by Elley Arden
Talking to Grey was the right thing to do. Even so, Nel walked softly down the hall, trying not to make a noise, giving herself the option to turn around if she wanted to. Every door but one was open, and from behind the dark wood, she could hear his deep voice mixing with yips and growls. She put her hand on the knob but paused for a fortifying breath. That’s when she heard laughter. The sound warmed her, made her smile, made her think he was a good man who’d been mistreated by people he loved.
Nel shouldn’t be adding to his trust issues by shutting him out. The thought was ambiguous, so she clarified … quickly. She needed to stop shutting him out of decisions about the renovation; she should’ve asked him about bringing Paul and Rena.
Shutting him out personally was a different story. There simply wasn’t a big enough payoff to justify what almost happened last night. Orgasms were a dime a dozen and easy to achieve alone. There was something depressing about that thought, so she tried again. He was leaving … soon. And she had a job to do. She didn’t need more of a reason to keep things professional than that.
Several breaths later, Nel didn’t knock. She didn’t want to tip off the dogs to her arrival and give them time to escape. Instead, she turned the knob and slipped inside the room, leaving the occupants momentarily stunned. But the minute her presence registered, Blackjack and Joker pounced on her, paws to her belly and hips, tongues lapping the air inches from her face. She couldn’t help but give in to their incessant excitement, hunching over so they could lick her face.
Wrapped around them, she glanced deeper into the room, finding Grey watching her from his lazy position on a yellow leather sofa. He slouched in his seat, denim-covered knees resting wide apart. One arm dressed in faithful flannel stretched along the back of the couch. The other hand rested at his side: pure unadulterated male. And somehow she had the feeling he’d been waiting for her. That feeling buzzed in her chest, making it hard to breathe, making it impossible to remember why she was here alone with him in the first place.
He whistled. Not a friendly sound, a piercing call that had the dogs clamoring back to his feet. Even though she saw the love he had for them, the control he exhibited over them was unnerving … so was the ensuing quiet.
She straightened, smoothing her sweatshirt and finding her voice. “Paul and Rena were wondering where you were.”
“They were?” His voice was low and rough. He didn’t so much as blink.
More quiet lingered between them, but it wasn’t awkward so much as it was unnerving. Nel focused on the dogs’ gentle breathing instead … until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“I was wondering, too, but I know how you get wrapped up with the dogs when you’re spending time with them, so I figured that was what you were doing.” Keep going, she told herself when she paused for a breath and faltered. “I started laying hardwoods, but then I thought some more, and I thought you were probably in here because you’re mad.” She swallowed. “At me.”
He blinked. Twice. And then he lifted the hand from his side to his chin, massaging fingers against his beard. The motion loosened a smile, a slow, lazy smile that had her blood buzzing and her body backing toward the door.
“I’m not mad at you,” he said.
“You’re not?”
“Nope.”
“Good.”
“Yep.”
“Okay.” She nodded, completely confused by what was going on. He just kept sitting there, smiling, like he expected her to rush across the room and leap into his lap.
Her muscles twitched as if it was the best idea her brain had all night. Crap. “I’ll see you out there when you’re finished in here.” She turned and grabbed the knob.
“Nel?”
She didn’t want to, but she paused, glancing over her shoulder. “Yeah?”
His smile grew bigger and tinged with something predatory. “Just for the record, I’d like to point out that even with your bodyguards, I managed to get you alone, didn’t I?”
A spark consumed her from the inside out, until she had no choice but to breathe through open mouth, hoping to cool the flame.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she lied, knowing she shouldn’t wait for him to answer. She needed to get out of this secluded room and back into the open where she was safe.
But his bright smile held her in place, like a deer in the magical glow of headlights. She sensed the danger, but she couldn’t move.
“It’s going to happen, Nel,” he said, leaning forward, dropping his long arms to either side of his legs, rubbing the dogs behind the ears. He kept his lazy gaze on her. “One of these days. You and me. It will happen.”
She blinked, and the mindless motion broke his spell. “But not today,” she called as she yanked open the door and scrabbled from the room.
All the way down the hall, her heart slammed against her ribs, and her brain taunted her. What a stupid comeback. That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.
She couldn’t argue.
Nothing like making herself a challenge … nothing like being turned on by the whole ridiculous game.
CHAPTER NINE
The earth tilted.
That was the only way Nel could explain what had happened, how she started the evening so sure of herself, and three hours later was second-guessing every move.
She expected to walk into the den and apologize to Grey for bringing Paul and Rena without telling him first. Then, she expected to walk out of the den with a clear conscience and a renewed vigor for the work.
Not for Grey.
A shaky breath passed between her lips. She couldn’t take much more of this. Her knees ached from crawling around on the hardwood floors, her hand burned from wielding the mallet, and her head hurt from the racket of the circular saw. But none of that compared to the torture of working side-by-side with Grey.
How did she manage for hours upon hours before?
