Love at Furst Sight (Built Fur Love Book 1) Read online

  And oh God, she was going to see Garrett again.

  She’d tried not to think of him, after their awkward first meeting. Sure, he was tall, handsome, and rugged in exactly the way she liked, with the kind of short, manly beard she just wanted to rub her face on. But he was her contractor, nothing more. His kindness, his smiles, his ability to pay acute attention to her were all part of the job he was doing.

  Make the customer happy at all costs.

  At least that’s what she thought it was. Why else a man like that would be paying that much attention to her, she didn’t know.

  Yet there was this electric little spark of anticipation as she turned and drove up to the job site, and it was more than just seeing where they were at in building her house.

  It was at least a little bit about seeing him again.

  She gasped as she saw the perfectly cleared ground and solid concrete foundation in front of her. Framing was already going up as well, and she could see the vague shape of the walls of her house standing in front of her.

  There were tools, machinery, and materials everywhere, and amongst the busy scene… men.

  Oh geez, was this a construction site or a male revue at Las Vegas?

  Yes, it was hot, but did they really have to work with their shirts off?

  The blond-haired man had his hair pulled back in a short ponytail that showed under his Stetson, and his bronzed skin glowed in the sun as he walked across the work site. The one with the dark hair buzzed into an army haircut was bent over a clipboard, frowning as he had been when he met her. His muscles were so defined they could have been used for an anatomy class.

  And then there was Garrett, a pleasant smile on his face as he walked toward his friends, carrying an obscene number of two-by-fours on his shoulder. She wasn’t an expert on strength, but she was pretty sure that amount of weight should be impossible for any one human to carry.

  He turned in her direction, and a wide smile broke over his face.

  His beard was more like stubble this morning. Had he shaved it?

  She could see a bit more of his perfect jaw, and he looked even more handsome, if possible. He looked like the kind of guy that probably had a shadow even if he shaved every day.

  There was something so intimidating about him, his sheer height, his broad shoulders, his obvious strength and power.

  Yet there was that smile, warming everything up and making him seem so much more approachable.

  She liked everything about him and didn’t even know him at all yet.

  She walked forward, telling her heart to stop stammering.

  In the distance, she saw his two friends start to come over as well. So many shoulders, so many abs, so many arms, glistening and bulging in the summer heat…

  “Hunter, Grayson. Get your shirts on,” Garrett barked behind him. “We got a client here right now.”

  She was grateful to be reminded of the other men’s names. “It’s okay, really.”

  “It’s not,” Garrett said, rubbing the back of his neck. “And besides, it’s getting cooler anyway now that it’s evening.”

  It wasn’t necessary, but she was a little glad he was being so considerate about it. As a shut-in who spent practically her whole day on the internet either doing graphic design or reading internet forums, she was not prepared for that much luscious maleness.

  Garrett walked to a nearby trailer and grabbed his shirt off the table in front of her. It was blue flannel, and as he shrugged into it and slowly started to button it up, regret waved through her.

  The urge to reach out and stop his hand surprised her, but it was nearly painful to see that perfect chest disappear beneath so much flannel.

  She bit her lip, trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing here. “So… the job?”

  Garrett gestured for her to take a seat around the campfire with him. It wasn’t lit now, of course, but there were camp chairs around it and she could imagine it got cozy here at night.

  Probably more pleasant than the hotel she’d be staying at.

  “So we’re on target,” Garrett said. “Ahead, actually. The land here is great. The foundation looks perfect. The weather has been on our side. I think the framing is going to go really quickly. So no real updates except that we’re looking good.”

  “It looks amazing,” she said, scanning the work site where Hunter and Grayson were talking about something together, shirts hanging over their shoulders but not all the way on. “I didn’t think it would be this far along in just a few days.”

  Garrett smiled as he leaned back with his hands behind his head. Those long, lean legs stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles, and his whole beautiful body was on display. “That’s why we’re the best in the biz.”

  But there was a twinkle in his eye that made his confidence attractive rather than off-putting.

  He stretched, looking back at the sky, and then sighed as he moved back into a normal position. She was supposed one got tired after doing the kind of work he did, especially when carrying such an unnatural number of two-by-fours.

  “So what’s your plan now?” Garrett asked.

  She eyed him nervously. “Not much of one. I’m going to be staying at the hotel in town until the house is finished. I’ll be doing some work, but I told my clients I was moving and would probably need a break.”

  “Moving is stressful. I get it,” he said.

  “But you travel everywhere,” she retorted. “If it’s stressful, why would you?”

  “Well, travel is different than moving. Uprooting everything and putting it in a different spot is different than relocating when you don’t have roots.”

  “And you don’t have roots?”

  He looked at his friends and the job site. “These are my roots.”

  That was puzzling. She couldn’t imagine not longing for a place to call your own. A home placed in a certain location. But perhaps he had one of those where he went when he wasn’t on a job.

  “So just going to stay at the hotel?” Garrett asked. “You can’t mean the Silver Creek Lodge.”

  “Yes, that one,” she said. “That’s all I could find online.”

  Garrett put his chin in his hand, shaking his head slowly. “You be careful there. That’s more of a collection of shacks than a hotel.”

