She sat up in bed and listened for a sound. His shirt was lying on the floor, but his jeans were gone. She slowly stood up and began tiptoeing toward the hallway. He could have left already, but she found it odd he would have left bare-chested. Oh God. His chest. She stood at her doorway as she envisioned it in her mind.
The memory of how his body looked, the way his well-defined muscles spread across his torso, it was all too yummy for her to have been able to resist. She was only human, after all. On the surface, he may come across as this ordinary guy, some contractor in a small town on the northeastern tip of the United States, but she had learned last night he had a lot more to offer than met the eye.
His body had been a gorgeous sight to see. It was the rest of him that truly had done her in, though. His kiss had been breathtaking, so much so, she felt dizzy from the way his tongue worked inside her mouth. Had he not picked her up when he did, she might have just fallen over. The man definitely had a way about him, especially when he finally slid inside her. The pleasure he gave her was more than she had anticipated. Her orgasm had definitely taken her by surprise. The only time her ex had ever managed to bring her to that point was with the help of sex toys. He sure liked those. Not that she minded. It at least made being with him enjoyable.
After divorcing Carl and trying to move on with her life, only to have him stalk her every move, she had never been given the chance to date, much less meet a man she was willing to allow in her bed. Carl was the only man she’d ever been with. Other than some heavy petting in her younger days, every experience she’d ever had was with the very man she feared the most.
Being with Kade last night awoke a part of her she didn’t even know existed. Her body reacted to him in ways she had never experienced with Carl. Granted, Carl was a possessive, overbearing, domineering and abusive asshole, but she hadn’t known that at first. Or maybe she had, subconsciously. All she knew for certain was that Kade Riley had opened a door with her last night. It was a door she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted him to have access to, either.
She was plagued with mixed emotions. Her attraction to Kade was undeniable. After last night, she’d be an idiot to try to convince herself there wasn’t some sort of chemistry between them. And he seemed to be a nice guy, regardless of her abrupt and curt treatment toward him. She had no real reason to push him away anymore. Except, of course, for the obvious one—her past with Carl.
A noise from the bathroom brought her attention back to the here-and-now. She heard a clattering sound and remembered the mess from the night before. Why Kade had shown up when he did, she still didn’t know. She was damn thankful he did, though.
She glanced at her haphazard appearance in the mirror and made an attempt at smoothing down her hair. Obviously, falling asleep with a wet head against Kade’s chest did nothing for her morning beauty. She looked just a tad better than a zombie of the apocalypse, but not by much. There was a hair tie on her nightstand, which allowed her to tame the disheveled locks, if only a little. Once she had smoothed the few remaining hairs that stuck out in every direction, she took a calming breath and resolved to face Kade.
The courage she felt wasn’t substantial. In fact, she was scared to death, and she wasn’t entirely sure why. On one hand, she had no reason to expect he’d be anything other than a gentleman. The other hand, her more cynical one, told her he could surprise her and be a complete jackass. Having only slept with a grand total of two men in her entire life, she was hardly an easy woman. Kade didn’t know that, though. She had to consider the real possibility that any interest he’d had in her had diminished right along with his orgasm.
She rounded the corner to the bathroom and ran smack dab into his chest. The smooth, hard contours of his muscles felt as if they were an exquisite pillow made just for her, reminding her how soundly she’d slept in his arms. Looking up at him, she waited nervously for signs of what he was thinking. The ability to make words escaped her for the second time in two days. He had a way of turning her into a mute woman by just his stare alone.
“Did I wake you? I was trying to be quiet.”
“What? Um…no. Not at all. I just—” She glanced around the room and saw towels hung on the bars and across the sink and toilet tank. “You cleaned up all the water?”
“Yeah. We never quite got around to it last night,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I took a look at the pipes below your sink, too. They’re corroded and the faucet pressure is all out of whack because of it. The water is shut off now because I need to replace some parts. I’ve got to get to a jobsite to check on a few things, but I can be back later to fix it. You’ll just have to use the kitchen sink for now.”
She didn’t know what to say. What on Earth could she say? There were so many options. She could ask him why he’d shown up last night. She could say thank you for saving her. She could even say thanks for his efforts in cleaning it up. All of those things seemed less important than the one thing weighing the heaviest on her mind. It was the giant elephant in the room, whaling its trunk to the tune of some cheesy, seventies porn flick.
“If you keep standing there looking at me like that, you’re going to make it very hard for me to leave.”
His words startled her and she backed away. Her hands had been resting at his sides and her face just an inch away from his skin. She looked up at his eyes, those milk-chocolate eyes that looked almost as luscious as his body did.
“You’re not going to say anything? Not even good morning?” he asked.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t…err…Good morning, Kade.”
The corners of his mouth quirked up and a sexy grin spread across his face. “Good morning, Patreece.”
He walked past her and toward the bedroom. She followed behind, not entirely sure what she should do or say. Having men stay at her place wasn’t a form of entertaining she was accustomed to. She could throw a cocktail party, a luncheon and even assist with charity events. This type of situation, on the other hand, was as foreign to her as another language was.
