Harbor Lights by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online

looked at it. “Okay, this looks easy enough,” he said, faking confidence.
    She frowned at that. “Really? It makes sense to you?”
    He considered lying to reassure her, then shrugged instead. “Not really, but we’re two intelligent adults. Surely we can figure this out. If not, I have an ace in the hole.”
    “Oh?”
    “My dad,” he said succinctly. It might be humiliating to call in Mick, but in the interest of making sure these shelves didn’t tumble down on top of Shanna the instant the first books were stacked on them, it might be necessary.
    “Isn’t putting bookshelves together a poor use of hisskills?” she asked. “He’s an architect, right? A really famous one?”
    “He is, but he’ll see this as an act of kindness,” Kevin said. “He seems to be open to all sorts of unusual opportunities these days.”
    She studied his expression. “You sound bitter.”
    “Maybe, just a little,” he said. “But that’s a story for another day. You read and point. I’ll assemble.”
    “Works for me,” she said.
    An hour later they had the frame for the first set of shelves assembled and the backing nailed on. It even seemed relatively sturdy. Kevin stood it upright and gave it a gentle shove, just to be sure. It sat squarely in place. “Not bad,” he murmured.
    “It’s excellent,” Shanna said.
    He laughed at her enthusiasm. “Let’s not get carried away. Where do you want it?”
    When he’d positioned it to her satisfaction, they installed the movable shelves.
    “Perfect,” she announced, then met his gaze. “There are only fifteen more units to go.”
    Kevin swallowed hard. “Fifteen?”
    She nodded, her expression apologetic. “You don’t have to help with all of them. I think I’ve figured it out from watching you. And the units for the children’s books are smaller. I can handle those, I think.”
    It was the I think that kept him squarely in place. He resigned himself to a very long day. “I’m here. We might as well finish, or at least get as many done as we can today.”
    And as long as they were focused on the shelves, there was little time for personal chitchat, no time for his gaze to linger on her soft curves and the shapely legs revealedby a pair of shorts. There were only a few spare seconds for that quick hint of betrayal that flashed through him when he did feel a stirring of interest in this woman who wasn’t Georgia.
    That thought was so troubling, he stood up abruptly. “First, though, I think we need some lunch. I’ll run over to Sally’s and pick something up. Anything in particular you want?”
    Shanna looked startled, but she recovered quickly. “Sure, a tuna on whole wheat would be great. Maybe some chips.” She met his gaze. “But I’m buying. I’ll get my purse.”
    “I’ll pay for it,” Kevin said, but she’d already turned and headed to the back room.
    He stood staring after her. In that instant, he realized for the first time that she was as skittish as he was, maybe even more so. If looking at her aroused his masculine appreciation, then this sign of vulnerability intrigued him in a way that was far more frightening. It was one thing to be here, helping out a newcomer to town. It was something else entirely to allow himself to be fascinated by her. Bree would gloat from now till doomsday if she ever found out her scheme just might be working.
     
    Shanna had recognized the panic in Kevin’s eyes earlier in the day. She was pretty sure it was reflected in her own. After that one moment of disconcerting awareness, she’d been careful the rest of the day to avoid his gaze, to keep the conversation impersonal.
    Of course, there was only so much to be said about the assembly of the bookshelves, especially since after a while it had become almost routine. An awkward silence had fallen between them. She’d had no idea how to break itwithout venturing through the minefield that was apparently his life these days.
    It occurred to her that if she