Page 79 of The Embers That Remain

Grandpa looked up from his crossword puzzle. “What?”

I was already marching toward the front door. “I’ve gotta go commit a felony.”

The screen door slapped shut behind me. I crossed the yard with considerably less grace than dignity probably required. The rhythmic sound of power tools guided me around the wraparound porch. Of course he was fixing something else. Lane was crouched beside the porch railing, sleeves pushed up his forearms, a cordless drill resting beside him. Sawdust clung to his jeans.

His head lifted when he heard me coming. One glance at my face and his mouth twitched. That alone was enough to confirm my suspicions.

“You.”

He smiled like he’d been caught. “Cali.”

I jabbed a finger directly into the center of his muscular chest. “Did you pay my electric bill?”

His gaze dropped to my finger before lazily trailing back to my face.

“No hello before you start putting your hands on my body?”

Heat warmed my cheeks because he loved throwing me off-kilter. I snatched back my hand. “Lane.”

The smile never left. It was infuriating.

“I take it you’ve been checking your accounts.”

A groan escaped. “Apparently you did.”

Nosy. As. Hell.

“It was getting shut off.”

“Not if I paid it today, and that is not the point.”

“It kind of is.”

My finger found him again. The muscle beneath it was entirely too solid.

“Lane.”

“California.”

“Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Saying my name like you’re innocent.”

The laugh that escaped him did absolutely terrible things to my nervous system.

“You look cute when you’re mad.”

My mouth fell open. I jabbed his chest harder. His warm hand wrapped around my wrist before I could do it again, and the contact sent a spark all the way to my shoulders.

My breath caught. His smile faded slightly, and the air shifted. Neither of us moved. The drill sat forgotten on the porch. The afternoon breeze stirred the leaves overhead.

Suddenly I was aware of everything—his fingers around my wrist, the space between us, the way his gaze dipped briefly to my mouth. Heat bloomed beneath my skin.

“Lane.” My voice came out softer than I intended.

His jaw flexed. “You needed help,” he said simply.