He knew why Jack was being that way with Beverly.
To tease Roy.
Not that he was going to get into all of that with Beverly.
Roy cleared his throat. "That anyone would treat you like decoration... that just blows my mind. You're too strong and intelligent for that."
"Thank you, but I'll admit it. It's going to be a lot harder for me going forward now that... People don't expect a construction company to be a one-woman job. For the most part, it's not, but... without my father..."
"Wait, are you trying to say people aren't likely to hire you because you're one person or because you're..."
"Because I'm a woman."
"That's ridiculous. In this day and age?"
"It is what it is."
"That's terrible."
"And that's why I'm so grateful to you for this job, for trusting me... and for working alongside me. I'm going to have to hire someone else full-time, and the money from this job is going to go a long ways toward that."
"I'm glad," he said sincerely. "Anything I can do to help."
He opened his mouth to say more, wanting to offer his services to her job, but he was a cowboy. He would only be able to work for her full-time a day or two a week at the most, and if he wanted to work after his chores were finished at the orchard, that would mean the sun would be setting, so how much work could he offer her? Besides maybe picking up material orders, he wasn't sure he could do much.
Still, it was something he could consider making an offer of once the job was over and he had a chance to see if that was something he truly wanted to do.
Not just because he thought Beverly had a beautiful face and a wonderful soul that he desperately wanted to help. Because he would need to want to continue the job even if she rejected him.
If he did work up the courage to ask her out.
"I appreciate it," she said with a warm smile. "More than you know, I appreciate it."
She nodded to him and climbed into her car. He watched as she started the engine, began to back up her car, and then stopped total the hard hat off her he'd and put it on the passenger seat beside her. Adorable.
He waved, and she returned the gesture before driving off.
Roy climbed into his truck and checked his phone to see a text message from Jack.
Call when you're finished work... unless you're going to eat dinner with Beverly.
Roy snorted and called Jack.
"So, no dinner with Beverly, huh? How about your brothers instead?" Jack asked. "My place."
"You guys haven't even yet?" Roy asked, surprised. It was getting late. Normally, they would all leave the orchard to eat immediately. Manual labor sure worked up an appetite.
"No. We were waiting on you. I was hoping that our hungry bellies would be filled without your presence, but..."
Roy snorted. "Why did you flirt with her so much?"
"Ah, so you do like her."
Roy could hear the grin in Jack's voice. "No, I just don't know if it's appropriate—"
"I was just being friendly," Jack protested. "Did I make her uncomfortable?"
"No," Roy said.