Summer smiled. “Maybe we could get your stuff inside and then take a walk-through. Get a game plan.”
Julian walked to the back of his pickup and hefted his duffle bag out of the bed. “This is all I’ve got.”
Her eyebrows rose to her hairline. “That’s it?”
Shrugging, he walked to her. “I’m a simple guy. I figure there’s no reason to pack heavy. There are laundromats everywhere, and this makes it easy.”
“I guess that’s true.” Summer snapped her fingers. “Oh, shoot. I wasn’t even thinking. I need to get you a key. I’m sure Lexi has called Charlie already.” She pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket, tapped the screen, and put it to her ear. “Hey, Charlie, it’s Summer. I forgot to get a key for that cabin on the hill. Julian Wolf will be staying in it until the barn is finished.”
“Hey, Summer!” The woman was talking so loudly the speakerphone could’ve been on.
Summer’s face drained of color, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Clearly, this wasn’t the woman she was expecting—nor wanting—to talk to. “Hey, Dori.”
“Hi, honey. Yes, Lexi told me about him. She said he’s as hot as a ghost pepper.”
Summer’s cheeks turned the perfect shade of pink. “Hush. He can hear you!”
Julian chuckled as he looked down. Hot as a ghost pepper? That was a first.
Summer groaned. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Shrugging, he looked up, catching her gaze, and all he could do was smile. That blush on her cheeks was spreading to the rest of her face, and it sure looked good on her.
“Dolores,” Summer ground out. “I just need that key.”
“Well, honey, why don’t you bring Mr. Ghost Pepper by, and I’ll be sure and have it ready.” Now it seemed like the woman was trying to be extra loud.
Summer raked her hand through her hair and stomped her foot. “Oh, stop.”
“I can get louder.” The woman snickered.
He didn’t think that was possible unless Dolores was going to start screaming into the phone.
“No!” Summer barked. “No, I’ll bring him by after we’re done looking through the barn.”
Dori giggled. “Okay. Be sure and remember that loft is rickety. Wouldn’t want anyone to try hiding up there and getting hurt.”
Summer’s blush deepened as she averted her gaze. Dori was giving Summer nothing but trouble, but it sure was funny. He covered his mouth with his hand, working to keep from outright laughing at her embarrassment.
“I’m gonna go now,” Summer said, ending the call. “Okay, um, we’ll be stopping by guest services to get the key after we tour the barn.” It was seriously cute how she was trying to act as if he hadn’t heard the entire conversation.
Clearing his throat, Julian set his bag back in the bed of the pickup. “Sure thing.”
“If you’ll follow me, we’ll take that tour of the barn now.”
Inwardly, a little voice said, Anywhere. But he couldn’t think like that. This was short term, and he wasn’t about to get hooked on someone and then leave.
“Lead the way.” Sure, he was lonely, but she’d flat-out put the brakes on any possibility of something happened. And falling for someone was not on his radar just yet, especially when he felt like such a failure. The last thing he needed to add to his list of shortcomings was a relationship.
Besides, he already had that. He didn’t need a double entry. That reporter who used him had shaken him. They hadn’t even been that serious, but just the idea that a woman would trick him into dating her so she could get information on his family—that was all it took to put the brakes on relationships. He’d dated here and there since, if you could call dinner a few times dating, but nothing serious.
While he didn’t get the feeling Summer was like that, he wasn’t in the best frame of mind to be thinking about a relationship. Nope, he was going to fix the barn and work on finding his inspiration.
3
Summer could die. In fact, if a giant hole opened up in front of her, she’d dive in without even looking. From the moment she’d ended Dori’s call, she’d been unable to look Julian in the eyes. Goodness, why did Dori have to be so loud? And why couldn’t she have a memory like that Dori fish in Finding Nemo? Just her luck, she’d be the one Lexi talked to. At least Charlie, the manager, wouldn’t have given Sumer grief. “Look, I’m really sorry about that call earlier.”
