Page 71 of Falling for the Grumpiest Protector

"Of course."

I glance down at it.

"Yes. The tomato."

Her smile tells me she doesn't believe me. She shouldn't. She takes the tomato this time and sets it carefully into the crate. Neither of us says anything for a moment. Then she reaches for another. And I realize I'm smiling.

Later, I'm carrying a delivery sheet across the yard when I hear Hart laugh. She's coming out of the training barn with Emma, her hair pulled back and her sleeves pushed to her elbows. She says something to Emma. Then she notices me.

Whatever she was about to say stops. Her eyes meet mine. And she smiles. Small. Slow. Nothing like the smile she was giving Emma a second ago. This one is mine. I feel it from thirty yards away. I smile back.

Emma follows Hart's gaze. Damn it.

Hart notices. Her smile gets wider. Mine probably does too. Then she turns and continues toward the barn.

Jack steps up beside me.

"Subtle."

"Didn't ask."

"Didn't say you did."

He keeps walking. I look at the delivery sheet in my hand. I've been staring at the same line for the last thirty seconds. This is becoming a problem. The strange thing is, I'm not sure I want to fix it.

By early afternoon, we're checking the last boxes for the community delivery. Hart comes around the table and stops beside me to look at the order sheet. Closer than necessary. I notice. I'm beginning to think she knows I notice.

"Which one is Miller?" she asks.

I point to the fourth line. She leans closer to read it. Her arm settles lightly against mine. Neither of us moves.

"Got it."

She stays where she is. So do I. I turn my head. She looks up. For a moment, we're simply standing there. Close enough that I can see the tiny crease that appears between her eyebrows when she's concentrating. Her eyes drop briefly to my mouth. Then come back. Not the first time today. Definitely not the first time I've noticed.

"Hart."

"Hmm?"

Neither of us says anything else. Cole calls from across the barn.

"Madison, do you know where Drew put the labels?"

She blinks. Then steps away.

"Coming."

She starts toward him, then glances back at me.

"Later, Martinez."

"Later, Hart."

She walks away. And for the first time all day, the word later sounds like a promise.

After lunch, Drew steals Cole for a delivery and leaves Hart with several boxes of workshop supplies that need to go into storage. I find her attempting to carry three at once.

"You know we have carts."