by Candis Terry
The night before, Mike had mentioned he had a construction job in Comfort that day. Fiona decided to surprise him with a nice lunch to keep him fortified for the hard work in the harsh Texas heat. Really, she just wanted to hang out with him and get to know him even better. The idea of seeing him made her as giddy as a teenage girl.
Everything else about him made her feel one hundred percent woman.
As she rolled up on the ranch-style house perched on a hilltop beneath a canopy of gigantic oaks, she spotted his construction truck parked near the back of the property. She parked in the shade, then, basket in hand, headed in his direction.
When she rounded the back of the house, she found him working on an adorable miniature Victorian castle. What skidded her to a stop like she’d hit a brick wall wasn’t his attention to the gingerbread detail on the playhouse.
Nope.
Mike had taken off his shirt.
Beneath the grueling sun, his tanned skin glistened beneath a layer of sweat that rolled slowly down the muscles on his deliciously tight, well-defined ripple of abs. Her eyes devoured every detail, from his thick biceps that flexed with each swing of the hammer to the fine line of dark, downy hair that disappeared into the waistband of his low-slung jeans.
God bless the weight of his tool belt for offering her that amazing view.
She couldn’t stop admiring the strength and power in a body obviously honed by hard work. Her fingers tingled to touch and caress all that exposed skin and muscle.
She wouldn’t even mind the sweat.
A great big sigh of feminine appreciation pushed from her chest.
Before he looked up and caught her standing there, gawking like a sex-starved loser, she gripped the basket tighter and continued forward.
“Looks like you’re working pretty hard,” she called out.
His head snapped up, and a smile instantly lit his face.
“Well, look at you going all Little Red Riding Hood with your red dress and basket of goodies.”
Her laugh turned into a lusty groan when he snatched a towel off the ground and began rubbing it over the back of his neck and chest, flexing those muscles in a new and unique way. When she reached him in the shade of the playhouse, she didn’t bother to wait for him to offer the first hello. She set down the basket, grabbed hold of the towel draped around his neck with both hands, and pulled him in for a kiss.
“I’m sweaty,” he warned.
“I know.” She tugged him the final few inches until their lips meshed, and he rewarded her with an openmouthed kiss that nearly had her tearing off his pants. Suddenly, her chest was tight, and her heart beat faster. When he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in close, a rush of need spread from her head to her toes. When he lifted his head, she couldn’t stop the disappointment.
What did she expect? For him to tear off her sundress, toss her on the grass, and fulfill all those fantasies she’d had nearly every night since they’d met? Not a bad idea. But since they were at a private home in someone’s backyard, it was hardly appropriate.
Didn’t stop her from thinking it, though.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?” he asked.
“You’ve been doing all these nice things for me. I figured it was my turn to return the favor.” Hesitant to remove her hands from where they rested on his chest, she reached down and picked up the basket. “I also thought you might be hungry so I brought you my famous roasted chicken sandwiches on home-baked honey-wheat bread, potato salad–no egg in case you’re allergic, and a jug of fresh-brewed sweet tea.”
“What?” A dark brow lifted and he smiled. “No dessert?”
“Of course there’s dessert.” She pulled back the basket lid and let him peek inside. “It’s too hot for anything heavy. So I brought you some key lime cupcakes.”
“Bela, with the way you look in that sexy little red dress, it got a whole lot hotter the minute you showed up.”
“Aww.” She caressed his cheek. “You say the sweetest things.”
“That’s because if you could read my mind, we wouldn’t be standing here talking.”
She tilted her head and wondered if he knew she was thinking the same thing. “Has anyone ever told you what a tease you are?”
“Hey, I promise I don’t just talk the talk anymore. And I don’t make promises I don’t keep.”
“I’ll definitely keep that in mind.” Yeah. Like she could concentrate on anything else with those kinds of thoughts and images cavorting through her head? Not. “Can you take a break?”
“Sure.” He wadded up the towel and tossed it on top of a nearby sawhorse. “The Webers won’t be home till late tomorrow. I can move at my own pace as long as this playhouse is done before they hit the driveway. It’s supposed to be a surprise. How about we get out of the hot sun and go sit under that tree over there?”
“Lead the way.”
She’d looked forward to following behind all that yummy maleness and muscle. But when he took her hand and they walked side by side, she had to admit it was even better.
When they sat down on the big, exposed tree roots, Fiona was sorry she hadn’t brought a blanket. For the record, her reason had nothing to do with comfort and everything to do with distance and opportunity. Such as, before Mike sat down, he shrugged his arms into his plaid button-down shirt. Had she been sitting beside him, she could have stopped such nonsense and maybe even snuck in a caress or two. Lucky for her he’d left the shirt open. So at least the view from where she sat was excellent.
She opened the basket and took out the sandwiches and containers of potato salad.
“That’s a massive sandwich,” he said.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
“Oh, I am.”
She looked up and caught him wearing a suggestive grin.
Good Lord, if they didn’t do something soon about all this sexual tension, she didn’t know what might happen. She’d told him she wanted to take things slow. Unfortunately, he seemed to be trying his best to hold to her wishes.
