Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
But as I say the words, even I don’t fully believe them. There’s something about the way Betty winked at me, the way she said one day. Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s just my brothers getting in my head, making me second-guess myself. Or maybe... maybe this job really is different.
I glance out the window again, my eyes tracing the outline of the mountains in the distance. Tomorrow, I’ll meet her. The woman who decided to take a chance on that old, rundown inn. And as much as I try to shrug it off, the anticipation builds, gnawing at the edges of my usual calm.
I’ve never been one to chase after romance. The Steele brothers have a reputation for being bachelors, and I’ve worn that badge without hesitation. But lately, I’ve been thinking. Not a lot, just enough to make me wonder if maybe, just maybe, Betty’s right. One day, huh?
Barron’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “You gonna sit there staring into space all day, or you gonna tell us what you’re really thinking?”
I smirk, leaning forward as I plant my elbows on the table. “I’m thinking I’ve got better things to do than sit here listening to you all bust my balls. I’ve got work to do.”
Creed shakes his head, chuckling under his breath. “Work, huh? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
I don’t take the bait. I just down the rest of my coffee and stand, ready to leave the cafe behind. But as I walk out, the bell jingling overhead again, I can’t shake the feeling that tomorrow isn’t just another job. Tomorrow, something’s going to shift. I can feel it in my gut.
Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s just a woman who needs her wiring fixed.
But maybe… maybe it’s more than that.
Chapter Three
Bella
The knock is sharp, commanding. For a second, I freeze, my fingers resting on the edge of the kitchen counter. This is it—the electrician. Just a job. No big deal. But I can already feel my nerves tightening.
I swipe a hand down my blouse, smoothing out invisible wrinkles as I approach the door. With one last deep breath, I swing it open.
And then promptly forget how to breathe.
He’s massive. Tall and built like the side of a mountain, his broad shoulders filling the doorway, a toolbox casually slung over one arm like it weighs nothing. His hair’s a little too long, curling just at his collar, and his blue eyes lock onto mine with a smirk that says he’s already figured me out in the first five seconds.
“Well, damn,” he drawls, voice rich and slow, “Looks like I didn’t get the memo that I’d be fixing wiring for a goddess today.”
I blink, totally caught off guard. My pulse kicks up, and I suddenly feel ridiculous standing here in my cute-but-impractical heeled boots. “I—uh—" My brain scrambles to reboot. “Bella,” I manage, trying to sound composed. “I’m Bella. You must be Archer Steele?”
“That’s me,” he says, his gaze trailing down my body like a casual inspection before meeting my eyes again. “So, Bella... what’s the problem? Electrical issues, or did you just need an excuse to get me over here?”
I stare at him, half-laughing, half-tempted to slam the door shut. “It’s definitely the wiring,” I say, folding my arms, trying to regain some semblance of control.
He grins wider. “Right. Wiring. Let me take a look.”
I step aside, watching as he strides into the foyer, and for a second, I swear the room shrinks around him. He glances around, taking in the peeling wallpaper and crumbling plaster. “This place has seen better days,” he comments, smirk still in place. “But I’m guessing it has a lot of hidden potential. Kind of like its owner.”
I can’t help it. I laugh. “You’re smooth. I’ll give you that.”
“Just calling it how I see it.” He sets his toolbox down with a solid thunk and turns to face me fully. He’s closer now, too close, and I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. The playful gleam in them hasn’t dimmed. If anything, it’s sharper.
“Well, don’t get too comfortable,” I shoot back, doing my best to sound unfazed. “You’re here to fix the wiring, not charm me into some mountain fantasy.”
His eyebrows lift, a slow, teasing smile creeping over his face. “Who says I can’t do both?”
I swallow, heat crawling up my neck. The way he’s looking at me, like we’re having two entirely different conversations, is making it hard to focus. “The wiring,” I say, desperate to steer this back to safe territory. I turn, forcing some distance between us. “It’s back here.”
Archer follows, his boots heavy on the creaking floor, every step amplifying the tension in the air. I stop by the fuse box, pointing at the chaotic tangle of wires. “See? Total disaster.”
He steps in close, too close. His arm brushes mine as he leans in to inspect the box, and I swear my entire body lights up from that brief contact.