  “It looked quaint.”

  “Make sure there are deadlocks,” he retorted.

  She leaned back, folding her arms. “I’m not sure why it’s your business.”

  His usually jovial eyes hardened, and for some reason she found that attractive. “You’re my client, and I care about my clients. So you have my number. You call me if anything is a problem. I’ll be over there ASAP.”

  She nodded, relaxing slightly. He wasn’t trying to control her. He was just looking out for her. She should be grateful for that, now that she was out here all alone.

  Yet, as someone who’d always looked out for herself, other than those years her grandpa had taken her in as a child, having someone be protective was vaguely uncomfortable.

  But it also drew her toward him in a weird way.

  “Well, thanks,” she said, trying to sound gracious. “It should be fine, but I’ll let you know. If anything, I’ll probably just die of boredom. They make you go over to the cafe to get on the internet, and it’s closed at night, so I don’t know what I’ll do then.” She grinned. “Who would not have in-room Wi-Fi these days?”

  “Can you use your phone?” Garrett asked.

  She shook her head. “My network isn’t great out here. I’m going to have to talk to the people in town, get on a new plan. See who has reception out here.”

  “Sounds good,” Garrett said. “I can help find out if you like. We’ve been in town the past few nights, gotten to know a few of the locals.”

  “Oh, that’s nice,” she said, wondering what they’d been doing.

  Garrett shifted his massive weight, making his camp chair creak. “Want to come out with us tonight?” His
tone was confident, but his expression was slightly nervous, if she wasn’t imagining it.

  “Where?”

  “The bar. Hunter and Grayson have taken to playing cards there. I’d be happy to get you a drink, introduce you to the owner.”

  She smiled, getting the feeling Garrett was the type to win over people wherever he went. A big, friendly bear of a man. “That could be nice.”

  She still had stuff to move into the hotel room and so many things to do. But the thought of relaxing in a bar in the town closest to her new home was too tempting.

  Besides, if she was going to be here, she should probably make some friends.

  “Want me to pick you up or meet us there?”

  She shook her head. “I’ll get there on my own. The Silver Rush, right?”

  Garrett nodded. “If it’s dark—”

  She laughed, tucking her hair behind her ear. His protectiveness made her feel girlish in a way she hadn’t for a long time, even if she knew he was just looking out for a client. But it was unnecessary. She was a big girl and could take care of herself. “Thanks, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I have bear spray.”

  His dark eyebrows raised. “What for?”

  “I’ve heard it’s stronger than mace,” she said.

  “What you want is a gun,” a blunt voice cut in, and she looked up to see Grayson looking down at them with folded arms.

  His shirt was on, but not buttoned, exposing his hard chest, and his expression was intense.

  “Oh, uh, I’m not sure I would know how to use one.”

  “We could fix that,” Hunter said pleasantly. His eyes were a shocking light blue in the sun, and a lock was falling free of his short ponytail. “Maybe after work sometime.”

  Garrett cleared his throat. “She’ll be fine, you guys.” He stood, reaching out a hand to help her up. God, even his hand was so big, so strong her fingers felt lost in it.

  He pulled her up easily, and she had to steady herself when she stood.

  “I’ll see you tonight,” she said shyly.

  Hunter smiled. “Oh, coming out with us, then?”

  “Just to meet the locals,” Garrett said sharply. His demeanor with his friends was oddly harsh compared to how he spoke to her.

  But Hunter didn’t seem bothered and just slung an arm around Garrett’s waist. “We’ll see you there, sweetheart.”

  Garrett lifted a hand and shoved Hunter off him, then pinned him with a glare. “Her name is Dawn. Have respect.”

  Hunter tipped his hat. “My apologies.”

  Dawn couldn’t resist a giggle. Despite the way these men looked and how big they were, she couldn’t help feeling comfortable around them. “I accept.”

  “Good,” Grayson said grumpily. “Then we can get back to work, and you can go off to… wherever you’re off to.” He gave her a terse nod. “Have a great day.”

  As Grayson headed back to the work site, Hunter following behind, Garrett gave her an apologetic smile, rubbing his beard. “Sorry about that one. He’s a little…”

  “Intense?”

  “Yeah, that would cover it.”

  She smiled. “I like people who are open about things. Makes it easier to know what they think.”

  He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, then thought better of it and bit his lower lip. “That’s good.”

  “So anyway, I’ll see you later. Around like seven?”

  “More like nine. We tend to work until nightfall, though we can make an exception if you want to.”

  “No, nine is fine. Gives me time to eat and get settled in.” She headed toward her truck. “See you later, then?”

  He nodded and gave her a small salute. “Looking forward to it.”

  Then he was walking back to the job site, leaving her with an odd prickling sensation at his words.

  Maybe he just said that to everyone, but he’d said it both times he saw her. And he seemed to actually mean it. Like he wanted to see her again.

  She told herself to stop being delusional about her contractor, no matter how handsome he was, and got back in her van to drive to her new temporary home.

  Chapter 4

  Later that night, Dawn was grateful she’d accepted Garrett’s offer to go out for a drink with the guys because the hotel room had turned out to feel even colder and lonelier than she’d expected.

