Free Her Bucking Bronc by Beth Williamson

over, and touch every inch of the build.
    He found himself allowing her to do what she needed to. Hannah was passionate about the restaurant. It wasn’t just a business to her. It was part of who she was. Dylan pulled the knife from his back pocket, sat down, and started eating the pie with it.
    At this angle, he had a clear view of her shapely ass. And as a bonus, the delicious breakfast she’d brought him. No matter what she said or did, the jobsite was his domain and he would run it as he saw fit. There was an extent to how much he’d let her venture.
    “Is this where the pantry will be?” she called from about fifty feet away.
    “Yep. And the cistern will be to the left of it.” He took another bite of pie. Jesus, he could gain ten pounds if she kept this up.
    “Cistern?” She’d returned to stand in front of him. The breeze ruffled the runaway strands of hair and they caressed the side of her cheek.
    “I had Lucas add a cistern to use for the gray water in the building. It’s in the addendum on the last page of the plans. We’re also building in solar panels on the back roof. It gets southwest exposure so it will have sun a good portion of the day.” He got to his feet. “I’ve got to put this pie away before I eat the whole thing.”
    She followed him back to the construction trailer. “I didn’t know you were doing those kinds of things.”
    He shrugged. “It’s the way we need to build nowadays. Resources are finite, so we need to use as much of the eco-friendly kind as we can.”
    “I like it.” She plopped down in the chair behind the desk. “What other surprises are in store?”
    “Nothing so far. In this business, surprises are not good. The more you plan, the better you’ll be.” He set the pie in the small fridge in the corner. “You ready to get going? I need to be back here by noon for a delivery.”
    She pulled folded up papers from her purse. “I’ve got the list of appliances and measurements. I scanned the blueprints and shrank them down to an eight-by-ten paper. I’ve color-coded them by cold, hot, vegetable-fruit and meat. I’m also going to add a second espresso machine for the Devils’ Corner.”
    “Did you hear from the bank?” He was going to be blunt with her, no matter what.
    She blew out a breath. “The check got cashed three days ago. There’s nothing they can do.”
    “You need an attorney.”
    “Yes, I know.” She folded the papers and held them with a white-knuckled grip. “My cousin Naomi is a lawyer. I have an appointment with her tomorrow.”
    He frowned. “Is there anyone in this town not connected to your family?”
    “Don’t like the Blackwoods?” she snapped.
    “I don’t have a feeling one way or the other about your family. It’s just everywhere I turn, I run into them.” He picked up the keys to the truck. “Ready?”
    “You’re a stubborn cuss, aren’t you?” She scowled at him. “Like a bronc that won’t be ridden.”
    He scowled back at her. “I won’t ever be saddle broke. I suspect neither will you.”
    She opened her mouth then closed it again. “Two weeks ago I would’ve told you I was already broken. Now I’m not sure that’s true.” She got to her feet. “Let’s go, cowboy.”
    The ride to the appliance scratch and dent place was much different than the one to Jorgensens’ the day before. The air was no longer comfortable. It almost crackled with tension. Dylan wouldn’t have brought her if he’d been thinking straight. She muddled his mind.
    When they pulled in, she jumped out of the truck and waited by the door, her papers in hand. Her expression was tight with tension.
    “I appreciate you bringing me here.” She sounded like she was making a dental appointment.
    “Next time I won’t. You don’t have to be involved in every minute decision, you know. Some of us have to dig our way up from the bottom, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t good at what we do. I need this job, Hannah.” He wasn’t about to