In the bedroom, Kade was pulling on his T-shirt. The silver nozzle that had caused her so much grief the night before was sitting on the bed next to his wallet. He picked up both, placing each in a pocket, and then walked toward her. She hated the silence that lingered between them. She was sure there were words she could be uttering that wouldn’t make her seem as if she were antisocial. The harder she thought, the more frazzled she became. Every time she opened her mouth to speak, she would close it just as quickly. If she kept this up, she wouldn’t have to wonder what would happen next with Kade. He’d just peg her as some sort of freak and never want to be bothered with her again.
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “So, I was thinking that maybe after work I’ll come and we can talk about all the things that need to be done to this place to make it livable.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can find somebody else who—”
“I want to.” He interrupted her before she had the chance to protest. “Look, as far as contractors go, I’m pretty much it for Grand Isle. There are a couple guys over in the neighboring towns, but no one I’d recommend. And all the tradesmen in town pretty much get their jobs from my projects. So if you want plumbing work, I’m your guy. If you want electrical work, I’m your guy. And if you want other things, I am your guy.”
She didn’t miss the underlying meaning of what he’d said. He was making his stance with her very clear without actually saying the words. The fact he was taking charge and almost removing the decision-making process from her bothered her in a way she wasn’t sure she could deal with. It was the type of behavior she had been used to with Carl. It was also the type of behavior that usually lent to more controlling ways. Had she noticed it as a warning sign with her ex sooner, she may have not had to endure all those years of abuse.
There were a million reasons why she should refuse Kade’s help and find someone else to help her with the home. The voice in her head told her to take a step back a
nd realize she didn’t know this man from a hole in the ground. She was sure the smartest thing to do would be to walk away. She knew this as sure as she knew anything. Yet she just couldn’t manage to do it. Last night, she’d given Kade a piece of herself. Some women may not see sex as a big deal, but to her, it was huge. No matter how much she felt she needed to distance herself from him, she couldn’t.
“Hey.” Kade lifted her chin with his finger and dipped his head. “I know. Last night, it happened fast. And I can see the uncertainty in your eyes. But a lot of people know and can vouch for me. I’m not a bad guy. I’m not perfect, but I’m not some closet serial killer, either.”
His joke caught her off-guard and she found herself laughing. He definitely had the charm factor. That much was for sure.
“There it is.”
“There what is?” she asked.
“Your smile. I’ve only seen it a few times. And none of those times were because of me. I’m glad to see that’s changing.”
His thumb brushed across her lower lip. The way his eyes pierced her was causing her body to react just as it had the night before. Wetness trickled from her pussy and warmth filled her womb. He dipped his head and pressed his mouth against hers. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes and parted her lips. His tongue swept inside without hesitation and he began stroking the inside of her mouth. She placed her hands at his chest, allowing her fingertips to trail along his muscles.
He groaned and pulled away from the kiss. Dropping his forehead against hers, he sighed. “I wish I didn’t have this job to get to.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“Maybe I can pick up some dinner and come by after work?”
She smiled. “Or I can pick up something?”
“No. Let me. What would you like?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Just surprise me.”
He chuckled. “I thought I already did that last night.”
Heat spread throughout her body. He certainly had surprised her. In more ways than he would probably ever know.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re cute when you get bashful?”
“I…” For a moment, she’d almost denied his observation, then realized there was no fooling him. “Okay, maybe I am a little. But since you bring it up, what exactly did bring you to my rescue last night?”
“Red velvet cupcakes.”
“Huh?”
“One of your bags. You left it at the market. I was bringing it by for you.”
“You were? Even after…how I treated you?” she asked, surprised by his generosity.
“Well actually… If you wanna know the truth, I was going to give you a piece of my mind, too.”
She took a step back, somewhat amused and curious by his answer. “Is that so? You weren’t too happy with me, I take it?”
He looked up and laughed boisterously. “Yeah, not so much.”
“I guess I was kind of rude to you. I’m sorry about that.”
Shaking his head, he said, “No worries. Had I not brought them by, you might have gotten real hurt in that bathroom fiasco. Which reminds me, lock your door, huh? When I got here and heard you scream, I was able to walk right in. Grand Isle might be safe, but there are always crazies out there in the world.”
He had no idea how true his words really were. “You’re right. I’ll remember. And thank you. For helping with the bathroom, I mean.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get this place fixed up. But I’ve really gotta go. If I don’t, I’m going to be late.”
“Right. Sorry.”
She moved out of his way and followed him toward the front door. When he turned back to hug her good-bye he seemed taller than before. Only this time, his size didn’t threaten her or make her feel uneasy. Her body had a reaction, all right, just not a negative one. Her nipples pressed against his chest and she knew he could feel it. He looked down at her T-shirt, then brought his eyes back up to hers.
“I’ll probably be back at around six.”
