To the Studs

by Roxanne Smith

  I’m falling for someone who’s already rejected me. Well, fuck you, Duke Kennicot. I’m going to get what I want from you, and then I’m going to give you what you want.

  Neve stepped close to him. Well within his personal space. His gaze landed on hers, only to slide from her face. Perhaps it’d be easier for him to stomach if he avoided eye contact.

  She let her anger and hurt drive each small, painful movement. From the fingers that gripped his collar, to her mouth as she tilted her head and pressed it against his, hard and desperate.

  A flash of hot energy shocked her when he gripped her hips and pulled her tight against his body. Heat pooled between her legs when he moved his mouth to her throat, hot breaths on her neck, sending chills down her back.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Neve.” Like a threat, his left hand slid between her legs. His thumb smoothed over her and applied pressure. Enough to take the breath from her lungs when he found his mark. “I told you, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

  She refused to submit control. Neve moved her hips against his hand, giving consent while demanding more. Let him make no mistake about who would do the taking tonight. She ran one hand through his hair, wrapping strands around her fists. The other slid down to tease the ridge of his erection. She licked the side of his neck until her lips reached his earlobe.

  “I’ve always wondered if you were the generous type,” she breathed, flicking her tongue over his skin, and rode his hand with smooth, deliberate undulations. “Are you generous, Duke?”

  His breathing turned ragged, his answer choked. “Yes. Hell yes.”

  She bit his earlobe, released his hair, and covered his hand with hers, pressing him harder into the sweet spot between her legs. “Show me.”

  Chapter 10

  Duke’s brain, instantly searching for Neve’s voice, came awake at a glacial pace. By the time he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he registered he was alone.

  Alone in Neve’s bed.

  He turned the fact over in his head and let it settle. What the hell had he been thinking?

  He wanted to berate himself, but he dug deep and couldn’t find an ounce of regret. Despite everything, he’d been fantasizing about last night for two years. He didn’t consider himself a weak man, but when temptation came knocking—and biting and licking and touching—he didn’t have the strength to deny himself.

  Duke ran through the renovation schedule to take his mind from Neve for a second. His body might be purring with satisfaction, but his head and his chest were at war, and he wasn’t quite sure what they were fighting about.

  Today marked the first day of their seventh week. The interior walls would get their coats of varnish, and the custom cabinets would be installed. All the baseboards and trimmings Finn and Kay had painstakingly carved, sanded, and stained would go in. Neve would want to put in the French doors immediately, as they were one of the only things they were behind on. The stone countertops Neve had ordered should arrive sometime this week, along with every major appliance. A separate team would work to stain the exterior cabin walls and add a layer of weatherproofing.

  He scratched his chin, momentarily startled by the lack of rough beard. He ran a hand over the foreign smoothness.

  Anxiety rode him hard. He should find Neve. She wasn’t some girl he met at a bar. She probably hadn’t forgiven him entirely for the massive lie he’d told, but last night had happened. More than ever, she had a reason to talk to him.

  Shit. Last night made things more complicated than ever. He was still trying to repair their friendship. What did sleeping together do to that? Help or hurt? It was just sex—it was always just sex with Neve. Why was he so worried she’d want more than that?

  He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, only to find Hannah curled up on the floor. He grinned, his feet hovering over her. He tucked them back onto the bed and leaned over on his stomach to rub the Dane’s massive head. He also owed Neve the world’s longest, wordiest thank-you note.

  Finally, he hauled himself from bed and gulped the last of the cooled coffee from the carafe. He paused in taking the last sip when the front door slammed open with the hurricane-force winds.

  Ah. Not a hurricane. Just Neve. She stood battle-ready in worn low-rise jeans and a loose gray T-shirt smudged with dirt. She had a strange glow in her amber eyes.

  They reminded him of the vibrant yellow and gold of autumn leaves. He’d confronted the idea of talking to Neve with a bravery and confidence he no longer felt. “Hey.”

  Seriously? The morning after, and all I got is “hey”?

