Dex nodded and watched her work. She brought some pink lacy number to a brunette standing near the register and chatted happily with her. The woman looked at Michelle like a beacon of beauty and grace. Because she was. She was personable and obviously knew what her customers wanted, because the brunette took the pink lace and nodded happily before pulling out her wallet.
Dex watched Michelle check out each woman. She looked them in the eye. Made time for just them. Took a moment to answer any questions, and never once did she look nervous. She was in her element. Dex felt a surge of pride hit him.
“Have a great evening,” Michelle said to the last woman, walking her to the door. She locked it behind her and made her way through the store and back toward Dex. He’d never taken his eyes off of her. She was confident as she wound through her shop. Clearly she knew each detail of the pieces she carried. This was her wilderness as much as the mountains were his, and she looked strong, sexy and capable as hell in it. He knew she was looking to gain confidence and experiences, and he wanted to be a part of that.
“And thank you for waiting,” she said, finally closing in on him.
“Of course. I’m glad you’re giving me your time. I have a few things that I can teach you,” he started. There was a lot he wanted to teach her, but in the spirit of staying professional, sort of, he had some GPS training, survival, compass, and other skills he could begin with. He could check off a few things from his list, then he’d check off a few things from hers. “First thing tomorrow, we can start.”
“I was thinking we’d start now,” she said with a smile.
All right, he could be down for that. Except… “I didn’t bring my GPS,” he said, and part of him felt like a loser.
“You won’t need your GPS,” she said.
He frowned. “That’s kind of important for what I have in mind.”
“Yes, but not for what I have in mind.”
He liked where this was going. He took a step toward her and grinned. “Oh, I see. Luring me here after hours. Playing innocent. Why ma’am, are you trying to seduce me?” he teased.
She took her own confident step toward him, coming so close he could smell her. He’d taken a shower since he’d seen her last but didn’t bother shaving. Clean T-shirt and jeans was as far as he went, but she was looking at him as if he were in some tux on the runway. It was nice when a woman looked at him like that. When she looked at him like that.
“Maybe I am,” she whispered, and when her finger barely tapped his belt clasp, he stifled a breath. For an innocent, upper-class woman, she had a commanding presence. “And I want to start with…” those lips came closer… “the light fixtures.”
She stepped away just as he leaned in, causing him to barely miss her lips.
“These two in here—” she pointed above her head at the lights “—need to go. I have the replacements in the back. So if you could change those out for me, that’d be great.”
“Hold up,” he said, half shocked and half pissed that he’d been so close to her mouth, yet she’d denied him. “I’m not changing the lighting in here, princess. I’m not a damn handyman at your beck and call.”
“Oh? I’m so sorry!” she said with mock southern charm obviously put on just for him, because this woman was from the East Coast. Likely New York. “I thought you came to me demanding my time. Well, this is the time I can give you, and I’m a busy woman. So you can either help me and I’ll trade my time for yours, or you can let yourself out.”
He looked her over. She was a wily one. Stubborn. And didn’t give up. Something he should have known from last night.
“Changing your light fixtures isn’t survival or wilderness training.”
She shrugged. “Well, it’s not skydiving, either. But it’s an hour, which is what you need, right? While you change the light, you can tell me about bear safety or something.”
He laughed. She was good, but he was better. “All right, princess, I’ll play. Because yes, I need the hours. But when I’m done with the lights, I get to train you in survivor awareness.”
“I’m not going back out to the woods tonight.”
“I’ll train you right here. In your shop.”
She frowned, thinking over his offer, so he sweetened the deal. “My time for yours, right? It’s only fair.” Not to mention that list of hers, but he wouldn’t bring that up now.
With a roll of her eyes, she said, “Fine.”
Adrenaline rushed through him at her agreement.
When she stomped back to get the fixtures and small toolbox, he smiled to himself and set to his task. One hour was enough time to teach her a thing or two. And he knew exactly where to start.
Chapter Six
Michelle was pretty proud of herself. She sat behind the small counter and filed receipts while Dex was up on a step stool, putting in the last screw of the light fixture. She was all about independence, but she’d tried changing the light fixture herself last week and wasn’t tall enough to maneuver all the parts. She’d called for a contractor, but it would take another week to get someone there.