She watched Eddie’s shoulders stiffen and had a brief internal debate, feeling oddly tempted to flirt with Dan just to see how Eddie would respond.
He said he’d called Fairview for her. That he respected her. Part of her couldn’t believe that Eddie might actually, truly like her for her. She believed he wanted her, but his being fond of her was a different story all together.
“Don’t sweat it,” she told the producer. “You can stop apologizing. Stuff happens. ”
Actually, more than the usual stuff was happening. If the lodge hadn’t needed the publicity so much, she’d have kicked Dan’s crew out by now. They stayed up till all hours every night, and the front parking lot had become the guys’ communal ashtray.
He slung an easy arm around her shoulders. “Let me make it up to you. ”
She became acutely aware of Eddie, watching how his movements slowed. Was he listening? He’d made fun of the city guys—was he jealous? Protective? Possessive?
Dan gave her a nudge. “You checking out the hired help?”
“What?” She realized she’d been staring at Eddie’s backside, and man, was it one fine specimen. “No. ”
“Hey, Lola. ” Kat, their camerawoman, came over to see what was going on. “Sorry again about the window. ” Her eyes roved from the broken glass to Eddie, then simply snagged and hung there. She mouthed, Is he single?
Her chest tightened. Was he single?
No. Yes. Maybe. Not for girls with spiked hair, she bet.
What was wrong with her? Why was she fuming? Why didn’t she answer Kat?
Eddie took that moment to turn around. Seeing the tableau, he got a funny look on his face. “Can I have your help here for a sec, Laura?”
She jumped into action, realizing she’d hoped for just this sort of excuse to talk to him, ev
en if it was about windows. She’d always been such a pro with men, but something about this situation made her feel shy.
“I need something to put the broken glass in. Like a trash bin. Or even a large bowl. ” He’d put on his work gloves, and she was momentarily mesmerized by the masculine sight. The worn leather framed his forearms, highlighting ropes of muscle that flexed with each movement. There was a sun-faded dusting of hair along his weathered skin. “Laura?”
Her eyes flew to his, and a knowing smile was waiting for her. He pitched his voice low. “How about I finish this up and buy you dinner?”
Dan ambled up, too close. “What’s the damage?”
She fled behind the bar to grab the small plastic trash can they kept for rags. It gave her a second to gather her wits. Dinner with Eddie? She hadn’t really thought past that first kiss.
Meanwhile, the producer was peering at the window like he was studying something of great importance. “Can you fix it?”
Eddie gave him a funny look. “This thing? Sure, I can fix it. A child could fix it. ”
Dan’s posture went stiff, making him look like he’d challenge the other man to arm-wrestle if only Eddie wouldn’t have whupped his butt at it.
All the male posturing was making her uneasy. She put the trash can on the floor and occupied herself by starting to pick up the shards. “I can help you get the glass. ”
“You won’t dare,” Eddie said instantly. “I got this. ” He stepped in to take over. “Since the window was broken from the inside, most of the glass went out, anyway. I’ll clean up those bits when I’m done here. ” He began to scoop up the shards. “Can’t let you cut those pretty hands. ”
Dan snorted. “Cheeky. ”
Eddie stood and tossed the pieces in the plastic bin. With a nod to the window, he asked, “What idiot did this, anyway?”
Laura had to bite back a smirk. She was pretty sure Helen had mentioned precisely which idiot it’d been, but she said evenly, “It was an accident. ”
Dan came to stand beside her again, whispering in her ear, “He doesn’t like me much. ”
She flinched away, wondering how much she was liking Dan at the moment. “Doesn’t appear so. ”
“Our boom smashed it,” Dan said more loudly in answer. “Accident, dude. ”