Jake (Heart River Valley: Montana Protectors #1)

Epilogue 2

6 months later

Elena

T he bell above my gallery door chimes, but I don't look up from where I'm spotting Garrett and Jake as they maneuver a massive steel-and-copper sculpture through the space. Garrett designed it as a favor – apparently demolitions expert turned metal artist is a natural career progression – but if they drop this thing, I'll never hear the end of it from my insurance company.

“Little to the left,” I direct, then freeze at the sound of Rachel's voice.

“Elena, I'm going to murder someone if I don’t get more contractor recommendations. Every single one I spoke to is booked until—” She stops dead, and I don't blame her.

Garrett Mitchell is balanced on some scaffolding, muscles straining against his black t-shirt as he secures the sculpture's upper mount. A tattoo curls up his neck, disappearing into dark hair tied back in a way that only really hot guys can pull off. Even from here, I can see the moment he registers Rachel's presence. His hands still on the metal, and his storm-gray eyes lock onto her like guidance systems.

“Careful,” Jake warns, but it's too late. The sculpture shifts, and Garrett has to pull some kind of acrobatic move to keep it stable. He manages – barely – but now he's eye-level with Rachel, hanging off the makeshift scaffolding with one arm like some kind of circus performer.

“Hi,” he says, voice rough. The scaffolding wobbles.

Rachel blinks. Opens her mouth. Closes it. Finally manages, “That's quite an entrance.”

“I like to hang around pretty women.” The corner of his mouth ticks up, and – oh my God, is Garrett Mitchell actually flirting?

“Smooth,” Rachel says, but she's fighting a smile. “Do you always do your installations one-handed, or am I special?”

“You should see what I can do with no hands.”

Jake makes a choking sound.

“If you two are done,” I cut in, “this very expensive piece is still not actually attached to my wall.”

“Right.” Garrett swings back up, all controlled power, and I don't miss how Rachel's eyes track the movement. “Although I heard something about contractor problems?”

“They're all booked for months,” Rachel sighs. “Apparently deciding to renovate six cabins heading into winter wasn't my brightest move.”

Garrett secures the final mount with precise movements. “Six cabins?”

“Rachel just bought a fixer-upper retreat,” Jake says, and I see the gleam in his eye. Oh, he's definitely plotting something. “You know, you're between jobs right now...”

“I am,” Garrett says slowly, stepping down from the scaffolding. He moves like someone very aware of his body, and very aware of Rachel watching it. “And I do have experience with mountain renovations.”

“Do you also have experience with electricity that doesn't short out every time it snows? Heat that actually heats? Plumbing that—”

“Honey,” he interrupts, and the endearment somehow sounds both condescending and hot, “I once built an entire forward operating base from scratch. In a war zone. Pretty sure I can handle some cabins.”

Rachel's eyes narrow. “Did you just call me honey?”

“Would you prefer 'ma'am'?”

“I'd prefer Rachel.”

“Rachel,” he says, and somehow makes her name sound like a challenge. “I can start tomorrow. But I'll need a place to stay while I work.”

“The cabins have caretaker's quarters,” she says. “If you don't mind rough conditions.”

His smile turns wicked. “I like it rough.”

Jake actually facepalms.

“The sculpture,” I remind them loudly. “Can we please finish with the very expensive sculpture before you two make any more plans?”

They both start, like they'd forgotten anyone else was here. Garrett turns back to the sculpture, but I catch him stealing glances at Rachel. She pretends to study the piece's copper curves while actually watching his hands as he makes final adjustments.

“It's gorgeous,” she says finally. “The way the metal seems to flow... you designed this?”

Something in Garrett's face softens. “Metal's honest. It either works or it doesn't. No pretense.”

“Unlike people?”

Their eyes meet again, and this time there's something more than just heat. Recognition, maybe. Understanding.

“Dinner?” Jake suggests innocently. Too innocently. “We could discuss the renovation plans.”

“I should really get back to the cabins,” Rachel says, but she's not moving toward the door.

“You should eat,” Garrett says. “Can't have my new boss falling off a mountain from hunger.”

“Your new boss?”

“Unless you're scared to hire me?”

Rachel lifts her chin. “I don't scare easily.”

“No,” Garrett says softly, eyes intense. “I don't imagine you do.”

∞∞∞

Read Rachel and Garrett’s story next!

Curious about Isabella and Tony? Read their story here.