey squawked like Jax was wringing his neck. Knowing Jax, he was.

  “Got him!”

  Jax climbed down, keeping his arm out wide. “Here ya go. Sorry about the noise.”

  Ms. Hadderly took her big fat cockatoo and smiled. “It’s okay. Cassie needs a good man to take care of her.”

  Oh brother.

  Ms. Hadderly went inside, and Jax heaved a sigh. That was when Cassie noticed his cheek. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Probably to death. Friggin’ bird,” he grouched.

  “Come in and I’ll Neosporin it.”

  “You think you can get tetanus from a bird?”

  “You can get lice.”

  He scratched his head as she walked into the kitchen. She dug her first aid kit out from the cabinet above her refrigerator and rummaged through it. “Did it hurt?”

  “It stung, I’m not gonna lie.”

  She held in a laugh. “Good.”

  He snorted.

  She cleaned the few little wounds on his scruffy cheek and dabbed the Neosporin onto the minor cuts. So close to his face, she felt his breath on her cheek. But she was mad at him. He had no right to unload on her. To call her a nag and whatever else he ranted about. It was unfair. Cassie had to ignore the attraction. She’d been in rotten relationships before. Ones that ended in yelling and cops being called. She’d lived in a house with a mom who ranted and raved. No. She wasn’t going to ever do that again.

  She had the right to something better. The Bible told her so. No settling.

  “Why are you fixing my porch?”

  “It needs fixed.”

  She capped and stored the cream and threw away the bloody wipes she’d used to clean the cuts. “I didn’t ask you to. And after the way you acted on Thursday? If I wanted to see you, I’d have come into work on Friday.” Her voice rose. “You didn’t even call to check on me. Forget the fact we might have some kind of weird friendship thing going on, but I’m your employee! What if I’d wrecked my truck?”

  “What do you want to me say, Cassidy?” He streaked his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry for crapping on your windshield!”

  “I don’t do subtext,” she smarted back.

  Jax invaded her personal space, his nose almost touching hers. “But you obviously understand it.”

  “Fix my porch, now that you’ve sawed it in two.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine.” She whirled around, heart beating out of her chest. How could she be that angry and attracted at the same time?

  ***

  Cassidy’s back to him, Jax wasn’t sure whether he should turn her around and kiss her, or ask her what she wanted out of him. He’d felt terrible. He never meant to take his frustration over Lori out on her. He just wanted to do something special for Daisy Ray. He wanted to be the kind of dad to make her proud, and he was failing. Partly because of himself and partly because Lori wanted him to, it seemed.

  The only way he knew how to make it up to Cassidy was to come and fix her porch, hope that she’d see he did care—as much as he could without getting too invested. He’d given her space Friday. Didn’t blame her for not coming in. Heck, he wouldn’t have come in. Jax hadn’t called her because he hadn’t been sure what to say exactly. Sorry didn’t seem like enough. It hadn’t been with Lori—she’d said it herself and then gone and had an affair.

  “Sorry isn’t good enough, Jax.”

  Okay, he’d suck up his pride and say it anyway. Without the crapping on her windshield part. “I’m sorry, Cassidy.” God knew he was.

  She nodded, but didn’t turn around.

  He waited a beat to see if she would.

  She didn’t.

  So what was good enough? If not saying sorry. Or fixing her porch. He headed outside to sweat out the aggravation and frustration and the hanging sense of disappointment in himself for being a total jerk.

  After cutting the boards in half, he crawled under the porch and knocked them out with a battering ram. He gathered up the old boards and piled them in her front yard then removed his goggles and mouth mask.

  Cassidy popped out from the side of the house. “I brought you some water. You thirsty?”

  “Yeah.” He took it and swigged down half. “Thanks.”

  “You want some help?”

  “You want to help me a build a porch?” Lori wouldn’t have risked chipping a nail. She’d never taken any interest in what he loved. Never once told him he’d done a good job. Which was why he was always so floored when Cassidy did. Only made it harder to keep her at a distance.

  “Yeah. I mean how many women can say they’ve built their own porch.”

  “I don’t know. Okay. If you’re serious.” Maybe sorry had worked. Just took her a minute to absorb it.

  “Yeah. I’m always serious.”

  He chuckled. “All right. The first thing is the most important thing.”

  “Safety.”

  “No.” He worked at keeping a straight face.

  “Oh.” Eyes wide, she waited for his instruction.

  “When building a porch, you have to do it without making a peep. It disrupts and bows the boards.”

  It took a moment to register, and then she narrowed her eyes, grabbed his water and slung it right in his face, then laughed hysterically. “You are such a jerk!”

  Complete truth. “You expect me to come after you. But I’m not. Not today.” He gave her a serious face.

  She paused then shook her head. “You had that coming and you know it.”

