“The ground here is uneven.” My hand finds the small of his back. “Can’t have another worksite accident.”
“One is more than enough for my lifetime.” He shudders. “And I’d be lying if I said this uneven ground didn’t wreak havoc with my leg.”
“One point in favor of the condo in Pinecrest?” I ask as we leave the job site and stop at the safety station.
“I’m still weighing my options.” Grady pulls his hat off and deposits it in the used bucket. He rakes a hand through his hair, setting his blond waves back to rights. “None of the units I’ve toured so far have called to me.”
We stroll along the straw-covered path toward the cabin where Grady is staying with Kyle.
The breeze carries pine sap and distant salt water, and he draws in a deep breath. “This island really does help clear my head?—”
He cuts off as his cane catches on a shallow rut, and his foot comes down wrong, his bad leg buckling. A surprised sound escapes him as he tumbles toward the ground.
“Whoa, there!” I catch him by the forearm and waist, bracing my boots into the dirt to turn his fall so he tips toward me instead of the ground.
His hand grips my jacket, fingers digging in, and for a heartbeat, we’re tangled together, breath to breath.
“Got you,” I say, my pulse spiking.
He exhales shakily, forehead dipping until it almost brushes my shoulder. “Dammit. Sorry.”
“Hey.” I tighten my hold instead of letting go. “You didn’t fall. That’s a win.”
He laughs weakly and straightens, testing his balance before easing back an inch. My hands linger, the one at his waist flexing, the other warm around his arm.
“Thanks,” he says. “I hate that feeling. It’s as if my body just decides to give up sometimes.”
“You’re allowed to need help sometimes.”
“I know.” His mouth curves, soft and a little self-conscious. “Doesn’t mean I like it.”
“Most people don’t.” I make sure he’s regained his balance before releasing him with effort. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Pride’s bruised. Leg’s fine.” He taps the ground with his cane before he faces me again. “You didn’t even hesitate.”
“Why would I?”
He lets out a long sigh, as if he can’t help himself.
“I enjoy this,” he confesses. “Being here. With you. The site, the walks, the lunch meetups. I’d be lying if I said they didn’t weigh in favor of staying on the island for now.”
I reach out to brush the hair back from his forehead. “I enjoy all of those things, too.”
My eyes drop to his mouth before I can stop myself, and his breath hitches.
My fingers drift to his jaw, tilting his chin up. I shouldn’t. Kissing Grady would add complications. But closing the distance is inevitable, and I’m already leaning in.
A high-pitched whistle cuts through the air.
“Boss!” One of the crew jogs toward us, clipboard tucked under his arm. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got an issue on the west forms. One anchor shows signs of movement.”
The moment snaps, and I step back, heat flooding my cheeks as I force my mind to shift gears. “Yeah. Give me one minute.”
Grady clears his throat, composure sliding back into place. “Sounds important.”
“It is,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Grady steps back to put an appropriate distance between us. “I should get back to work, too.”