Gabrielle cleared her throat. “They’re already working together, right? So we just need to keep it that way. What could be more natural than that?”
“Exactly!” Amber’s excitement was tangible. “Just a little extra work that will keep Jason in the house more often. Nothing serious or extreme, I promise.” She held up one hand.
“See? All natural matchmaking.” Gabrielle grinned.
“I like it. Who’s in?” Amber asked.
Clara hoped she didn’t live to regret this as she joined the other women at the table and raised her hand.
FOUR DAYS INTO Lauren’s project, Jason thought he would lose his mind. What had started as a mission to show Lauren he could work on her house like a professional and accomplish everything she needed without distraction-sexual distraction-had turned into a form of self-torture. It didn’t matter that he had men from his crew milling around or the electrician inspecting the wiring. His focus was solely on her.
He’d been determined to let sex be on her terms. He wanted her to come to him so that she didn’t have any regrets afterward, ensuring many a repeat performance. At least until she left town.
But being around her was wearing him down. From the tight jeans she wore, to the way she hummed off-key to the music she played on her iPod, to the sexy sway of her hips as she cleaned and scrubbed each room from top to bottom, she slowly, systematically was driving him insane. He didn’t think he could wait for her to give in first.
As a successful athlete, he’d always attracted women easily. Whether it was the ski bunny groupies who hung around the lodge where he worked and practiced, or the women who wanted to say they’d scored with the world champion. Judging by the chemistry between them, which was stronger now than in the past, Lauren wasn’t more than a kiss away from being in his bed again.
Yet for one of the first times in his life, he wasn’t eager to take what he wanted just because the woman in question could be easily swayed. He didn’t know if it was the bruising his ego had taken in the past year, or if it had just been too long since a woman had wanted Jason Corwin the man, not the athlete. He feared it was more about the woman herself. And she was doing her best to remain elusive.
But he needed Lauren to come to him and admit she wanted him.
Now that work was finished for the day, he headed to check in with his lady boss. He couldn’t locate Lauren, which surprised him since they’d fallen into a routine. He arrived at the house at eight in the morning, before his small crew, and he worked later than his men, until Lauren called a halt. She enticed him away from patching holes in the walls with the lure of dinner, always some kind of take-out food.
She didn’t cook and didn’t apologize for it. He wasn’t great around the kitchen either, which normally left him eating at the diner in town or mooching some of Clara’s home cooking, which was delicious. But since he’d started working at the Perkins house, he was back to eating takeout.
He didn’t mind one bit. He preferred sitting across the table from Lauren each night. Learning more, with every meal, about the woman she’d become.
He finally found her in a far room, one he knew she was putting off fixing until last. She was on her knees, her head half inserted into one of the holes in the wall, her delectable rear end sticking out for him to see.
The woman had amazing curves and soft skin. He knew that firsthand, but seeing her in such a provocative position took him off guard and his mouth went dry at the sight. His groin hardened, throbbing against the zipper of his jeans. Visions of stripping off his clothes and taking her in that position, his entire body wrapped around hers as he thrust into her over and over again, filled his mind.
He let out a groan, knowing no way in hell was he going to be able to wait for her to come to him.
THE CAT HAD BEEN crying pitifully from somewhere inside the house. Lauren had done a systematic room-to-room check, listening for the sound to grow louder, but no luck. She’d worked her way from the bedroom, where the cat stayed with her at night, to the far end of the house when finally the meows had grown more distinct and she realized the cat had crawled into one of the many ridiculously large holes punched in the drywall and gotten stuck there.
She’d lowered herself to her hands and knees, gingerly easing her head into the wide space, and peeked inside. Pitch-black, she couldn’t see a thing.
“Now that’s a nice sight.” Jason followed up his words with an appreciative whistle.
Startled, Lauren jumped up, banged her head and fell back onto her butt, her head aching from where she’d smacked it on the wall.
She braced her hands on either side of her hips and glared up at him. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on a person?” she asked as she rubbed her sore head.
“Sorry.” She noticed he was trying not to laugh but the corners of his mouth kept tugging up. “You okay?”
“Nothing bruised but my head-and my ego,” she muttered.
This time he allowed the grin. “Mind if I ask what you were looking for?”
“The cat’s stuck inside. He’s been crying on and off.”
“And here I thought his favorite place was the hood of my truck.”
“Try to control your jealousy,” Lauren said. “He’s there more often than not.” As long as the hood of Jason’s car was warm from use, the cat tended to sit on his throne and survey his kingdom.
“I knew I shouldn’t have left those holes uncovered,” he muttered. “Well, I can’t possibly patch them all in one day, but I’ll cover them so he can’t get stuck again. Let’s get him out of here first.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Tell you what,” he said as he held his hand out for her. “You get a treat to help coax him out and I’ll go find a flashlight.”
“The one you paid for is in the drawer near the dishwasher. I’ll get it.” She placed her palm in his and he pulled her up. Electricity shot up her arm and settled in her chest.
Light-headed from the sensation, she held on to his grasp and she couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. Suddenly aroused, she wanted those lips on hers, wanted him to pull her into his arms and not let her go until she agreed to let him make love to her here and now.
Not that it would take any persuasion at all. And from the way he stared at her, his expression taut, his gaze hungry, she knew he felt the same way.
How had this happened? She’d been telling herself she didn’t want to get involved with him any more than she already was, yet every evening she’d ordered enough dinner for two and invited him to stay. Each night, she’d shared just enough information about herself to keep conversation going, convincing herself she was maintaining a reasonable distance. Pretending the sexual deprivation and longing weren’t killing her.
But now she knew there was no such thing as distance.
And if she didn’t feel his hot touch on her body, she was going to explode. “Jason…”
Without warning, a loud, disgruntled meow reminded them of their priorities.
With a regretful glance at Jason, she started to head for the kitchen but he held on to her hand.
“What were you going to say?” he asked, his voice rough. “I need you to tell me.”
She licked her lips. “No more games. I know I said all work, no play, but I can’t do this anymore.” Her voice cracked at the confession, but she’d finally admitted her feelings out loud.
“Thank God.” His relief was clear.
But once again, she had to make sure he understood her intentions. “As long as you know I’m leaving in a few weeks, we can pick up where we left off in the barn.”
Unable to stop herself, she ran her thumb over his stubble-roughened cheek, inhaling his scent, waiting for his reply.
He kissed her hard and fast, sealing the deal.