  Her gaze roamed from his bare feet, over his form-fitting boxer briefs, and came to rest on his face. Hard, unyielding.

  Duke had a bad feeling. Unease settled over him like a fine mist.

  “I’m here to give you a progress report to pass on to Gavin when he calls today, which he will.”

  “You’ve been keeping track of his calls?”

  She blinked. “He’s the client. Of course.”

  It took him a second to register the perfect blankness of her features. Intense but giving nothing away. No small smile to acknowledge what had passed between them. Not even a twinkle in her eyes. Like it never happened. The sting of it caught him off guard. They were right back at square one.

  From her desk, she snatched up a pad of yellow legal paper and a red pen, and tossed them at Duke.

  He caught them against his chest, the pen clumsily clutched against the pad.

  Neve didn’t hesitate but began her report immediately. “Sanding has been completed on interior walls, and the varnish process has begun. Shower stall’s in, and the bathroom is complete, with the obvious exception of baseboards and trim, which will go in today. I need to make a final buying trip in order to purchase basic necessities, such as towels, bedding, and additional small kitchen essentials, most of which I expect will be available at the hardware store in Red Hill. The last of the reclaimed wood from Hux’s ranch is being made into a shelving unit to use in place of a headboard. Mattresses will arrive along with our large appliances. The refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher are all stainless steel, overlaid with burnished copper accents I had custom-ordered. Another tiny surprise for Gavin.” Finally, her expression changed. Unfortunately, it was for the worse as her thin lips spread into a sardonic smile. “Gee, I’m sorry. Once again, I failed to get your approval before making a decision. Apologies.”

  He stared. Couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

  “In the meantime, the French doors have been installed,” she continued. “Vince is sealing them. The deck has been sanded, but I’ve decided against staining it to match the exterior. We’ll finish the surface but leave the natural color of the old barn. It’ll contrast nicely.”

  Well, he had to hand it to her; like the inside of the cabin, there was a certain feel from the old wood. To look at it, and see its age and flaws.

  “As you well know, the staining process is one of the most finicky, difficult undertakings on this project. Six days of meticulous work and care to properly stain the outside of the cabin. If you deign to join us anytime soon, there’s a need for extra hands. But don’t stress yourself. I certainly don’t mean to impose on your morning off.”

  He struggled to come up with something, anything, to show he had his head in the game, as much a part of the project as Neve or Vince. “You’re sure about the dark brown for the exterior? The cabin’s got a hint of red in it. I thought you might go with a cherry finish.”

  “Ah, back to the whole ‘too much freedom’ thing. The sheer amount of options I have is overwhelming, but here’s a free lesson in restraint. It’s all about the blend. Like a woman’s rouge. Too much would gaudy up the place. The exterior deserves the same finesse we’ve put into the inside, and the dark tone will contrast beautifully with the light natural wood of the steps and decking. The red highlights will come through if we dial back on the number of coats we apply, and they’ll be just that�
��highlights.” She turned, an abrupt about-face, and exited the trailer as swiftly as she’d entered.

  Duke reeled.

  It was one thing for her to ignore what happened between them. But this wasn’t dismissal or avoidance. The absence of warmth struck him as almost cruel. It snuck up on him, a slow dawning; he hadn’t been worried that Neve would expect more now they’d slept together. He was worried she’d want less. Less than he wanted.

  Duke glanced at the pad still clutched to his chest with the sense of having survived a small natural disaster. He hadn’t written a single thing.

  * * * *

  Duke picked up on the sound of gravel in the distance the minute he stepped outside. Maybe Tim coming over from the ranch, or a few of Vince’s guys returning from Red Hill with additional supplies. It seemed like they were forever in need of something. Extra screws, replacement bulbs for the electric lanterns they hung inside the cabin at night to illuminate the workspace.

  Darcy the Pit took off running down the path toward the cabin. Hannah bounded after her, slower, but easily making up the distance with her longer strides.

  Duke let them go and waited to greet the new arrival. Besides, he was in no hurry to spend the day tiptoeing around Neve. His little revelation back in the trailer effectively put the brakes on his desire for a heart-to-heart.

