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She really hadn’t. She’d come home last fall and it wasn’t long before her mother roped her into performing at the Christmas concert. After that, it had come naturally to volunteer when someone dropped out of an event or they needed an extra hand.
“I guess coming back here was like riding a bike. I go where I’m needed.”
“That’s why people love you.”
Merry tossed her head, shooting him a playfully haughty look. “And why wouldn’t they? I am completely lovable.”
“Ooof, humility and graciousness are also lovable.”
“You’re saucier than I expected, has anyone told you that?”
“They haven’t used that word exactly.”
“I like this side of you.”
“All part of growing up, I suppose.” He pulled his gloves out of his jacket pocket as the first few snowflakes started falling. “We should be heading back.”
Merry followed along behind him and climbed onto the quad first. When he settled back between her thighs, she entangled her arms around his waist again, breathing in the scent of cedar and soap as he fired up the quad. Today was the first time she’d been aware of Clark as a man, mostly because he was so standoffish and cordial. With her mom and dad, he was polite, friendly, and professional, but he seemed to hold himself away, as if keeping some invisible barrier in place. Considering how he’d talked about his parents and childhood, it made sense he’d have trouble with attachments, but then he doted on his son. He really was a conundrum.
There had been a few moments among the trees where he’d let his guard down and surprised her, but that didn’t mean he was interested in her. No sense in disintegrating the ground they’d covered by getting hung up on how good he smelled.
Still, there was that smile. His voice. How funny he was when he lightened up. If women thought Clark was a catch before, wait until they got a load of him relaxed and in his element. They’d be breaking down his door and carrying him off like cavewomen.
I might have been one of them, if he’d shown even one iota of interest.
Despite his playfulness on their walk, he hadn’t pushed the conversation further than idle flirting and she’d respected him for it. He seemed like a nice, honest guy not looking to lead anyone on.
He parked the quad next to his Jeep and Merry could see Sally and Tara watching them through the window of her house. She climbed off the quad and brushed her hair out of her face, wincing as she felt the flyaway strands everywhere.
“Wow, the wind really did a number on my hair.”
“You can call it quad chic. Start a new trend.”
Merry laughed. “I’ll give that a try and let you know if it works. Thank you.”
“It’s not a problem.” He dismounted and took the keys out of the quad. “I’ll make sure you get your eighty trees, and if anything changes, you know where to find me. I’m going to go collect my son from your mom and start dinner.”
“I bet he misses you when you’re at work.”
“It’s better than it was. At least now we have a routine down.” Clark nodded behind her and she turned as Sally and Tara ducked. “You have fun with your friends.”
“Thanks. Have a good night, Clark.”
“You too, Merry.”
She turned, self-consciously wondering if he was watching her walk away but didn’t want to get caught checking. When she opened her front door and looked back, he was nowhere to be seen.
Tara popped into the doorway with a glass of wine and wide blue eyes. “Holy hell, you did not tell us you had a thing going with the sexy foreman.”
“I don’t!” Merry pushed her way into the house and closed the door. “It was work.”
“Oh, it looked like work, straddling his backside like that. Tell me the truth,” Tara said, waggling her dark brows. “Does he have abs under that workman’s jacket?”
Merry rolled her eyes at Sally, who was unloading take-out containers onto the counter. “What is wrong with her?”
“She got dumped.”
Merry spun around to face Tara, who was glaring at Sally.
