AllFreeNovel
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“Hey!” neighbor-dude called. “You guys have a lead on some land for sale here?”
Sofia’s face scrunched as she twisted in her seat. “What did he say?”
“He’s looking for a building lot,” Chris said. “They’re hard to come by out here. I swear he asks everybody.” He tapped his temple. “Too long in the woods.”
Sofia nodded knowingly, and he shut her door before turning to block neighbor-dude.
“Hey, Reggie,” he said.
The man’s mouth tightened. “It’s Robbie.”
Chris tried to steer him away from the truck, but Robbie dug in his heels. Then the window rolled down.
“If you’re looking for a building lot,” Sofia called, “I saw a notice at our hotel for a land lottery.”
“Yeah, I’m not made of millions,” Robbie grumbled. “‘Lottery’ doesn’t mean ‘free.’”
Daphne grabbed Robbie’s arm, saying, “Whoa! Don’t get run over.” The truck hadn’t moved yet, but she used the excuse to direct him off to the side as she waved goodbye to the departing crew.
“It’s nice of you to stop by, Robbie,” she said as the truck rolled down the drive. “I’m sure I’ll see you around—”
“I need to borrow your hatchet. Handle broke on mine.”
She hesitated, and something like panic crossed her face before she said, “Uh, sure. It’s in the shed. Hanging on the left.”
As Robbie sauntered off, Chris inched closer to Daphne.
“Well, there goes that hatchet,” she muttered.
Chris frowned.
“Once he has it, I’ll never see it again,” she said.
“Then tell him no.”
She gave him a look. “I live alone in the middle of nowhere. I’m not saying no to a guy like that.”
Chris’s whole body tensed. “He’s threatened you?”
“No, no. It’s just…” She shrugged. “He wants a permanent place to live, and guys like that think the world owes it to them. If the world won’t deliver, well, there’s a lonely spinster down the road with a sweet setup.”
Chris rocked forward, fists clenching, gaze locked on the shed door.
Daphne put a hand on his arm. “I’m fine.”
“If he’s harassing you—”
“It’s not like that. I’m sure he doesn’t realize I feel harassed.”
“Then he needs to pull his head out of his ass and put himself in your shoes.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you. But people like that are functionally incapable of putting themselves in anyone’s shoes.”
“Then they should read a damn book to get some practice.”
The way she looked at him then, her eyes on his, her lips slightly parted, reminding him of that moment in the shed, when she’d leaned toward him, just before they kissed.
Which gave him an excellent idea.