Julian stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and shrugged. “It’s okay. It was flattering.”
“It was completely embarrassing.”
“Yeah, but you’re cute when you blush.”
Why did this man make her feel like a school girl crushing on the quarterback? Especially when he complimented her. She’d been told that stuff before, but coming from him? It made her giddy.
“So, where are you from?” she asked, steering the conversation to somewhere less dangerous. Maybe her blazing cheeks could cool down.
He chuckled, like he knew what she was doing. “I’m from Houston.”
“Oh, do you have family there or…”
“I grew up there. How about you?”
“San Antonio.”
Smiling, he shot her a glance. “I’ve been there. I loved it.”
“I did too, but I kinda messed up at my last job. My nanna hired me to get this barn restored for Lexi’s wedding.”
“For some reason, I’m not convinced you messed up.”
Ultimately, it was her fault. She was the one in charge of the house flip. It didn’t matter if one of her teammates was the responsible party. Or that she’d found out after the fact that they’d done it on purpose to get her management position in the company. “Well, as a leader, when something goes wrong, the right thing to do is take ownership.”
“Now, that I can see.”
“You sure have a high opinion of me. You don’t even know me.”
He nodded. “I’ve just got a feeling.”
Her stomach did a somersault. A man she didn’t even know had confidence in her. Why did that make her feel so good? She didn’t have an answer, but she couldn’t deny that for some reason, Julian’s opinion mattered to her.
“Do you have a lot of family?” she asked, guiding the conversation back to him.
“Yep, two sisters and two brothers.”
Whoa. As a single child from a one-parent home, she wasn’t sure how she’d handle that. “Wow. Big family.”
“Yeah, and getting bigger. My oldest sister, Zoe, has two now. My brother Zach’s wife, Harley, had her baby not long ago, and my brother Noah and his wife, Mia, are expecting.”
She turned and began walking backward. “I love kids.”
“Me too. My nieces are my heart.”
“I don’t know why, but I didn’t picture you being the type who loved kids. You seem rather nomadic.” Summer rolled her lips in, and her eyes widened as she realized what she’d said. “Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry.”
Julian pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it up. “No, to a degree, you’re right. For the longest time, I was rather aimless. Seeing Zach and Noah get married…it’s changed things.” He paused and looked down. “It’s changed me, I guess,” he said softly.
It was a fight not to ask him how, but she’d just met him, and that seemed a little too personal. She’d file it in the back of her mind, though, and maybe she could ask him sometime later. For now, she’d stick with safe things. “Well, I wouldn’t know about siblings. I’m an only child. Lexi is my cousin—distantly, but that’s about it.”
“I like my big family. I love holidays with them.” He looked up, and his eyes widened before he pulled her to him, bringing them to a dead stop. “Sorry. You were about to run into a tree.”
Summer nearly gulped. So close, and as attracted to him as she was, she could positively envision kissing this man until she was blue in the face. “Uh. Thanks,” she squeaked. And being held by him? It felt incredible…and insane. Completely, totally, utterly insane. She’d
just met the man.
“Anytime,” he said and dropped his arms and stepped back. “Couldn’t have my boss lady knocking herself out.” He winked.
The snort that popped out was as unladylike as any she’d ever heard. Maybe she could pretend it didn’t happen. “Yeah. That…that could’ve been bad. I don’t need a concussion when I’ve got so much to do.”
The smile he gave her made the corners of his eyes crinkle. “I think we might be here.” He flicked his gaze over her shoulder and back to her. He knew she was glossing over the embarrassing sound that just flew out of her, and he was letting her. Thank goodness.
Turning, the broken-down barn loomed over her. Three months. She had three months to get this raggedy old barn shaped up. Three months to prove to herself that she was capable of being in charge of a project and getting it done and done well. She could do this. Good-looking man or not.
4
Holding Summer had been a mistake, and Julian knew it the moment he’d done it. The way her body fit against him made him feel that whatever piece of his life had been missing was now filled. It was the strangest thing.
