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Sam’s voice on the other side of the shop door made Merry scream and fall back against the shop wall, the back of her head connecting with a thunk. “Ouch.”
Clark’s hand went around to cradle it as he helped her straighten up. “Shit, Merry, are you all right?”
“Yes, but your brother might not be when I get outta here,” she muttered darkly.
“I heard that,” Sam said.
Clark rolled his eyes and lifted Merry off the bench, keeping an arm around her waist. “Sam, how long have you been out there?”
“I just got here. Why, did I miss something?”
The amusement in Sam’s voice was all too telling and Merry covered her hands with her face. “Oh, God. He heard everything.”
“No, he didn’t, because that would make him a perverted asshole,” Clark said loudly.
“I heard nothing, except that my brother makes you happy. Congratulations.”
Merry moaned, burying her face in Clark’s chest.
“Is there something you need, Sam?” Clark asked through gritted teeth.
“Yes, my nephew is awake, hungry, and asking where his father is.”
“Can you tell him I’m working on something and will be in momentarily?”
“I can. Do you need a hand with that…something you’re working on?”
“No, but you can make Jace a smoothie until I get in there.”
“All right, geez. Just trying to help.”
Merry listened for Sam’s retreating footsteps as she gathered her clothes. Underwear. Jeans. One boot…
“Where’s my other boot?”
Crunch. Crunch.
Merry squatted down and stared. Daisy was lying under the workbench with Merry’s other boot in her mouth, holding the brown shoe in place with her paws.
Clark crawled down next to her, his voice laced with laughter. “What was it you said about nothing on the floor she could destroy?”
“I guess I should have said nothing of mine.”
Merry grabbed her boot from Daisy, who chased the shoe all the way out from under the bench. She set the pair up where the puppy wouldn’t get them and dressed, aware of Clark’s gaze watching her every move.
“My mother is going to wonder what happened to me. I told her I would be up in a few to show her potential date outfits.”
“You told her about us?”
Merry stilled, looking up from tying her boots to study Clark’s expression. “I told her I had a date, but I haven’t told her who with. Not yet at least. Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“No. In fact, after tonight, I was going to have a talk with Jace about you and me.”
Merry continued tying her boots, keeping her face down until she finished so Clark wouldn’t see the wide smile. “What made you change your mind?”
“This week.” Clark took her hands and put her arms around his neck. “Between your work, the farm, and the festival, I barely caught a glimpse of you. It was like we were back to being the Woodsman and KnottyGirl, but over the phone.”
“And a PG-13 upgrade,” she teased.
