Read Online A Reunion And A Ring (Proposals & Promises Book 1) by Gina Wilkins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gina Wilkins
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Family Life, ozarks, sensual, reunion, cabin, second chances, Officer, Marriage Proposal, Raging Storm, Whose Ring
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boots.
“Easy, bro,” Rob murmured with a low chuckle. “A guy might think something—or somebody—has got you all hot and bothered.”
Gavin shot his friend a look that made Rob back off quickly with both hands raised and a devilish twinkle in his dark eyes.
Rob watched as Jenny perched on the edge of a porch chair to lace on her bedraggled, once-bright sneakers. “Hate to tell you this, but I think those shoes might be goners,” he said. “Doubt they’ll ever be clean again.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve pretty much figured that out already. I didn’t think to bring work boots with me.”
“I told you it wasn’t necessary for you to slog through the mud with me this morning,” Gavin felt compelled to point out. “But I’ll pay for the shoes, anyway, when I refund your rental money. None of this was your fault.”
Pulling the second lace tight, she stood and reached for the muddy gloves she’d worn earlier. “Of course you won’t pay for my shoes. Don’t be silly.”
Something about her tone made him scowl again. Had she just brushed him off? He glared after her as she walked down the steps with Rob, but she didn’t glance back. With a grumble, he snatched up the chain saw and followed.
“Big tree,” Rob commented unnecessarily as they approached the fallen oak. “You got a lot of it cut up this morning.”
“I figure I can drag the rest of it out of the way with my truck. There’s a heavy chain and a few more tools locked in the utility shed behind the cabin.”
Rob nodded. “Might be better to hook it up to J.T.’s heavier rig. They should have the other tree out of the road pretty quick. It’s not near ly as big as this one. They were dredging out the ditches at that low spot with shovels, too, to help the water run off faster.”
“Maybe I should take that branch off while we wait.” Gavin motioned toward the one he meant. “If the trunk rolls when we try to move it, that one could dig in and give us problems.”
“Agreed. But why don’t you let me cut it? That shoulder’s got to be giving you fits by now.”
Actually, the pain was a heck of a lot worse than that, but he didn’t want to admit it. Especially in front of Jenny. “Fine, you cut the limb while I get the chain. It’s too bulky to carry, but I can bring it around in the back of my truck. Jenny ... ”
“I’ll help Rob.” Donning her safety glasses, she moved into position to grab hold of the branch after it was cut. As he turned to head around the side of the cabin, Gavin could already hear Rob chatting with Jenny as if they were old friends. But then, Rob had never met an attractive woman he didn’t like. An impressive percentage of them liked him in return.
He wouldn’t have thought Rob was Jenny’s type. An EMT Gavin had met in the line of duty a few years ago, Rob was hardly in the same league with the guy his mother said Jenny had dated —and w as possibly still seeing. But whatever.
Feeling increasingly grumpy and blaming it on the weather, his discomfort and his weariness, he shoved his hand into his pocket to retrieve the key to the utility shed. All in all, the best thing he could do now was to focus on the tasks at hand. He’d deal with his unexpected visitors—all of them—as best he could during the process.
* * *
It didn’t take Rob long to cut through the branch Gavin had pointed out. Jenny realized only then how much Gavin had been held back by his injured shoulder. Remembering the stitches that had marched across his taut skin, she bit her lip. He must be terribly uncomfortable, to say the least, though he would fall over face-first before he would admit it. Even as a young man, he’d hated acknowledging when he was sick or hurting. She’d once teased him of being afraid testosterone would leak out of his ears if he confessed to any weakness. She could still remember the way he’d grinned, kissed her and murmured, “You’re my only weakness, Jen.”
Breaking into the
“Easy, bro,” Rob murmured with a low chuckle. “A guy might think something—or somebody—has got you all hot and bothered.”
Gavin shot his friend a look that made Rob back off quickly with both hands raised and a devilish twinkle in his dark eyes.
Rob watched as Jenny perched on the edge of a porch chair to lace on her bedraggled, once-bright sneakers. “Hate to tell you this, but I think those shoes might be goners,” he said. “Doubt they’ll ever be clean again.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve pretty much figured that out already. I didn’t think to bring work boots with me.”
“I told you it wasn’t necessary for you to slog through the mud with me this morning,” Gavin felt compelled to point out. “But I’ll pay for the shoes, anyway, when I refund your rental money. None of this was your fault.”
Pulling the second lace tight, she stood and reached for the muddy gloves she’d worn earlier. “Of course you won’t pay for my shoes. Don’t be silly.”
Something about her tone made him scowl again. Had she just brushed him off? He glared after her as she walked down the steps with Rob, but she didn’t glance back. With a grumble, he snatched up the chain saw and followed.
“Big tree,” Rob commented unnecessarily as they approached the fallen oak. “You got a lot of it cut up this morning.”
“I figure I can drag the rest of it out of the way with my truck. There’s a heavy chain and a few more tools locked in the utility shed behind the cabin.”
Rob nodded. “Might be better to hook it up to J.T.’s heavier rig. They should have the other tree out of the road pretty quick. It’s not near ly as big as this one. They were dredging out the ditches at that low spot with shovels, too, to help the water run off faster.”
“Maybe I should take that branch off while we wait.” Gavin motioned toward the one he meant. “If the trunk rolls when we try to move it, that one could dig in and give us problems.”
“Agreed. But why don’t you let me cut it? That shoulder’s got to be giving you fits by now.”
Actually, the pain was a heck of a lot worse than that, but he didn’t want to admit it. Especially in front of Jenny. “Fine, you cut the limb while I get the chain. It’s too bulky to carry, but I can bring it around in the back of my truck. Jenny ... ”
“I’ll help Rob.” Donning her safety glasses, she moved into position to grab hold of the branch after it was cut. As he turned to head around the side of the cabin, Gavin could already hear Rob chatting with Jenny as if they were old friends. But then, Rob had never met an attractive woman he didn’t like. An impressive percentage of them liked him in return.
He wouldn’t have thought Rob was Jenny’s type. An EMT Gavin had met in the line of duty a few years ago, Rob was hardly in the same league with the guy his mother said Jenny had dated —and w as possibly still seeing. But whatever.
Feeling increasingly grumpy and blaming it on the weather, his discomfort and his weariness, he shoved his hand into his pocket to retrieve the key to the utility shed. All in all, the best thing he could do now was to focus on the tasks at hand. He’d deal with his unexpected visitors—all of them—as best he could during the process.
* * *
It didn’t take Rob long to cut through the branch Gavin had pointed out. Jenny realized only then how much Gavin had been held back by his injured shoulder. Remembering the stitches that had marched across his taut skin, she bit her lip. He must be terribly uncomfortable, to say the least, though he would fall over face-first before he would admit it. Even as a young man, he’d hated acknowledging when he was sick or hurting. She’d once teased him of being afraid testosterone would leak out of his ears if he confessed to any weakness. She could still remember the way he’d grinned, kissed her and murmured, “You’re my only weakness, Jen.”
Breaking into the
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