Page 39 of One More Shot
I bite back a grin. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’d expected this kind of reaction from her. ‘What? You’ve never heard of mates’ rates?’
‘Obviously I have,’ Eliott mutters, her brows furrowing as she stares again at the quote I’ve written. ‘I just… I don’t see how this will be enough to cover even the cost of materials. It’s way too low.’
I shrug. ‘Like I said,mates’ rates.’
‘But we’re not—’
I raise an unimpressed brow. ‘Just take the discount, Eliott. It’s not a big deal.’
She purses her lips and glares at me, though there’s no heat behind it. ‘I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you. Especially, you know… since we’ve gothistory?’
‘Do we?’ I ask lightly, feigning ignorance. ‘I guess I forgot.’
That gets a laugh out of her. She shifts slightly, pressingher back against the nearby wall, and looks up at me through hooded eyes. ‘Didn’t realise I was so forgettable.’
‘Ah.’ I lean in just a little. I’m still not in her personal space, but it’s enough to trigger a shift between us. I can feel it and, from the way her eyes widen slightly, I’m guessing she can feel it too. ‘You’re the furthest thing from forgettable.’
She swallows. ‘Really?’
It would take absolutely nothing for me to lean in and kiss her right now.
Friends.
The word echoes in my mind.
I clench my jaw and take a deliberate step backwards. ‘Truthfully?’ I ask. Our eyes lock. A small smile tugs at the corner of her lips, and she nods. ‘I don’t think I could forget you even if I tried.’
She swallows again and this time, her tongue darts out reflexively to run against her lips. ‘Likewise.’
The energy between us shifts again.
Before I can act on it though, Eliott clears her throat and deliberately turns away. ‘You’re sure about this quote?’ she says, voice too high, too stilted. ‘Because I’m happy to pay your standard fee and—’
‘I’m sure.’
I don’t think I’ve ever been more sure about anything.
‘Well.’ She turns to face me again, but doesn’t quite meet my eye. Under the dim light coming from the flutteringgarden lamp beside us, it’s difficult to make out if her cheeks look more flushed than usual or if I’m imagining it. ‘Thank you, Dane. You’re a—’ She pauses for a second and chuckles, laughing at some unspoken joke that I’m not privy to. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’
And you know what?
I think I could get used to hearing that.
Chapter FourteenELIOTT
‘No Cash?’
It’s been a week since our initial consultation and Dane is standing on Nan’s porch, a bag of tools slung over his shoulder, his signature lopsided grin etched onto his face.
‘Nope. Just me tonight,’ he says, grin widening slightly. ‘Is that a problem?’
I’m not going to pretend like I know anything about patio repair, but I get the impression that it’s definitely the kind of job that would go by much faster with two people on it.
I shrug, matching the nonchalant energy he’s bringing. ‘Can you handle it by yourself?’
He lifts a brow as he steps past me and into Nan’s house, our arms brushing against each other in the narrow space. ‘There’s not much I can’t handle, Eliott.’ He says it with a drawl, drawing out each syllable of my name, like he’s offering me a challenge.
I don’tthinkhe’s doing it on purpose.