  To his surprise, the dogs came loping back up the hill, Neve a short distance behind them. At the same time, the vehicle came into view and parked near the end of the cul-de-sac.

  It shouldn’t have shocked Duke when Gavin alighted from the passenger side, and a female version of him exited from the driver’s side. He glanced back at Neve. She wasn’t going to like this. He hitched his chin toward her in greeting and nodded toward their visitors.

  Neve reached him, her mouth a grim line as Gavin and his sister approached. “You knew about this? And who’s this he’s brought along? Has Gavin got a secret wife, too?”

  “Hell no, I didn’t know he was coming. And that’s Terri, his sister.” Duke had met Terri once. She and Gavin weren’t twins, but they should’ve been. They had a similar manner, bobbing and nodding their heads as they spoke, and resembled each other in both their blond hair, pale blue eyes, and friendly, confident personalities.

  Neve’s irritation etched itself plainly onto her face, but Duke didn’t have an opportunity to say anything before Terri and Gavin reached them, all big smiles. She took point after brisk introductions were made and guided them as a group down to the cabin.

  Gavin didn’t seem particularly interested in anything. Not the cabin, not the work being done, and not the property lines Neve pointed out as they walked around the acreage. Neve also made a point to inform Gavin of his neighbor, Tim.

  “Oh, he sounds friendly,” Terri chimed in as she ran a bored gaze over their surroundings.

  Duke scratched his bare skin where shaving had left him irritated. Bored. That was it. Gavin and Terri were both bored out of their minds.

  “Oh, he is delightful. And handsome to boot.” Neve jumped into acting her part with a little too much relish, and no small edge of something dangerous lurking on the edges of her words.

  Last night had been a surreal thing, unlike anything Duke had experienced. Angry sex made him think of whips and handcuffs. If someone had told him there was such a thing as emotionally angry sex, he’d have doubted it. Now, he knew better. Heat spread up from his neck. Probably hadn’t been a healthy thing, but the urgency, the hunger, the taking…God help him, it turned him on.

  Today, Neve wore the same anger on her shoulders, only the emotion had had time to marinate overnight, apparently, growing fiercer and heavier.

  Something like dread settled in Duke’s gut, despite his vivid memories of last night. If his instincts were on point, this trip of Gavin’s might have a few ugly surprises for them all.

  Finally, Neve led them to the rear of the cabin.

  Duke swallowed when the brand new deck came into sight.

  Gavin’s dropped jaw and bugged out eyes only gave away his astonishment at what Neve had done. A few taut seconds passed where Duke could hardly breathe, and Neve waited with challenge in the lift of her chin. Terri idly glanced around, unaware of the subtle suspension of time.

  The moment of truth arrived on Gavin’s cry as he found words. “How fantastic! Wow, Duke.” He shook his head in awe. “What a fabulous idea. I knew I had to hire you. I just knew it.”

  Neve flipped her hair and stared, her expression giving nothing away.

  Duke cleared his throat and prepared to eat crow. “Neve’s idea, actually. Not mine. And you’re right, it was a good one.”

  Neve wouldn’t meet his gaze. It’d be too much like thanking him for what was clearly her due.

  Gavin ignored her still and wagged a finger in Duke’s direction. “Ah, I should’ve known. Duke here is a traditionalist, of course. Still, I must give credit where it’s due.” He slid a hand onto Duke’s shoulder. “Hiring Neve was genius. She’s exactly what this place needed, don’t you think? Listen, I have an idea. Let’s take a day off, huh? The four of us. You ladies can go into town and do some shopping and have lunch. Duke and I will stay here and talk shop.”

  Terri nodded eagerly, her smile bright. She might not be so excited once she saw the slim pickings in Red Hill. And she didn’t strike Duke as one to enjoy a flea market.

  Neve’s face settled into a stony glare, and Duke realized what Gavin had done. He was dismissing Neve like she were an extra stagehand. But she was the director.