  Maybe it was just the contrast of the small, cramped space in comparison to the beautiful, well-lit clearing that would be her home.

  Maybe it was just the feeling of being alone instead of with the friendly guys at the work site.

  Either way, she was glad to be leaving her room.

  What she didn’t know was why she was bothering to put on makeup.

  Even with all the effort in the world, she probably wouldn’t look like the type of woman these guys pursued.

  They could have models and probably liked tall women that could reach them on tiptoes, not tiny women like her.

  She stared at her reflection, at her straight, bright-red hair that hit her shoulders, at her plain but pleasant features and her quiet gray eyes.

  She tucked her hair behind one ear and leaned in to touch up her red lipstick, the one accent she liked to do when going out.

  Even if she would never look like the kind of woman who would fit in next to those men, she would do her best to be presentable and feel confident.

  After all, she might be able to meet some new people tonight.

  When she was done prepping, she dropped her lipstick in her purse and took one last look in the mirror at her gray sweater and skinny jeans, deciding she looked all right.

  Luckily, the bar was just a bit down the street from her, so she locked her door and headed out into the cool night air.

  It was just getting dark even though it was almost nine, and she marveled at how different the buildings in this town looked compared to the city she’d come from.

  Some of the buildings were rundown, some were quaint and clearly restored. In particular, there was a little museum she wanted to explore at some point. There were also a few arts and crafts galleries, though she guessed those were only open at certain times when people would be passing through.

  Her whole impression of the town had been that it was quiet and sleepy and that it would probably suit her well for the occasional trip into town. There were bigger towns farther out if she needed them.

  When she reached the bar, warm light was pouring down the steps and onto the street, and she walked up toward the open bar with a little bit of trepidation.

  Would Garrett and his friends be there already?

  As she stepped up and walked into the bar, she saw rustic wood on every surface, from the floor to the roughly hewn tables to the beautiful knotted wood of the bar. Metal accents here and there caught her eye, aged to make the place look even more masculine.

  And there wasn’t a single female in the place.

  She gulped, adjusting her purse over her shoulder as a dozen or so male eyes locked on her.

  “Hi,” she said, giving an awkward wave. “I’m new here in town. I’ll be living out by the pond, and…” She trailed off at the cold stares she was getting.

  Oh dear, were there no women in this town?

  But then as she stood there awkwardly, a woman appeared from the back room, and a smile lit her face as she saw Dawn.

  “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” the woman said. She had dark hair streaked with gray and beautiful green-brown eyes. She looked to be in her mid-fifties, and she reached out a hand for Dawn to sit at the counter next to the bar, ignoring the stares of the men around them.

  “Haven’t you ever seen a woman before?” the woman shouted, putting her hands on her hips, which were wide and generous.

  The men looked away, ashamed, going back to their drinks and conversation.

  “Sorry about that,” the woman said. “They don’t get to see pretty new women in here often. Not when it’s not tourist season.”

&nbs
p; “And it’s not right now?”

  “Heavens no,” the woman said. “It’ll pick up again in the fall, though.”

  “So there aren’t any… women here normally?”

  “Oh, they’re around all right, but they’re taken, for the most part.” She stretched out a hand for Dawn to shake it. It was callused and warm. “I’m Mina, by the way. My husband owns the hotel in town, and I own the bar.”

  “Oh, yes,” Dawn said, feeling slightly guilty for her earlier, unkind thoughts toward the hotel room. “I’m staying there.”

  “And you’re building out by the pond?” Mina asked. “I think I heard something about that. From those boys you must be working with.”

  Dawn hoped the flush creeping up her neck wasn’t noticeable. “Oh, right. Garrett and his friends.”

  “Right,” Mina said. “Garrett, Hunter, and Grayson. They’ve already made a pretty big mark on us. I hope a storm delays their schedule so they don’t have to go anytime soon.” Mina bit her lip. “Wait, I mean, I don’t want your house to not get built. I just mean—”

  Dawn laughed. “I get what you mean. They’re nice guys. Not that I know them well yet, but—”

  “Yeah, very nice guys. Cute guys, too.” Mina’s smile was mischievous, which caused Dawn to flush once again.

  “So you’re at the hotel. That means you probably haven’t eaten, right? Did you order that god-awful room service?”

  Dawn grimaced, not knowing how to respond.

  “I knew it,” Mina said. “I told that damn husband of mine to fire his cousin, because he’s no chef. But you know how it is. Family.”

  “Ah, yes,” Dawn said. But she really didn’t. She hadn’t had any family be good to her except for her grandpa, so she didn’t really know what it meant to feel an obligation for anyone just because they were related.

  “You hang tight,” Mina said. “I’m just going to whip you up a quick sandwich. And in the future, don’t bother with room service. Just come over here. I’d like the company, and I can make you anything better than that damn cousin of my husband’s.”

  Dawn laughed. “I’d like that.”

  “Except in the morning,” Mina said. “You’d be best getting your breakfast at the cafe. Might even see me there since we don’t open the bar ‘til the afternoon.” Then Mina disappeared with a wave into the back room.