Dating hadn’t been an issue for him, but finding something deep and real had. Most of the women in his circle were socialites wanting status upgrades, something he didn’t care one iota for. Pomp and status with nothing underneath really holding the people together. He wanted abiding love and lifelong commitment.
That’s what had held his parents together. His dad’s brain tumor turned him into a different man, but his mom had stuck by him. Loved him when he was unlovable. Julian wanted that. He wanted a love that would stand. Something that time couldn’t take away.
For some reason, his sister Zoe’s marriage hadn’t gotten to him like Zach’s and Noah’s. Maybe it was because Zoe was the oldest and it was expected that the oldest should marry first. Or maybe he was actually ready to settle down, and like most of the Wolf family, once they found that one person, that was it and the search was over.
“Uh, Julian?”
The sound of his name jolted him out of his thoughts. Thoughts he didn’t need to be having. He was lonely, and Summer was pretty. That didn’t mean there could or would be anything between them, especially since he was passing through. “Yeah, I’m sorry.”
“So, what do you think?”
He let his gaze roam over the barn as he turned in place. When Summer called him nomadic, it wasn’t far from the truth. After his dad died, he’d drifted around a while, and one of the jobs he’d worked was for a home builder and remodeler. “Well, there’s a lot of work to do. We should start with the roof so that if it rains, the inside is protected. I can see some places that are already rotten. The south wall will need the most work. Are you wanting to sheetrock the inside? Or keep it rustic?”
“Rustic, like the cabins, which you’ll see once we get you a key.”
“Okay, that’ll cut down on a lot of work. So, game plan?”
Shrugging, Summer said, “I’ll get the roof scheduled, and you’re going to need supplies. That’s why I’d given the other guy half up front…so he could buy the materials needed. It never occurred to me that he’d skip town.”
“Okay, I’ll get supplies delivered. It’ll cut down on time spent traveling. Tomorrow I can spend scraping paint off the outside, and do you think there’s a power washer somewhere? I’ll need to clean the outside before I paint.”
“I don’t know, but if we don’t, I’ll get you one.”
Julian shook his head. “No, I told you no money up front. I can afford a power washer. I needed a new one anyway.” It wasn’t true, but he wasn’t letting her spend a dime. Keeping her trust was worth whatever the equipment cost.
She smiled. “Well, thank you. Are you sure? I don’t want you to be short, moneywise.”
Julian laughed. If she only knew, but he wasn’t about to tell her. He wanted her to know him as Julian, not Julian the billionaire. That little fact seemed to sour his relationships the fastest. “I’ll be fine. Like I said, I’ve got some savings set aside from my last job.”
“Okay.” She stuck her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “I guess it’s time to face the music and get that key.”
He chuckled. “It’ll be fine.”
“All right,” she said and began walking to the open door.
As they reached it, he stopped, placing his hand on the edge. “Do these close?”
She shook her head. “Another thing to put on the list.”
Julian wiggled it and then gripped it a little harder. His hand slipped, and he swore under his breath, shaking his hand. He looked down and, sure enough, a huge splinter was stuck there.
Summer inhaled sharply, taking his hand in hers. “Oh, that’s nasty. Dori has a first aid kit at guest services.”
“Oh, it’s okay,” he said, pulling at the piece of wood, trying to ignore the tingles racing up his arm.
She batted his hand away. “Stop it. It needs to be taken out and then cleaned so it doesn’t get infected.”
He tried to take his hand away. It was hard to think with her skin touching his. “I’ll be okay. I don’t need all that.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Who’s the boss?”
Chuckling, he said, “You are.”
“We shook on it, remember? So, you have to listen to me, or the deal’s off.”
“You need me.”
Her mouth dropped open. “And how much good will you be when your hand falls off because of an infection?”
He narrowed his eyes and stepped into her. “You’re used to getting your way, aren’t you?” It suddenly felt as though the heat had been turned up, and he worked not to pull at his collar.