She wondered if there was a full moon. She never paid attention to things like that, but something was different. Something was making her more aware of him. Every breath she took brought the scent of him into her mouth, where it reminded her of how he tasted. Twice, she looked at him, wanting to tell him to give her space, but he unleashed a smile that chased her words away. And now he wanted her help, carrying boxes of flooring scraps to the garage.
She bet he did — anything to get her alone.
Nel tipped her head to her shoulder to stop the tingles left over from his whispered invitation. She had already said no once, but she didn’t put it past him to ask her again.
“I gotta go,” Rena said.
The sudden announcement startled Nel, who looked up to find Rena holding her phone, casting wide, begging eyes at the occupants of the room.
“Why? What’s wrong?” A thick panic brewed in Nel’s belly.
“Nothing. I just … ” She crinkled her face, and behind the rapid blinking, Nel could see tears. “I need to see Ben.”
It figured. While Nel was struggling, wallowing in confusion brought on by a man, Rena was struck with clarity about hers.
“Paul, I hate to ask this, but could you run me home?” Rena was pretty much begging.
Paul looked at Nel, and then back to Rena with a why-not shrug. “Sure.”
Of course he’d say sure. He was a nice guy. Nel wanted him to be a nice guy; she just wished he could be a nice guy, staying right here in this room.
Nel watched helplessly as Paul pulled keys from his back pocket. She had a decision to make. Stay and finish the floor, risking alone time with Grey — which didn’t seem smart — or call it a night and leave the mess to him, which didn’t seem fair.
Rena lived ten minutes away, tops. Paul would be back. How much trouble could Nel and Grey get into with ten measly minutes and half a great room floor to finish?
The panic from her belly surged into her throat as Rena passed, following Paul to the door.
“I’m so sorry,” she offered to Nel. “But I know what I have to do now.”
Nel could only nod. If she said anything, she worried she’d beg Rena to stay.
“I’ll be back,” Paul called.
“No rush,” Grey countered.
Shit. Nel closed her eyes and told herself to breathe.
A rush of cold air chilled her back, and then the door clicked as it closed, leaving her alone. With Grey.
She opened her eyes and stared at the floor, trying to anticipate his next move. Would he say something, pick up where he left off teasing her in the den? Or would he skip the words, invade her space, and make his prediction come true.
You and me. It will happen.
Oh, God, she was one sick lady, because she wanted it to happen, even while she fought it with everything she had.
“How ’bout some water?” he asked, his boots tapping against the new hardwood floors.
He was walking away, walking toward the kitchen, and her reply stuck in her dry throat. Water would be nice — great, actually — but she couldn’t speak. Maybe she was in shock. She’d been so sure he’d pounce the minute Paul and Rena left.
She didn’t know what to make of that, so she simply stared, bleary-eyed, at the dividing line between the finished and unfinished floor.
Even without her answer, he returned with two bottles in hand. She saw his boots in her peripheral vision.
He came into clearer view when he squatted in front of her. “Here,” he said, offering a bottle.
Nel accepted with only a millisecond of eye contact and barely a brush of skin. “Thanks.” At least that’s what she tried to say. She wasn’t sure the word was recognizable to him.
He drank while she took an overdramatic interest in the floor beside and behind her, inspecting every crack and crevice that wasn’t around him. She had no idea what came next.
“Look at me, Nel.” His voice coated her like body butter, thick and smooth.
Her brain said no, but she couldn’t quite rationalize the slight, so she looked. And when she did, he smiled.
“I like the floors,” he said. “You were right about the darker stain. I gotta give you props.” He raised a fist, exposing his knuckles to her.
Fist bump? He wanted to fist bump?
She nodded, twisting the cap off her bottle, and then she guzzled until the plastic crackled in her hand and the bottle was empty.
Somehow the rush of cool water renewed her sensibilities, and on the heels of her lips smacking and the bottle hitting the floor, words rushed out. “I don’t get you. All your talk in the den about getting me alone.” She threw up her empty hand and pointed around the room. “We’re alone, and all you want to do is talk about hardwood floors and fist bumping. I don’t get that.”
He arched his brows, the smile falling from one side of his lips. “Are you disappointed?”
She rolled her eyes, and her stomach followed. “No.” She was only bringing it up to clear the air. Really.
Her brain seemed so sure, but her body buzzed with denial.
Seconds ticked by with him staring at her, and then he leaned closer … closer still. Until his breath blanketed her face. Until his lips brushed the hair at her temple.
She closed her eyes and soaked the sensations in. He was barely there, but he was everywhere. And she was freefalling, her stomach tumbling, her skin prickling with adrenaline. His lips grazed her cheek bone, inching closer and closer to her lips.
And suddenly her brain was onboard with her body. She wanted this. She wanted him. Reason and rationale be damned. The revelation relaxed her, and she readied for his kiss.
The kiss never came.
Seconds later, Nel opened her eyes to find him returned to his original position, squatting before her.
“Now are you disappointed?” he asked breathlessly, his eyes heavy-lidded and black as night.
This back and forth was going to kill them both.
Game over.
“Yes, I’m disappointed,” Nel said, rolling up on her knees and sliding her hands over his chest to his shoulders. “So I’m going to change that.”
