Ryder measured the wood again, marked with a pencil the spot he needed to cut, and let the tape snap back into the holder. This cabinet was going to be the centerpiece of the entire Davenport Hall and the first thing anyone saw when walking in.
It had to be perfect.
Which was why, despite the time-consuming process, the piece was custom made, right down to the blood and sweat he was putting into it. From the design to the intricate crafting, everything about this one piece was tasteful and elegant.
He took another measurement, glanced at the plans for the design, and made a few more marks.
What’s Whitney doing right now?
Jesus, where had that thought come from? He ran a hand over his brow, then leaned over the workbench and continued with his task.
The workbench was the perfect height. He could hop Whitney right up, toss her legs around his waist, and be inside her in a millisecond—
He flicked his pencil away and took a deep breath. He needed to get his mind right and focus. But damn it, he could still feel her. Smell her on his skin. She was lingering in his brain, his dreams, and his body.
He stared at the massive project in front of him and commanded himself to focus. Yet the one truth he’d known since the other night with her was ringing clear:
He was still thinking about next time he’d see her.
“Hey,” Huck said, coming up behind him and slapping down a stain sample on the cabinet. “Davenport just called and said he wants to go with this lighter stain color,” Huck tapped the sample, “instead of the darker.”
Ryder exhaled and grabbed up the card. “Glad he changed his mind before I started.”
“Yeah,” Huck agreed.
Ryder unhooked his tool belt and adjusted his hat.
“You’re leaving?” Huck asked.
“I’m going to get the stain now. I need a breather.” Which was the understatement of the damn day. He needed to clear his head, and a quick trip to the store was a good excuse as any. So long as he stayed away from the diner, everything should be fine.
It only took him a few minutes to go to the store and grab the color, but already he was feeling better. With the item in hand, he looked over the selection of wood stains—
When a pair of sexy legs in cutoff shorts caught his eye.
Whitney.
She was looking at the mini paint cans, and Ryder couldn’t help but slink down the aisle closer to her. She took down a can and bit her lip while she looked it over, only to put it back and examine another one.
He was convinced right then that everything the woman did was sexy. Even looking at paint.
“Looking for something in particular?” he asked.
She jumped a little, startled by him, and he grinned. Catching her off guard was a special kind of delight.
“Just some paint,” she said.
“Pretty small job if you’re only looking at the tiny sample sizes.”
“There’s some chips and marks on some of the booths at the BBQ. I thought I could patch them up. Penny thinks it’s a great idea.”
Ryder took a step closer, it was his turn to be surprised now. “That’s some initiative.”
She was in town for a short while, yet she treated her job and his sister with respect. There was a lot of character in Whitney, more he was discovering every day. Which wasn’t helping his resolve to resist her.
“Just doing my job. And I like to stay busy,” she said, but he knew it was more than that. She cared enough to help in small ways. There was a lot he wanted to say to her—do to her—but the aisles were lined with people.
“Busy?” Ryder asked. “I take it you’re not the ‘take it easy and relax’ kind of woman?”