She swallowed hard. “Absolutely not, but I take care of the people who work for me, and now that we’ve shaken on it, that includes you. So, let’s go. I’ll drive us there and then drop you off after.”
Stepping back, he nodded. “All right.” He thought giving himself some space from her would help with the sudden jump in temperature, but it didn’t lessen a single degree. Whatever lies he might try to tell himself, he liked this woman. She had spunk, she was sweet, and he could picture long walks and holding hands for years on end.
But he also had a life in Houston and his family. He couldn’t imagine moving away from his niece Kenna. He loved his nieces, but he was closest to Kenna. Mostly because he’d been so involved with his art when Jenna was born. He loved Zoe’s girls, but when Kenna came along…something had already started changing in him. Zach and Harley had their mom, but Julian would watch Kenna anytime he was asked. She was his little buddy, or princess, since she’d started talking. Yes, he’d taken a trip, but he hadn’t planned on being gone forever. A few weeks at most, and he’d made plans to Facetime her while he was gone.
He didn’t know why he was even thinking about relocating to Sage Valley. It was ridiculous. He hadn’t even asked Summer out. One single meeting did not a destiny make. Still, there was something between them. A spark he could almost physically touch. She had to feel it too. With the way she’d looked up at him when he’d caught her before she backed into that tree, he knew that for a fact.
Maybe he needed to stop overthinking and just let things happen the way they were supposed to. Instead of obsessing, just coast along and see how things played out. Yeah, that was exactly what he needed to do.
5
The bell above the guest services door rang, and Dori’s head swiveled so quickly it was like Summer was in the movie The Exorcist. The woman’s lips spread in a mischievous smile, and it was all Summer could do not to run and take Julian with her.
“Well, hello, Mr. Ghost Pepper.” Dori fluffed her dyed brunette bob with one hand. “Where on earth did you come from?”
Julian’s cheeks turned pink, and Summer nearly swooned. He’d said he could handle it, but his face was telling a whole other story. And, boy, did it make him cute. “Uh, I’m from Houston.”
“Oh, a Texas man. I like that. Don’t you
, Summer?” Dori batted her lashes at Julian.
“We need the first aid kit.”
Dori cocked her head, knitting her eyebrows together. “Whatever for?”
“He got a splinter in his hand while I was showing him around the barn. I need to get the splinter out and clean it to make sure it doesn’t get infected.” Summer hoped like the dickens that Dori wouldn’t give her more trouble.
And her hope was dashed the moment Dori grinned. “I’d be happy to take care of that for you.”
Julian cleared his throat. “As much as I appreciate the offer, I think Summer’s got it handled. Actually, I’m fine. She just insisted.”
Dori lifted an eyebrow. “I bet she did.” She laughed. “I’m just teasing, honey. I love giving Summer here a hard time. She’s a sweet thing and needs to find a fella as sweet as she is.”
He nodded, shooting Summer a glance with a half-smile that could stop traffic. “I get the distinct feeling you’re right about that. Her being sweet, that is.”
Oh, the good Lord needed to show some mercy. “I’ll take that kit now,” Summer said. Her face was going to melt if she didn’t get out of there.
Dori held up a finger. “One second while I fetch it.” She disappeared into the room behind the receptionist area.
“I’m so, so sorry about her.”
He shook his head. “You’re cute when you blush.”
“Well, you are too. I saw those cheeks turn red.” Her eyes widened when she realized what she’d said. “I mean…” Her shoulders drooped. “You really are good-looking, and there’s no denying that. Now that I’ve confessed, we can move on.”
“You think I’m good-looking?”
“Like you don’t know you are.”
He held her gaze a moment. “Yeah, but it means something coming from you.”
Her brain froze. She blinked, trying to think of a witty comeback, but she was stunned. Is this how a fly felt when it got swatted with one of those electric tennis-racket-looking things? And where was Dori? Why was it taking so long to find that kit?
Inspired By The Creative Cowboy (Sage Valley Ranch Book 5) Page 2