  “Ssssh…” He placed his index finger on her mouth. To hush her as much as to feel the softness of her lips. “We’re about to build a porch.”

  She slowly slipped his finger from her lips and grinned. “Yeah, we are.”

  Good night, he could love this woman.

  If he’d let himself. Which he wouldn’t. Couldn’t risk the pain. Besides, he needed to keep his focus on Daisy Ray. The reason he was here in Illinois in the first place.

  One hour turned into two then four. Cassidy surprised him at every turn. From her quick ability to learn to her willingness to dig in and do the work required. She never complained. Not for lack of yammering; she did plenty of that. He knew more about her affinity for flannel pajama pants and fuzzy socks than any man should. Even one who might be romantically involved with her. Not only did he know how much she loved them, but which ones were her favorite and why. One sock shouldn’t be any different than another. But they were to her. Like little fuzzy people on her feet. Or at least that’s what she’d said.

  He’d listened and maybe tuned out a few times, but mostly he was interested. She had a way of telling stories. No wonder she’d done so well bar tending. You couldn’t help but feel special around her. She talked as if they’d been friends for years. Probably why she was giving him TMI at this very moment.

  “….so if I’m a total crab-fest and whine-bag at the end of the month you know why. Just let it roll off your back. Also, you might want to keep chocolate on hand.”

  “Let’s take a break before you ask me to stock the shop bathroom with feminine products.” Man had to draw a line somewhere. He grabbed a rag from his toolbox and wiped the sweat from his brow.

  Cassidy swigged from her water bottle. “You hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  She glanced around. “It’s nice out. Or I’m so hot sixty-two feels good.”

  He yanked off his work gloves and tossed them on the tool box.

  “You like burgers?”

  Jax nodded.

  “Come on.” She motioned with her head and took off around the side of the house. Jax followed her into the tiny backyard. A few pots of mums lined a slab of concrete. Not much of a patio, but she’d made it nice. “Let’s fire up the grill. I’ve got some hamburger. Yeah?”

  Grilling burgers and building a porch with Cassidy James. Kind of a near-perfect afternoon. Daisy Ray would have made it perfection. But he’d ruined that with his outburst. Sometimes he couldn’t contain it. Like a Coke being shaken until it exploded. He couldn’t even look at Lori without seeing that night. When he’d come home from a fishing trip early. To see her and Daisy Ray. The minute Jax had left for his trip she’d shipped Daisy Ray off for the weekend to her parents’ and…

  “Jax? You don’t have to do the actual grilling if that’s what’s with the look. I’ve been using this bad boy a long time now. In fact, once when I was about thirteen—”

  “No. It’s fine.”

  She studied him, cocked her head. “Tell you what. You sit on that lounger, and I’ll bring you something to drink. Chill while I make the patties.”

  Not a bad idea. He crashed onto the chaise and cupped his hands behind his neck, closing his eyes.

  “Okay then…you’re welcome. I’m glad you like the idea.” Her voice carried what he would consider frustrated amusement.

  He smirked as the door closed behind him.

  If he’d have kept his temper in check, Lori wouldn’t have put the kibosh on his visit and Daisy Ray would be with him. In Chicago of course. Lori didn’t want her down here. As if he’d ever let anything happen to his baby girl. It was more than that though. It was all about the spite. And he didn’t buck her. A whole weekend with his little girl? It was too much time for her to decide she didn’t like him much. If she got bored she might ask to go home. And it would kill him.

  Mom had told him to pray it all through. To remember to hang onto his faith.

  He’d believed he and Lori would get through the rough patch. She had. By sleeping with another man. She’d moved out the next day and filed divorce papers. She was done whether he wanted to be done or not. And he did want to be done. He couldn’t—wouldn’t ever get past the betrayal.

  If you’d let Me help you forgive her, you wouldn’t feel like a shaken Coke bottle, Jax.

  Grabbing his heart where he felt the tug, he opened his eyes. Cassidy stood over him, a smirk on her face. “Did I scare ya?”

  No. Jax had gotten quiet. It was only when he was still he heard that voice. God’s whisper to his soul. One he’d tried to ignore and did a pretty good job of. He wasn’t ready to forgive either of them. He was the one who’d been wronged.

  “No.” She had a glass of… “Is that tea?”

  An eyebrow rose and she grinned. “Oh no. This here is freshly brewed southern sweet tea.” She used an over-drawled accent on ‘southern sweet tea’ but it was cute.

  “Is that right?”

  Cassidy kicked his hip to move over on the chaise. He scooted enough to give her room to sit next to him. That sweet signature scent mingling with a hint of garlic from forming hamburger patties. He’d like to have her for dessert.

  “Mmm…hmmmm.” Flirty eyes fixed on his.

