Page 68 of Unspoken Hearts
My gaze sweeps over her usual shorts and tank top, and her bag slung over her shoulder, I can tell she’s just come from writing—most likely from Laynie’s cafe. Her pink lips are tight, like she wants to smile, but isn’t sure about it. I get the sense that something isn’t quite right, stirring my insides.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, standing and brushing my hands on the back on my jeans, heart quickening.
Macie just looks up at me, shakes her head and that familiar smile forms in her cheeks. “No, it’s nothing. I was just speaking with Axel.” She gives a small shrug, but I feel like she’s brushing off something important.
My eyebrows pull together as she looks down at the wooden posts and tools surrounding me. “You’re feeling better and fixing the fence.”
My eyes soften.Was she worried about me this morning?The thought makes my insides warm. I grunt, remembering why I’m out here in the afternoon sun alone. “Dad needed it done. I don’t understand how some of the animals ruin them. They’re sturdy fences.”
“But they’re sturdy animals,” she counters with a slight tease, easing the unsteadiness in my gut.
Peering down into her bright eyes, they’re warm and comforting, but I will myself to not move any closer, despite the magnetism pulling me towards her. It’s becoming stronger by the day, and I’m not sure how much longer I can go without kissing her.
Clearing my throat, I add, “They’re painful sometimes.”
She lets out a small laugh that I want to hear every second of the day before crouching and picking up a hammer. “How can I help?”
“You want to help me?” I question, a dark brow rising.
“Of course.” Macie peers back down at the scattered tools. “You’ll have to tell me what to do, though.”
“I can do that,” I let out gently, thankful that she’s wanting to stay in the heat longer just to help.
I bend down with her, grabbing another fence post from the small pile. Securing the metal bracket in place, I take the hammer from her hand and a nail. Macie grabs a hold of the timber panelling. I give her a small smile of gratitude before getting back to work.
Holding the panel in place, I secure another bracket to the top and bottom of the post. With Macie being this close to me, all I can smell is her floral perfume, tickling my nose pleasantly. I should be used to it by now, but even after all these years, my stomach flips every time I catch the familiar flowery notes.
Dropping the hammer, I reach out to put my calloused hand beside her dainty one, giving the panel a firm shake—it hardly moves. “Good,” I mutter, hoping that this time the animals won’t be able to ruin the fencing when they think it’s fun to wrestle each other.
Grabbing the next piece, I instruct Macie again of where to hold it. My skin is on fire with our proximity and the sun. But the faster we get this done, the quicker I can get some water and shower away the sweat.
Moving to secure in the final piece, I have to crouch around her, lifting up the last panel and hammer in the bracket. My half exposed body is so close to Macie’s that our proximity sends a trickle down every vertebrae. I have to keep myself from leaning forward against her, my breath right against her neck that shivers as I hammer in the last bracket.
“Done.” My tone is quiet, my heart thundering away in my chest as I feel our energies reaching out for each other. The fizzy feeling in my blood starts once more when I force myself to move away. I don’t know if she can feel this simmering tension between us, but it’s starting to consume my body and thoughts. “Thank you for helping with the last bit.”
“Yeah, of course,” Macie lets out, sounding a little breathless.
The corners of my mouth lift. Tossing my shirt back on, I start grabbing everything, trying to juggle all of the tools. Macie takes some things from my hands.
“Thanks.”
Giving me a small grin, she follows me towards the barn where everything is stored. I don’t know where the others are, but Grayson should be home soon from Hollow Grove with Dad. He was roped into going to look for a new bull while I got to fix the fence.
Honestly, I think I got the better end of that deal.
Plus I got to spend more time with Macie, which is always a positive in my eyes.
“Did you get more writing done?” I ask, placing the toolbox on a shelf of the storeroom.
Her head lifts, focusing on me instead of the barn’s crumbling interior. “How did you know I was writing?”
I point to the bag on her shoulder. “Because you have your laptop in your bag, and I know that sometimes it’s hard to focus in the house with all the noise of my brothers and Aspen.”
Her lips quirk with amusement. “That’s true. And I managed to get another chapter done. I still don’t even know if it’s any good.” Her shoulders sink slightly.
My gaze softens on hers, and I watch her throat bob. “I’m sure it’s great, Mae.” I truly believe that. She might not let me read it, but I don’t doubt that it’s not one of the best books ever written.
I might be biased, sue me.
