Page 35 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Outside a narrow, two-storey building, Zach paused. The door opened in front of them with a tormented creaking sound. “We’re not sure what this building will be used for. Anything you think that’s worth salvaging, make a note or stick a pin in it.”
“What was this place?” Karen asked as they paced through the rooms. “Definitely not a house. Not a barn.”
A soft cough of amusement rose from Lisa as she riffled through some papers in the corner. “It looks as if somebody might have lived here.”
Karen slipped over to join her and glanced down at a bunch of flyers and ancient newspapers. One announced baths for an astonishingly low price.
It was the one that showed a dance hall poster that made her hesitate. And the one under that.
“Dance hall? Ladies for hire?” She turned to the others, amusement rising. “Finn Marlette, you bought yourself a house of ill repute.”
Finn had been tryinghis best to give her space, but with Karen’s eyes laughing at him, he gave in to temptation.
He stepped forward, closing the gap between them. “You’ve no idea how bad Zach has been teasing me about saving wood from this place.”
Something close to a donkey bray escaped his best friend, but it really was too funny. In the midst of a shit ton of work they had to get done, it was good to have some things to lighten the mood.
Zach clapped his hands to get their attention and force them back to work. “Let’s keep moving. Those papers are in the pile of things we’re saving, because yes, I think it’s hysterical we managed to grab the one place in the area that has a very—ahem—rich history.”
They headed down the hallway, peeking into what must’ve been individual rooms. Not much was left except the structure itself, but Karen ran a hand down the dark walnut paneling with approval. “These would be beautiful reused.”
They’d made it through about a half dozen rooms, picking out things that were worth saving, when Ollie took off. She barked loudly as she headed up the stairs to the second floor.
Lisa apologized quickly, slipping after her pet. “Sorry. Don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
Karen stepped toward the next room, sliding past Finn close enough that their bodies touched. Warm and soft and sneakily intimate. The hallway was narrow enough to explain having bumped together, but that didn’t answer why she had that look in her eyes. Her hips swayed just enough to brush against him a second time.
He stared, hunger aching in his gut.
Reality returned in a rush when Zach nudged his side. His friend’s concern shone clearly as he pointed upward. “I don’t know that anyone should be running around on the second level.”
Shit. “Lisa, hold up. It might not be stable up there.”
That got everybody’s attention.
Karen was on the move as well, calling after her sister. “Lisa. Slow down and call Ollie back.”
“It’s okay. The stairs are solid, and she’s right here.” Lisa stopped at the top of the landing then bent and wiggled her fingers. “Come on, sweetie. Come show me what you found.”
Finn slipped up the stairs and past Lisa, assessing the boards between him and the dog. “I’ll grab her.”
He moved slowly, trying to guess where the support beams were beneath the floorboards.
Ollie was sitting now, nose pointed intently at a small hole in the corner of the room. Finn got down on his hands and knees and peered inside to discover a pair of diamond-shaped eyes staring back at him.
The teeniestmeowtriggered a series of barks from Ollie, and suddenly the kitten was gone, back into the wall.
“I’ll grab this one for you, then I’ve got someone else to deal with.” Finn had Ollie by the scruff a second later, transporting the squirming beast back to her owner.
Lisa tucked Ollie under her arm and slipped down the stairs.
“Need a hand?” Zach asked.
“Careful,” Karen said. The two of them stood at the top of the stairs. Karen’s gaze snapped over the floorboards with growing horror. “Finn? I think you’d better get back here.”
The meow sounded again.
To hell with it. Finn dropped to his knees, reaching into the hole and hoping nobody had set rat traps in the building in the past.
