Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 12270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 61(@200wpm)___ 49(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 61(@200wpm)___ 49(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
Okay, now this guy is starting to creep me out. I glance down the street, praying to see Owen's truck, but it's nowhere in sight.
"I think I'm okay." I close the gate. "But maybe next time, Mr...?"
"Grayson. But you can call me Thomas." He steps closer, and I take an instinctive step back. "If you ever need anything at all, you let me know. I'm just at the blue house three doors down. I'd be happy to help."
"Will do," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
As I turn and walk toward the front porch, my skin crawls from Thomas' intense gaze. It's like he can see right through me. I can feel his eyes on me even after I'm inside, and I shiver involuntarily.
That was weird. And a little unsettling. But I'm sure he meant well. After all, I'm new here. Maybe he was just trying to be friendly.
I shake off the encounter and get back to unpacking. I need to cultivate the perfect plan to seduce Owen tomorrow, and no creepy neighbor is going to distract me from that.
2
OWEN
I'm not one to pass up a paycheck, and most carpenters would be thrilled to get paid extra to work with someone they've known for over a decade. It should be even better, considering Lena Carter and I have always gotten along, and she's pretty incredible to look at, too.
The problem is, she's too attractive. Too alluring. And she's my best friend's little sister, which means she's totally off-limits.
It was easy to tell her yes and believe that I was in control of myself over the phone, but as soon as I got to her house and saw her in person, I immediately regretted my decision.
The thing is, this is Lena's first real home. She lived with her parents and then in an apartment with a roommate. She's never really been on her own before. Even though I know she can handle it, I'm concerned about her safety, and I worry she'll get taken advantage of and overcharged if I don't do the work for her. That's the only reason I'm spending so much time here.
Right?
Yeah. That's why I've spent the last few days at her place instead of working on other jobs. There's no other reason for it. It doesn't matter that she looks like an angel or that she smells like strawberries and cream. It definitely doesn't matter that she's grown into a bombshell—dark brown hair curling over her shoulders, blue eyes with thick, black lashes, the softest-looking lips I've ever seen, and curves that could kill a man.
None of those things matter to me. Nope. Not at all.
"You know, if you worked this fast on all of your jobs, you'd be rich," Lena teases from the step ladder she's on, touching up trim paint.
"You know, if you kept your mind on painting and not on teasing me, the room would be done by now," I shoot back, grinning.
She grins back. "Oh, I'm teasing you, am I?"
"Something like that." I step away from my blueprints, tucking my pencil behind my ear before frowning at her. "I wish you'd wait until I can hold the ladder before you climb up there."
Lena rolls her eyes. "I'm fine, Owen. I can manage." She goes back to painting, and I admire her trim figure as she sways her hips to some unheard tune.
We've been working hard all morning, and I'm already starting to sweat. I wipe my forehead with the back of my hand and sigh. Things are going pretty well, but I really think I'd work faster if Lena weren't here as a distraction.
Just as I start to consider sending her on a pointless errand to the hardware store so I can stop thinking with my dick and start thinking with my brain again, the ladder she's on starts to wobble.
"Lena!" I shout.
She looks down, her eyes widening, but it's too late. With a sharp cry, she loses her footing and comes crashing towards me.
I dart forward and catch her in my arms, bracing my legs to keep us from toppling over.
"Are you okay?" I ask, breathless from the shock.
Lena's arms are around my neck, and our faces are inches apart. Her blue eyes are wide, and her full lips are parted slightly.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. All I have to do is lean in, close the gap between us, and press my lips to hers...
Lena's eyes dart down to my mouth. She licks her lips, and I swallow hard, my whole body tense with anticipation.
"You saved me."
"I did."
Then she kisses me, and it's all over. I can't resist her anymore.
Her lips are soft, her tongue exploring. She tastes like the lemonade she's been drinking, and she smells like heaven. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer, our bodies pressed together. She moans into my mouth, and I feel my cock stir. I deepen the kiss, tangling my fingers in her hair. She responds eagerly, wrapping her arms around my neck. I could kiss her forever.