Page 16 of Finding Home

“You could come by the shop sometime and see the works in progress, if you want.” His words fade to almost a whisper. His eyes bore into mine, imploring me to say yes. I want to but can’t. I already feel an intense pull to him. Watching him in his element might just bring down the fragile boundaries I have created with him. That I need with him.

Like a coward, I turn away from him, breaking the connection. Pouring more of the heated oil into my hands, I keep my eyes averted from his. “I probably shouldn’t, Jace.”

He stays silent when I turn and resume the massage, disappointment etched in his features. I want to rub away the crease between his brows that my rejection caused. Instead, I continue working over his body, memorizing it as my hands get to map every ridge, dip, and contour.

The soft chime of the timer by the door signals his hour is up. His body tenses when he hears it too, and I hope he’ll say something. Break the tension that has settled over the room in wake of my rejection to his offer. Instead, he sits up, pulling the sheet over his lap. He watches me. The look in his eyes knowing. I can feel my defenses crumbling, so I do the only thing I can. Run.

“I’ll let you get dressed,” I call as I’m about to walk through the door. Jace’s voice halts my steps.

“Harper.” He doesn’t speak again until I turn, then the door closes me back inside with him. He opens his mouth, then closes it, his eyes shuttering. For the first time, he isn’t looking at me with open emotions. It’s like he put up a wall, and a small part of my heart breaks at the sight. “Thanks for the massage. I’ll see you around town.”

I walk out the door and straight to my office as stupid tears prick behind my eyes. I’m being pathetic, pining for a guy that won’t be here by next year. This moon-eyed idiocy is what wrecked my life before, and I can’t let it happen again, not with Lizzie in the mix.

Chapter 12

Harper

I do see Jace a few times over the rest of the summer. Somehow, our paths continue to cross, and he slowly becomes a fixture in our little town. He even went out to Shaina and Daniel’s one evening to help them remove a tree that fell during a storm. Shaina is ready to adopt him and keep him forever, I think. I don’t even know when they met, but secretly, I’m relieved by the way he’s fitting in here. A small flicker of hope swells in me each time I see him, not as a visitor, but as a member of our town.

The demolition on the property was completed over the summer, and now it's mid-September, the framing is all done, and the façade is taking shape. It’s situated just down the block from The Toasted Bean, and I might go the long way around from the spa to the coffee shop to check out the progress and possibly spot the contractor. I’m passing by Ray’s Real Estate office, trying to surreptitiously look for Jace across the street when the door opens, and I walk right into it. The thunk of my forehead connecting with the glass rings in my ears.

“Shit, Harper! Are you okay?” Jace’s worried voice reaches my ears.

“Mhmm.” I nod, rubbing my head. Why does this man always have to be around when I make an ass of myself? Why couldn’t he have been at last year’s Christmas pageant when I caught the boy playing Joseph in the nativity scene as he fell off the stage? You know, strong, put together Harper! But no, of course he sees crumb spitting, word vomiting, running into doors face first Harper.

“Are you sure? That was a loud smack. Let me see.” Gentle hands pry my fingers away from my face. “It’s pretty red. Maybe you should see a doctor or put some ice on it, at least.”

I laugh at his concern. “I’m not going to the doctor for running into a door. If I went in for every clumsy event leading to a bruise, the poor man would never see anyone else.”

“At least let me get you some coffee and a pastry to make up for swinging the door onto the sidewalk without looking.”

“I actually was on my way to see Bree, anyway. You are welcome to join me, but there’s no need to pay for my drink. It was as much my fault as yours.”

Bree spots my red forehead as soon as we walk in. “What the hell happened to your head, Harper?” She comes around the counter, meeting us halfway.

“Funny story, I walked into a door.”

She looks at me and Jace, then busts out laughing. “For real?”

“Yep.” I pop the P at the end. “Jace was walking out of Ray’s, and I was looking elsewhere, then slammed right into it like a bird.”

Bree continues to laugh at me but promises us both a free drink and pastry for my trauma, and Jace’s ability to not laugh.

Bree disappears into the back, leaving Jace and me alone in the cafe. “So, what were you doing in Ray’s?” I ask, hoping my voice sounds nonchalant and polite.

Jace rubs the back of his neck. The movement causes his shirt to come up, and I get a peek at the V leading into his jeans. If this were a different life, I would slather his body in hot fudge and lick it off him, starting with that damn V. Blinking, I peel my eyes from his body, only to be met with a cocky grin. Whatever had him hesitating before is gone as he catches me drooling over his body.

“I’m looking at a property to possibly build a new house.”

“For another client?” I hold my breath, willing myself to not get my hopes up.

“For me. Portland is closing in on me, and I’m starting to dread having to go back to my apartment there. I’ll have to figure out if I can run my business from here, instead of the city, but I’m looking at options.” My insides do a happy dance at his words.

“What property are you looking at?”

“It’s on Misty Pine; he called it the Schuller property. The directions Ray gave me are rubbish. Do you happen to know where it is?”

“Oh, yeah. Take Elm all the way out of town. Turn onto Larker Road. When you pass the big red barn, you’re gonna bang a uey, and it’s the little road to the right. I believe that house is the only one on that road. It’s a dead-end that doesn’t go too far back from the street.”