  Nope. He couldn’t go there, as tempted as he was. “I’ll be the judge.” He took the glass and sipped the tea. Sweet surprise slid across his tongue and down his throat. “Not bad, Cassidy. Not bad at all. For a Yankee.”

  She gave him a wooden look. “I googled it. You’re going to die a diabetic, but as long as you’re happy.”

  “Did you taste it?”

  “Uh…no. I don’t need the sugar-shock.”

  “Amen, sister.” He swigged his tea and jerked when she needled his side, some of it dribbling down his chin.

  Cassidy’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as if she’d been let in on the best kept secret. “Are you ticklish, Jax Woodall?”

  Craptastic. “No.”

  “No?” She pressed a finger into his ribs and he jerked again.

  “Stop. You’re diggin’ your nails in.” She got him again and his tea sloshed over his hand. He set it on the concrete. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, darlin.’”

  “Darlin’? Well that’s new.” She went for him again and he grabbed her wrist, then her other.

  “Now whacha gonna do?” He was having way more fun than he should.

  “I could spit in your face.”

  “You could.”

  “Or I could head butt you.”

  “Lotta talkin’, not much doin’.” He wiggled his eyebrows and kept a grip on her delicate wrists, making sure not to hurt her. Calculating ideas flashed in her eyes.

  She yanked her arms—and his—up over his head, tugging her into his face. His heart sped into dangerous levels. “I could ask you nicely,” she purred.

  Jax’s throat went dry.

  “You could.”

  Holding her gaze, Jax worked to guess what she was thinking. Was it the same thing he was? That he’d like to feel her lips against his, taste and see if she was as delicious as he suspected. As much as he’d like to, he couldn’t. One taste would be one too many. He was terrified it wouldn’t satisfy his curiosity, but fuel a ravenous hunger for more of this amazing woman who did crazy things to his head and heart.

  He let go of her wrists and swung off the chaise. “You want me to fire up the grill, or were you serious about knowing how to work it yourself?”

  Cassidy sat still a moment then balled her fist, but not before he caught the tremble. She darted her sight toward the backyard and cleared her throat. “I-I can do it. Or you. Or we don’t even have to grill. If-if you don’t want to. I’ll be back.” She bolted inside, leaving him leaning against the grill completely confused.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Cassie pushed her fork around the pot roast smothered in gravy and half-listened to the conversation circulating the lunch table. She wouldn’t have even shown up to Eden’s house after church this morning, but she’d committed to help decorate the town square for the Fall Festival and they were supposed to discuss the logistics.

  “I’m thinking potted mums everywhere. Purple, yellow, rust, gold. We can take donations after the festival and send them home with whoever wants to give one. Proceeds can go to the widow’s home repair fund.” Audrey slapped a major load of mashed potatoes on her plate. Was she eating for two?

  “Why you smirking?” she asked and glanced at her plate. “I’m pulling a squirrel. Storing up until next Sunday.”

  Gabe laughed. “I cook.”

  “Yeah, but you can’t recreate Eden’s mashed potatoes.”

  “I like the mums idea, Aud.” Eden helped herself to more potatoes, too. “Cassie, you’re kind of quiet today. You feeling okay?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. Just tired, I guess.” Still trying to figure out what happened, or better—what hadn’t happened yesterday. One thing Cassie was good at was reading a man’s signal. Didn’t say she was proud of it, but she was adept at it. Jax had the look. Then he’d gone and rejected her. Not that they should be kissing. He was kind of her boss. Well…he was her boss. Or was he? She had hired herself. Maybe the overexertion had gotten to her, messed with her head. The man had come to fix her porch. He could have just called and apologized. But he didn’t. Then he rescued that stupid bird, and he was ticklish, which was so cute, and the next thing Cassie knew, she wanted to kiss him crazy-mad style.

  “So is that what you plan to do?” Eden asked.

  “What?”

  “The lights? Are you going to string them through the trees like last year?” Eden put her fork down and eyed her. “What’s going on with you for real?”

  Knox grabbed his plate and pointed at Gabe. “That’s our cue. Unless you do melodrama. Which I. Do. Not. Let’s take this into the den and watch the game with Eli.” Gabe followed him out.

  “Check on Rachel while you’re at it, Knox,” Eden called.

  After they left the dining room, Audrey leaned forward. “Is this gonna be melodramatic? Because we all know I definitely do melodrama.”

  Cassie groaned. “It’s Jax.”

  “Ooooh, do tell.” Eden rested her elbows on the table, chin on her fists.

  Cassie hadn’t had many girlfriends in her life except for Adah Alcott, but she hadn’t seen her in years. She fit better hanging with guys. Which was never good, but that was in the past. Having heart-to-hearts with women was new to her. Two sets of eager eyes stayed on her. “I’m really good at men—knowing what they’re thinking.”