Grey’s arms wound around her waist and pulled her forward. When their lips met, their bodies tumbled to the floor. She sprawled on top of him, her hands cradling his cheeks, his hands cupping her ass, and there was no place she’d rather be than in his arms.
Fighting that didn’t make sense.
• • •
Nel’s resolve was easier to crack than Grey expected. Thank God, because restraining himself had never been his strong suit. Now he was certain she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her, and knowing that was a beautiful thing.
With her weight distributed over the core of his body and her tongue sliding into his mouth, he gave into the vicious need, floating in a nameless, timeless space.
“Some idiot nearly … ”
Paul’s words morphed with the opening and closing of the front door.
A cold blast of air let in by his arrival blanketed the silent room as Nel scrambled to her feet, leaving Grey guilty as hell on the great room floor.
“Okay then.” But by the set of Paul’s jaw, Grey could tell nothing was okay.
“Hey. Paul. Did you get Re home? Was she quiet on the way?” Nel touched fingertips to her lips, and Grey saw her hand shaking.
He also saw Paul’s right fist opening and closing as it hung at his side. From watching the guy work, Grey knew he was right-handed. He also had strength like an ox. Fortunately, Paul was a good foot shorter than Grey.
Grey stood. In situations like this, it was best to have every advantage.
“Let’s go,” Paul finally said. His words were even, but the fist still pumped at his side.
“But we aren’t done,” Nel said.
Grey totally questioned the wisdom behind her statement, considering the tension in the room. “We can be done,” he said.
Paul glanced at him and gave a tight nod. “Listen to the man. He says you’re done.”
It was sort of comical, and strangely touching in a very foreign way. Grey liked Paul looking out for Nel. Growing up, Grey had only ever witnessed men treat women the opposite.
“Are we done?” Nel asked, looking at Grey. Her face was still flushed, and her eyes were sparkling.
She took his breath away.
He nodded. “For now.”
“Okay.” Her sigh echoed through the empty room.
“Thanks for the help tonight, Paul,” Grey said.
Paul grunted. “I’ll be back tomorrow. With Nel.”
So the bodyguard would remain.
Looked like time alone with Nel was about to become a luxury.
• • •
Nel slammed the van door and let loose a scream. “What was that?”
Paul snorted. “My question exactly.”
“Well, for starters, it was none of your business.”
“You made it my business when you asked me to come along tonight.”
True. But she had changed her mind, and she didn’t need his protection. “Paul, you don’t have a say in the matter.”
“It’s a free country, Nel. I can say whatever I want about the matter. And the more I think about it, the more I think Dad would like to hear about it and have his say, too.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would.”
Silence filled the front end of the van. Nel sucked the air filled with the smell of filth and metal tools, trying to calm her lust-turned-anger. She had asked for this, hadn’t she? All because she couldn’t face her desire for Grey in the first place. Paul was only doing what she’d brought Paul alon
g to do.
“He’s a good guy,” she said in Grey’s defense.
“Maybe, but he’s also a professional athlete.” Paul tossed her one of his big-brother-knows-best looks. “I didn’t realize you aspired to be a notch on anyone’s headboard.”
Nel punched him — hard — in the upper arm. She didn’t care if he was driving. He was being a dick.
“I worry,” he said, groaning and rubbing his arm. “Guys are pigs. They’re out for one thing — believe me.”
He sounded so much like Dad.
Nel’s anger softened. “Paul, I know how guys can be. You’re forgetting I’m a woman with lots of firsthand experience with pigs. Well, one pig in particular.”
“Exactly. Which is why I don’t think you should be falling for the flashy guy again.”
Flashy? It was a hardly a word she’d use to describe Grey. She knew Paul was talking about the baseball career, the house, and the money, but Nel didn’t see Grey that way.
She reached across the space between them and rubbed the spot on Paul’s arm where her fist landed. “I’m sorry for hitting you.” He nodded. “And I promise I’ll be okay.”
“I know you will.” He sniffed and puffed out his chest. “Tomorrow night I’m bringing Joe, Rick, and Greg.”
Great. He wanted to make it a family affair. Nel chased away a fresh burst of anger with a hearty exhale, reminding herself once again she opened this can of worms by asking Paul to help in the first place.
“That’s not necessary,” she said. “Besides, Grey would never agree.”
Paul leveled her with stone-cold eyes. “Then make him agree. Otherwise, I’m having a little chat with Dad.”
Well, crap. Just when Nel thought she’d made up her mind and had things under control, the earth tilted again.
CHAPTER TEN
Grey bit into an apple. While he chewed, he admired the gleaming hardwoods and freshly painted walls.
Nel had been right about taking a classic approach. It didn’t even look like the same house. And thanks to Paul, the fireplace looked fit for an English king, not fit for a disco queen. Progress; real progress. Grey could only imagine what it would look like by the end of the month — nothing like his father’s house. Each crack of the sledgehammer, each push of the broom further erased the mark of Francis Kemmons.