Sigh.
One of these days, she’d learn to keep her requests simple and her big mouth shut.
She handed him the sandwich and poured him a glass of sweet tea. “So what’s the story behind the surprise playhouse? Which, by the way, is adorable.”
“I hope so. It’s for Deserae, a little five-year-old girl who just finished chemo treatment. So I really need it to make her smile.”
Fiona’s sandwich halted halfway to her mouth, and her appetite shut down. “Chemo?”
He took a big bite of sandwich and nodded. “Heartbreaking,” he mumbled around the food. “Her parents are friends I met through the fire service. It was touch and go with her there for a while. But she’s a tough little cookie and powered through. Her prognosis is really good.”
“Oh, thank God.”
“Amen to that.” He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. “This is delicious.”
“Thank you.” The praise warmed that part of her heart that had gone cold when she’d learned of the little girl.
While he took a long drink of sweet tea, she watched his throat work with fascination.
“Mmmm.” He set the glass down so it wouldn’t fall over. “Thirsty.”
“I brought plenty, so help yourself.”
“Thanks.” He dove back into the sandwich, then he stuck the plastic fork into the potato salad and took a bite. “What are you doing next weekend?”
“Why?”
He grinned. “I might have to marry you if you can cook this good.”
“Again with the sweet talk,” she joked. She couldn’t deny the pleasure the thought brought to her heart, but that was getting way ahead of herself. For a woman who’d sworn to take things slow, she was jumping awfully quick at fairy-tale ideas. Was that because she’d been single too long? That she’d never fallen in love before? Was she just a big fat pathetic mess of goo who wanted to be loved so bad she’d jump at
the first opportunity?
“Back to the playhouse,” he said. “Deserae’s parents’ took her to Disney World to celebrate. So I wanted to make sure she had some kind of princess castle to come home to. I’m painting it pink. A color you seem to be very fond of.” He winked.
Nope. She wasn’t jumping at the first opportunity that came along. Mike, in his own right, was proving to be quite a prince.
“Can I help?” she asked.
He blinked. Though why he’d be surprised, she didn’t know. She was the mother of a healthy four-year-old. And today, she’d never felt more grateful for the fact that Izzy could wake up every day and function like a normal, lively little girl and not have to face needles, or pain, or doctors behind masks in order to keep her healthy. Helping another human being shouldn’t ever be second-guessed. Helping a child raised that bar to the nth degree.
“That would be great,” he said. “How would you like to help? I’m almost ready to paint, but that dress is too pretty to ruin.”
“Give me an hour, and I promise I can help you make that sweet castle a little girl’s dream come true.”
“In an hour?” His eyes widened. “Unless you’ve got a magic wand in that basket, that’s not much time to accomplish anything.”
She folded the remains of her sandwich up in the napkin, stood, and plopped her fists on her hips. “Is that a dare?” The whole badass effect was probably ruined by the smirk on her face.
He got to his feet, his full height unfolding from the sitting position like some kind of conquering warrior. Smiling like he’d been given a gift, he reached out, grabbed her by the straps of her dress, and pulled her against him. He lowered his head and spoke against her lips. “What if it is?”
Exhilaration tingled in her heart, and desire spread like a hot ache through her belly. “I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge.” She walked her hands up the muscles of his amazing chest. “So I’ll take it.”
Tortured need rumbled in his throat as he backed her against the tree and pressed his big, strong body into her. His hands slid down the small of her back, cupped her bottom, and pulled her against his impressive erection.
“You’re killing me, Bela. If you even had half an idea of how much I want you right now, you’d run fast and far.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not going anywhere.” She lifted to her toes and caught his bottom lip between her teeth. Then she soothed that same spot with a leisurely sweep of her tongue.
“Damn right you’re not.” He lowered his head, and he kissed her like a hungry male. Long and hard. Soft and slow. With unrestrained passion and controlled desire. Need charged through her blood. At that moment, she knew that when they came together–not if, it would be more fulfilling than anything she’d ever experienced without her clothes on.
When he finally pulled back, his breathing was harsh and unsteady. “I want you, Fiona.” Eyes dark with passion, his hands came up to embrace her face. “Like I’ve never wanted anything before in my life. But when I make love to you, it’s not going to be fast and reckless against a tree in somebody’s backyard. You deserve better than that.”
“Apparently you haven’t met my sinful alter ego, Naughty Fiona, yet.”
A laugh burst from his sexy mouth. “Does Naughty Fiona like to play dirty?”
“It’s hard to say exactly what she’ll do under any given circumstance. But I can guarantee she’s likely to surprise you.”
“Then I can hardly wait to meet her.” He kissed her again, then gave her a little pat on the butt. “Break’s over. You’ve got an hour, Little Red Riding Hood. Don’t make the big bad wolf come looking for you.”
Tempted to pull his cell phone from his pocket and check the time, Mike continued to put the finishing touches of paint on the little white fence he’d built to surround Deserae’s playhouse castle. He was about to give up on the idea that Fiona would actually come back, but when he heard her rental car coming up the drive, his heart gave a funny little flutter. Either he was having a heart attack or he was falling for her like a man without a parachute.
