Dirty Working Hero (Hard Working Hero 2)

“What are you doing?” Her voice comes from behind me.

I smirk in the bushes to myself. I knew it. She finally gave in. Wiping the smile off my face, I pull my head out of the bush, and glance at her over my shoulder.

“I'm looking for the hose.”

“Well, it's not there.”

“I can see that.” Setting my hands on my hips, I give her a soft smile. “Can you show me where it is?” I ask.

“You uh, you got some. . .” She pauses, pointing up at my head, and flicking her fingers against her hair.

I run my fingers through my hair and brush out a few loose sticks and some dead leaves. “So, are you going to tell me where the hose is? Or do you want to make this into a game? Maybe we can play hot and cold?”

“It's on the other side, over there,” she says curtly, pointing to the opposite side. The corner of her lip twitches like she's about to smile, but she quickly gains control, stopping it from forming.

I take a step forward toward her, and she takes a long step back, crossing her arms over her chest protectively. “Afraid of something?” I ask.

“No.” Millie's answer is short and frank. “I'm not afraid of anything.”

I take another step forward, she matches it with another step back. “You sure? Because right now it looks like you're afraid of me.”

She tips her head back, letting out a condescending laugh. “I'm definitely not afraid of you.”

“Is that right?” Veering my stare, I grin as I step again in her direction. Millie mirrors me, moving back. “It's like you think I might bite or something.”

“Ha, please.” She waves her hand through the air and rolls her eyes. “I don't know what you're trying to do, but it isn't going to work.”

“It's all right, Millie, I only bite when you're asking for it. You know that. Don't pretend like you didn't enjoy me tasting you.” The corner of my lip curls as I flash her a teasing smile, reminding her about yesterday and my teeth on her skin.

“Don't, I told you—”

“Millie, who are you talking to?” Mr. Chambers steps around the corner. “Oh, Hardin, good morning.”

“Good morning, sir. Gorgeous day out today, isn't it?” My eyes stay on Millie, never looking away as her father looks up at the sky.

She gives me a crooked glare, pursing her lips and snapping her brows into the bridge of her nose. I love the little look of annoyance on her face.

“It is. How's the walkway coming?” he asks.

“Really good. I'm going to start pouring today.”

“Meredith!” her father calls out. “Meredith, come tell me what you think.”

“Think about what?” Millie's mother asks as she comes outside and stands next to her husband.

“The walkway.” He holds out his arm, fanning it down the length of the path. “I think it's coming along great.”

Millie's mother rocks her head side to side on her shoulders. “It's missing something,” she says, cupping her chin in her hand. “Maybe some flowers? What do you think, Hardin?”

“Absolutely. I hear your daughter likes gardening, I bet she can grow an incredible flower garden.”

“I don't think so. She isn't going to have time for any of that nonsense.” Her mother fans a lazy hand, letting her eyes land on her daughter. “Isn't that right, Millie? No more gardening; you have more important things to do.”

“Yeah, sure,” Millie answers flatly.

Mr. Chambers looks down at his watch. “Well, I've got some things to take care of shortly, and I'm sure we've been in your way long enough.” Millie's father gives me a smile as he gestures me forward. “You've got a lot of work to finish, but it's coming along nicely.”

“Thank you, and I sure do, sir. I'm not sure if you know this, but your daughter has a bit of strength on her.”

“Is that right? What did she do?”

“She's really good at nailing things. . .” I pause purposely, catching Millie out of the corner of my eyes as she gives me an angry look. “She did those last two posts on the end.”

Mr. Chambers folds his lips down and looks over at his daughter. “Get it out of your system now because you won't have time to mess around next week. All this playing in the dirt will become a distant memory.”

“Yeah, she wasn't afraid to get dirty at all.” I let my eyes flick to hers. Millie's eyes are on fire. If looks could kill, I'd be dead ten times over. “All right, I'm going to get back to work, time to fill.”

I get the hose, dragging it over to where I laid the bags of cement. Millie and her parents stay in the backyard talking. I mix a batch of cement and pour it in the walkway.

Millie is watching me closely, shaking her head as her father talks. She isn't listening to him at all. She's too busy staring at me.