Every Kind of Heaven by Jillian Hart

heart gave a little tumble—just the tiniest fall.
    It’s just business. That’s all. That’s what it had to be.
    So, why didn’t that rationale feel convincing? Best not to think about that too much. She pushed open the door. Rex sprung in, expertly dodging the sawhorses and piles of fresh wallboard, and she lingered, turning to watch Brice. It was hard not to notice the powerful agile way he hefted the boxes, shut the back of the SUV and locked up.
    He was a great guy—wait, rephrase that. He was a really awesome man. Why did that make her panic?
    â€œIt’s starting to take shape.” His voice and his boots echoed in the big empty shop. “You can see we’ve got the rewiring done. The inspector’s supposed to be here in an hour. Once we get that okayed, the wallboard goes up. Do you like the cathedral ceilings? We were able to punch up a few feet higher than we’d first thought.”
    See? Just business. Ava managed to push asidethe lump of feelings all wadded up in her chest. Did her best not to notice how she felt happy when he was near.
    â€œI love the ceilings. It’s better than I hoped for.” She walked around, giving Brice time to head into the kitchen with the mornings treats, and to put space between them. “The guys have done a great job.”
    She could see her dreams of the new shop taking shape in the shell of the old. She’d have warm honeyed woods, cheerful yellow walls and the scent of happiness in the air. It was finally happening. For real. She thought of Madeline’s call—was it a sign her business would boom? Maybe.
    She had a business to build, not more mistakes to make. She caught sight of Brice unboxing the scones. A tiny question whispered inside her heart: What if he wasn’t a mistake?
    â€œAva, you’ve topped yourself.” He had one of the sunshine face scones in hand.
    â€œI made a double batch, so the construction dudes can take some home to their families.”
    â€œOnce you get this shop open, I hope you know that you’re going to be in demand.”
    â€œFrom your lips to God’s ears,” she said, trying to stay focused on the business. The business. Not on Brice’s kind words.
    He took a bite. “Sheer heaven. You’ll be open soon. Do you have hired help all lined up?”
    â€œAre you kidding? I’ve got enough extendedfamily to hire without even putting an ad in the paper. I’m just hoping this doesn’t wind up being another failure.”
    â€œIt won’t be.” Brice could see the burden of it weighing her down. “You have an excellent quality of product, and the decorating is top notch. It’s all I heard at Chloe’s reception. I think you should believe in yourself a little more. It will turn out fine.”
    â€œYou’re just saying that to be nice, mister.”
    â€œThat’s the idea. I want to be nice to you. This is business, remember? We have this business relationship, but after that, I’m hoping you’ll want more.”
    â€œOh, that’s scarier than starting my own business.” She swiped a lock of golden hair out of her eyes, looking adorable. “It’s that fault-blind thing. You look perfect to me, but it’s just because I can’t see the flaws. It’s like walking blind into a tornado.”
    â€œGood. No man wants you to see his flaws.”
    â€œSome people are better at hiding them than others.” She followed him into the kitchen where sunlight highlighted the drawings he’d set out beside the bakery box. “Take me, my flaws are totally noticeable.”
    â€œI haven’t noticed any flaws.”
    â€œSure you haven’t. What about those accusations?”
    â€œThose were perfectly understandable considering you were confusing me with a Darren Fullerton.”
    Really, he was just trying to get her to like him, and it wasn’t going to work. Absolutely