His voice was soft and husky. She glanced down and saw a telling bulge in his jeans. The woman in her wanted to lock the door at his back and yank his jeans down his thighs. The idea of taking him in her mouth, a task she’d done before but never much cared for, suddenly seemed like the best idea. In the heat of the moment last night, she’d not had time to really look at his body. His bare chest seemed to be the only thing that she recalled. She hadn’t even gotten a good look at his cock, but she sure as hell remembered what it felt like.
“Jesus…you gotta stop looking at me like that. I’ll see you tonight.” He leaned in and kissed her lips before turning to leave.
She didn’t say anything. She wasn’t sure she could speak. Her body was humming and her pussy was wet from the memory of what they’d done and the idea of what may come. Locking the door behind him, she leaned against it and lifted her hand to her chest. Her nipples were swollen, poking against the cotton, excited by the memory of his mouth wrapped around them, sucking and nibbling.
Those voices in her head telling her to walk away were being silenced by not just her body, but her heart. Somehow, in some way, Kade Riley had bulldozed through her defensive walls and stormed the gates of her solitude. Whether it was a good choice or a bad one, she had no control over it. She wanted Kade, and more importantly, she wanted to trust again.
Chapter Twelve
Kade spent most of his day only half paying attention to his work. His mind had wandered to Patreece and the night before at least three dozen times. The harder he tried to focus, the more difficult it became. For the first time in years, he actually caught himself rushing through his day. Kyle, the college kid who was in town for the summer apprenticing under Kade, even noticed the change in his demeanor. Normally, he was the one to want everything triple-checked before going ahead with something. Today he was pushing for things to get finished faster than he knew he should have.
None of that mattered now. He had dinner sitting beside him in the truck. He’d gone home to shower, change and grab a fresh set of clothes and was only blocks away from Patreece’s house.
His thoughts wandered to her skin and how soft it felt against his own. Her kiss, so damn sweet. The way her body felt underneath his, the way her pussy squeezed at his cock, pumping and stroking him. The entire experience, no matter how short it had been, was exquisite. Tonight wouldn’t be like that. There would be no quick, rushed moment of passion. He was going to take his time exploring and learning every part of her body.
He pulled up in front of her house, surprised to see Shirley and Janis coming down from the front stoop. He sighed, knowing full well what the smirks on their faces meant. Grabbing the cardboard tray with the take-out boxes, he opened his door and stepped around the truck and onto the sidewalk. The imminent barrage of questions coming his way was not something he was looking forward to.
“Well, well, well. Look who is here, Janis.”
“Kade Riley, did you bring our newest neighbor dinner?”
He offered his best smile, doing all he could to mask his annoyance. “Indeed I did. Nothing wrong with being neighborly, is there?”
“Not at all,” Shirley teased. “Not one bit. Especially when that new neighbor is a pretty young thing like our Patreece.”
Our Patreece? Kade reined in his sarcasm. If there was one thing his mother taught him, it was manners. And he knew damn well that if there were any two women who would rat him out in an instant to his mama, it would be the Michaud sisters.
“How old are you now, Kade? Thirty-five?” Janis asked.
“Not quite. Don’t be aging me before my time, now. I’m only thirty-four, thank you very much. And God and I, we have ourselves a little deal. So I won’t be growing old.” He winked.
“Oh, Kade.” Janis nudged his shoulder. “You’re just as cute as you were when you were little.”
“Well, hang on, now. First you’re trying to make me older, now you’re calling me a little boy. You two ladies can’t ha
ve it both ways.”
“Oh, don’t you go worrying about us. It don’t matter how we see it. What matters is what little Ms. Patreece Warren sees,” Shirley added.
“Now you two wouldn’t be trying to play matchmaker between me and Ms. Warren, would you?” he asked, knowing full well the answer was a big hell yeah.
“And what would be so bad if we did, Kade Riley?” Janis asked. “Your mama ain’t getting any younger. She’d like to have some grandbabies, you know. Why just last month she was saying to me—”
“Whoa!” Throwing up his hands in the air, he stepped back and quickly cut her off. “Hang on now. Babies? I’m just bringing the woman dinner. You wanna not marry me off and make me a dad? I think I’d like to get to know her a little before we start popping out babies.”
“Did you hear that, Shirley?” Janis smiled at him as only a surrogate aunt could. “He said he wants to get to know her first. He didn’t say no, though.”
“Oh for the love of…” He rolled his eyes. “Enough already. You’ve hinted at your ideas quite well. Weren’t you two ladies leaving?”
“All right, we’re going. We’re going. You don’t have to push us down the sidewalk or anything. We were just dropping by to bring her a welcome package. Poor thing didn’t have a possession to her name when she moved in.”
Kade was waiving the women off when Janis’s words caught his attention. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t remember seeing much in that house other than toiletries and her clothes. She wasn’t old. In fact, he didn’t peg her past thirty, but she certainly wasn’t so young that she wouldn’t have simple items like a radio or television. Everyone seemed to have those no matter how tight money was. It made him all the more curious about who she was and where she’d come from. His attraction to her was real as real got. Finding out about the woman she was, though…He had a feeling that was going to be a task a little more difficult than most.
Risqué Renovation [Blue Collar 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 8
