BY THE TIME eleven o’clock rolled around, Travis was covered head to toe with the powdery dust that permeated old barns. He beat his hands on the front of his chest, raising a small cloud.
“Quitting time?” Cassie wiped the back of her hand over her forehead, leaving a smear. It was the first time either of them had spoken since they’d retreated to their neutral corners, which had its benefits. They both had stuff to work through, and it had kept them from arguing about who started what.
“A little after.”
They still had a ton of work to do, but a lot of junk had been moved out of the building, including the hay rake and the jumble of tines, as they wrestled with their private demons.
“I think we should work together tomorrow,” Cassie said as she pulled off her gloves. “I have stuff over here I can’t handle alone.”
She hadn’t asked for help with anything that she could tug, pull or push at least an inch at a time, and she’d extended him the same courtesy as he’d strained to maneuver a grain barrel full of traps and other metal miscellanea out the door.
“I’m good with that.”
She lightly slapped the gloves into her palm. “You took me by surprise earlier.”
“It wasn’t an ambush.”
“No. You were right. I have been watching you.”
He’d wondered as he’d worked if Cassie planned to recap the situation before she left, or if she was going to let it slide into the never-to-be-discussed realm. Now he had his answer.
“And you’ve been watching me,” she added.
He’d thought he’d been pretty slick about that, but apparently not slick enough. Was that heat creeping up his neck?
“Don’t want you sneaking up on me.”
“Right. And I’m only concerned about your eye.” She gave him a long, thoughtful look, one that put his nerves on edge. “What if by some crazy happenstance I do find you physically attractive? Where does that leave us?”
He bit the inside of his cheek, wondering if he was stepping into a trap. “Exploring new territory?”
She slowly shook her head.
“So be it,” he said. “You won’t find me pushing.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“I don’t push.”
She put her hands on her hips and in a mock deep voice said, “Stand back, little lady, while I handle big bad Ray Quentin.”
“Funny.” He started to touch the sore spot on his face, then realized what he was doing and dropped his hand. “I was trying to protect you.”
She let out a breath as she fixed him with another thoughtful gaze, as if wondering what to do with him. Or rather with whatever feelings he stirred up in her.
“You know, we can pretend none of this is happening,” he said, “but it isn’t going to solve anything.”
“There’s nothing to solve.”
He let out a choked laugh. “Dream on.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe this.”
“Kind of took me by surprise, too.”
Her gaze crashed into his. “That’s not what I meant.” She let out a sharp breath. “It’s time for me to go.” She started toward the bay door.
“I don’t think you should leave until we settle this,” he called after her. It seemed that for once in her life Cassie was retreating in the face of a challenge.
“Look, if you need thinking time—”
She stopped dead under the frame of the bay door.
“You want to settle things?” she asked as she gave him the challenge-accepted look he knew so well. Eyes narrowed, mouth tight. “Do you?” She sounded like Dirty Harry facing down a punk kid. “Shall we get the inevitable kiss over with?”
“Well, when you put it like that—”
She closed the distance between them with quick steps, took his face in both hands and tilted it down so that she could meet his lips in a full-on closed-mouth kiss. A totally fake kiss, meant to make a point.
A totally fake kiss that stirred his blood.
When she released him, he managed a cocky half smile.
“That’s all you got?” he asked, knowing full well he was treading into dangerous territory.
To his surprise, instead of exploding, Cassie gave him a look he’d never seen before—and he’d thought he’d seen every expression she was capable of during their years of competition.
“Oh, no,” she said in a low voice that made him distinctly uneasy. “I have this, too.” She reached up then to slide her palms over his cheeks before pulling his mouth down to hers, only this time her hands were gentle and her lips were soft and warm, inviting in a way he hadn’t expected.
They were both breathing in less-than-perfect rhythm when their lips parted minutes later. For one long moment they stared at one another, then Cassie stepped back, still holding his gaze as she said, “I think that’s enough exploration for one day.”
“All right.” An inadequate response, but his brain was still coming up to speed. Cassie, however, seemed to be back on her A-game.
“Let me rephrase,” she said briskly. “That is enough exploration for all the days we’re working on this barn.”
He gave her a dubious look.
“And things will not be awkward between us.”
Did she really think they could regulate such things?
“Right.”
“I’m serious.”
He let out a small scoffing laugh. “Do you think we can kiss like that, then just walk away?”
“I do and we are.”
He shook his head and then gave her a rueful half smile. “Good luck on that, Cassie. I don’t think it can be done.”
She gave him a look. “I think it can.”
“Let the games begin.”