  And by the look of it, Neve wasn’t going to take it on the chin. “That’s not happening,” she intoned in a low voice. She managed a small apologetic smile for Terri, whose face fell. “I’m in the middle of heading a renovation. I’ll be free this evening, if you’d like to get dinner, but, in the meantime, I’m afraid Duke is the only person here with nothing to do.”

  Gavin came uncomfortably close to scoffing. “Oh, come on, Neve.”

  Her stance changed. Hip cocked, arms crossed, chin hitched. Then a bazooka shot from her mouth, and none of them were prepared for it. “Mr. Chambers, I understand you’d like some alone time with Duke, but entertaining your sister isn’t on my agenda. Frankly, I’m offended you assume it would be.”

  Alone time…what the hell is she talking about?

  Even behind his tanned face, a deep flush of red welled up from Gavin’s neck to take over his face. Terri seemed to struggle with something in her throat.

  Duke stared at Neve, waiting for an explanation of some kind.

  She didn’t give one, but had a glare laden with meaning for Gavin before uncrossing her arms and giving them all a jaunty little wave as she made to leave them. “I’m glad you like the deck, Gavin.”

  She left the three of them in strained silence.

  * * * *

  “This,” Neve breathed, running a hand over the scarred, paint-flecked white door with the perfect diamond panes of old, aged glass, “is so perfect. How can Duke be so stupid and smart at the same time?”

  To her surprise, Kay didn’t jump into a long diatribe in an attempt to answer the question. The girl was focused entirely on the task at hand. Two of Vince’s men held up the cabinet structure, while Kay drilled through the back, mounting it to the cabin’s wall. Her short hair had grown some since her arrival, and the few inches of pale strands stuck up at odd angles, creating something of a manic look about her. It worked well with her personality.

  Neve had to admit she liked this more sober side to Kay.

  Kay pulled her head out from the cabinet and passed the drill down to Finn, who waited behind her with a measuring tape and the shelving supports, which he dropped into her waiting palm. Her eyes never left her work. “On this end, there are no space issues. However, in the corner, I had to get creative.”

  Oh, boy. Neve couldn’t complain much about whatever solution Kay had rendered, given they were her own weakness. She had to trust her ass
istant. For the next hour, Neve watched her command the guys at her disposal, issuing short, terse directives with single-minded concentration. She measured and set steel support pieces, slid the gleaming wooden shelves into their slots, and moved on to the next installation in an unbroken flow of movement.

  Finally, they moved to the corner. The sink had been installed against the new wall, leaving an odd length of counter on either side.

  Kay grinned as Finn left and came back with a tiered shelf split in half and reconnected at a ninety-degree angle to set into the corner. The base started out wide, each shelf narrowing until the top had but a small ledge, large enough to hold the tiniest of trinkets. Kay hammered nails through the strategically placed pre-drilled holes. Once mounted, she stood back to study her handiwork, then dug in her pocket.

  She pulled out a small white stone. Quartz. “I found this outside in the dirt. I kept it for a souvenir, but when Finn and I came up with this design, I realized this last tiny shelf needed something special.” She smiled at Neve and placed the small mineral rock on the last ledge, where it perched like the star on a Christmas tree.

  Neve found herself nodding. “Well done.”

  Actually, everything was well done. The cabinets and counters had been built in sections, so each drawer and storage area had been designed specifically for the space it inhabited. No wasted space, no false drawers.

  “Seriously, well done.”

  Kay beamed, and Finn grinned at her with pride. They made quite the team.

  A spark ignited in the back of Neve’s mind. She shook hands with Kay and Finn and congratulated them both on their successful project. “Now, let’s hope you didn’t screw up the measurements for the fridge and stove. Know where I can find Vince?”

  * * * *

  Vince had his team unloading the large appliances from one of the stationery storage trailers. Large woven belts with heavy-duty fasteners were tossed over the appliances, still wrapped in their protective plastic sheets from the manufacturer and secured to dollies maneuvered by two men. The fridge, electric range, and shower stall were all ready for installation. As soon as Gavin got out of the way, they’d get the hot tub plugged in as well.