Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
She bites her lip for a second, but then she takes a breath and says, “Because this is important. And because I’m not afraid to speak up when something matters to me.”
I stare at her for a long moment. She’s got more fire in her than I expected, more than I know what to do with. I don’t know whether to be pissed or impressed. But something about her stubbornness, her determination... it stirs something in me. Something dangerous.
Before I can say anything else, Ruby crosses her arms and tilts her head. “Look, can we just talk? Without you glaring at me like I’ve ruined your day?”
I can’t help it—a small smirk pulls at the corner of my mouth. “You did ruin my day, knocking over that wood like it was nothing.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can see the corner of her mouth twitching like she’s fighting a smile. “I’ll help clean it up,” she offers, glancing at the pile of lumber. “Then we can talk.”
“Deal,” I mutter, grabbing a few planks and tossing them back into place. I watch her out of the corner of my eye as she crouches to help. There’s something about the way she moves, the way her brows knit in concentration as she stacks the wood. It’s... distracting. Way too distracting.
But for the first time today, I don’t mind the interruption.
As we finish cleaning up, Ruby stands and brushes the dirt from her hands, giving me a quick glance. “Now, can we talk about the design?”
I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Fine. But if you knock over anything else, you’re banned from the site.”
She grins, and damn if that smile doesn’t do something to me. “Deal.”
She turns to leave, and I watch her go, my gaze lingering longer than it should. I don’t have time for this kind of distraction, but something tells me Ruby’s not the type to give me much choice.
As I pick up my hammer again, I can’t shake the feeling that this project just got a hell of a lot more complicated.
Chapter Two
Ruby
The morning sun is just starting to filter through the trees as I approach the library. It’s quiet, except for the steady rhythm of hammering and the occasional clink of metal against wood. The air smells like sawdust, fresh and sharp, and I can see Pope working at one of the beams, his broad back turned toward me.
My flats crunch lightly on the gravel, but I don’t hesitate. I clutch the notebook in my hands, determined to make sure this library reflects what the community needs—not just whatever this grumpy carpenter thinks is best. I may be soft-spoken, but I’m not backing down, especially not after yesterday’s confrontation. Pope might be used to people tiptoeing around him, but I’m not afraid to stand my ground.
I clear my throat as I get closer, watching as he straightens, clearly annoyed by the interruption. He’s built like a damn mountain—broad shoulders, muscular arms flexing as he sets down his hammer and turns to face me, his expression already a mask of irritation.
“You again?” His voice is low, edged with frustration, but I don’t flinch. Instead, I raise my chin slightly, meeting his glare with one of my own. I’m not here to back down, and he’s going to learn that soon enough.
“You didn’t think I’d give up after one visit, did you?” I quip, stepping closer. I glance around the site, taking in the progress he’s made. The framework of the new research and reading room is starting to take shape, and I can’t help but feel a spark of excitement for what this place will become. “Looks like you’ve been busy,” I add with a slight smile.
Pope crosses his arms over his chest, blocking my path like a wall of muscle. “Busy trying to finish this project,” he grumbles, his eyes narrowing as if daring me to challenge him again.
I’m tempted to push back, to let him know I’m not some random townie sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. But instead of firing back, I catch the small twitch at the corner of his mouth—like he’s fighting the urge to smile. That tiny shift in his expression gives me just enough confidence to press on.
“Well, I’m here to make sure everything stays on track,” I say, stepping around him to get a closer look at the half-built frame of the library room. I brush past him, our arms almost touching, and I can feel the heat radiating off him like a furnace. There’s something charged in the air between us, and it’s not just the tension from our argument yesterday.
“And to make sure you don’t cut corners,” I add, my voice teasing as I glance over my shoulder at him. I can tell by the way his jaw clenches that he’s noticed the playful lilt in my tone, but instead of snapping back at me like I expect, he just watches me with those intense blue eyes, as if trying to figure out what I’m up to.