He wiped his hands on a towel, then went to see what her dare had brought forth. A laugh escaped when he looked at the car, which was loaded down with lots of pink and glittery girly stuff.
“What have you done?” he asked.
“I accepted the dare, and this is the result.” She tugged open the back door and began pulling out a little pink wicker table and chair set. “I’ve got everything you need and more to fill that beautiful little castle for a brave little girl.”
“I’m impressed. Where did you get all this?”
“I have connections in the secondhand-store community. I put a call out, and they responded. All this was donated.”
An overwhelming rush of pleasure took him by surprise. He took her by the hand and drew her against him. “You’re a very fine woman, Fiona.”
“I’m glad you think so. And I think you’re a very fine man.” She tapped a finger against his collarbone. “That must mean we make a good match.”
“That we do.” He leaned in for a kiss.
Laughing, she ducked away. “Uh-uh. No more smooching until after we fulfill this little girl’s dream.”
“When we’re done, will you introduce me to Naughty Fiona?”
“She’s a little unpredictable.” Those beautiful bare shoulders lifted in a shrug. “You just never know when she’ll appear.”
“Well, you let her know I’ll be eagerly waiting.” Despite her evasion tactic, he stole a quick kiss anyway. “For whenever she decides to show up.”
For the next hour, they unloaded and installed the table and chairs, a small cabinet, a rocking chair, a polka-dotted tea set, a chalkboard easel, brightly colored pillows, Hello Kitty pictures, and a giant teddy bear with a floppy hat. Fiona had even found a mini crystal chandelier for which Mike would have to come back later to hook up for electricity if that’s what Deserae’s parents wanted.
By the time the playhouse was complete, they were both smiling. Amid laughter and stolen kisses, they’d worked together well. When all was said and done, they stood back—arm in arm—to observe and enjoy their efforts.
“Thank you,” he said. “Deserae is going to love it.”
A little sigh whispered through Fiona’s lips, and he was tempted to kiss her yet again.
She looked up at him, eyes as big and blue as a summer sky, and said, “You know how sometimes there are those moments in life that feel just perfect because it puts a smile on your face and in your heart?”
“Yeah. I do.”
“This . . .” She laid her head on his shoulder. “Is one of those moments.”
He’d never agreed with anything more in his life.
Chapter 13
On Wednesday, Fiona closed the shop early so she could take her insurance money and go car shopping. Her policy had only covered a portion of the car rental, and it became more expensive by the day. The time had come to find a replacement.
There were no car lots in Sweet, so she either had to drive to Austin, New Braunfels, or San Antonio. Since the latter was home to one sexy firefighter, she decided to give him a call and see if he wanted to come out and play. Or at least help her look for a car. Not that she couldn’t decide or negotiate on her own, but when you were buying a used car, it always helped to bring a little muscle.
Mike had plenty to spare, and she certainly didn’t mind looking at it.
She pulled up to the address he’d given her and parked. When she got out of the car, she pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and squinted against the bright sunshine as she read the sign near the large building.
HOPE HAVEN.
Her attention jarred when she heard the squeal of a metal door and saw Mike walking toward her. Sabrina’s words rang in her head.
For all you know he could be the perfect choirboy who takes care of the elderly and serves meals to the homeless.
“Seriously?” she murmured. If h
e started singing a hymn a cappella, she was in bigger trouble than she had even imagined. She got out of the car and watched him walk toward her.
“What?” He lifted his hands. “I can tell by the look on your face you have questions.”
“Is this where you live?”
He stopped beside her and grinned. “Would you like me any less if it were?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Good to know.” He grinned. “In that case, this is where I volunteer whenever time and commitment allow.”
“You serve meals?”
“I do. I also help the residents fill out job applications, do building repairs, stuff like that. I just delivered several bunk beds I built for the family rooms.”
She couldn’t stop staring. And then she laughed. “It’s probably way too early to be madly in love with you, right?”
“I’ll take what I can get.” He wrapped an arm around her and led her toward his truck.
“So when did you start volunteering?”
“When I joined the fire service. We had a call here the first week I was on duty. There was a kitchen fire. Pretty small, but it did a lot of damage. I overheard the administrator fretting about how they were going to afford the repairs.”
“So you jumped in to help.”
His broad shoulders came up in a shrug. “Figured it was my time to give back.”
“You don’t think serving in the military and rescuing people on a daily basis is enough?”
“When you see the faces inside that building, there’s no such thing as enough. Sure, there are some people happy to be living on the streets. Others have made a string of bad decisions or have just had bad luck. In the end, there are kids who didn’t ask to be in their situation.”
“So you do it for them.”
“Yeah. And the moms who want a better life for their kids.”
Fiona’s admiration for the man just kept growing and growing. As a believer in helping others, she made a mental note to find out how many residents there were so she could deliver cupcakes at a future date. “Just so you know, I just put another X in your good-guy column.”
