“Good morning, ladies.”
Lindsay dropped her muffin and turned to face him. When she spotted him standing in the doorway, her body buzzed to life. She took in the warm look in his eyes as they met hers, and her heart turned over in her chest. She fought down a barrage of emotions, reminding herself that what was between them was sex. Damn great sex, mind you. And nothing more.
She took a moment to peruse him. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a snug T-shirt that hugged his body to perfection, he had morning after written all over him. She swallowed and admired his shaved face. His thick hair looked damp, from a recent shower. God she loved how he pushed his bangs to the side. It made him look so damn sexy.
With effort, she said, “You’re here early.” Did she dare hope it was because he couldn’t wait to go another round with her?
“I thought I’d get at the room right away so you can start your painting. I know how anxious you are to put the room together.”
Damn. She forced a smile. “I see.”
Silence reigned heavy as they both stared at one another, sexual sparks arcing between them. After a long moment, Pamina spoke. “Well, head right on up, Brad. The sooner you get started, the sooner you finish. I’m sure you must have other, more pressing jobs waiting for you.”
Brad nodded and disappeared down the hall, and Lindsay resisted the urge to follow, peach in hand.
The morning had flown by rather quickly as Lindsay sorted through numerous paint chips until she got the exact color she had in mind.
Sitting at the kitchen table, she kept glancing into the hall. She hadn’t seen Brad all morning, leaving him alone to finish his job so he could get on to more pressing matters.
Like spanking her again. Good Lord.
Come to think of it, Candace or Anna hadn’t surfaced either. She’d gone to check on them earlier, but their doors were locked. She hadn’t wanted to knock and wake them in case they’d been up all night working.
It was nearing lunch, and her tummy grumbled. Maybe now was a good time to check on Brad, to see if he needed a sandwich or to see if he wanted to go another round on her padded bench. Her thighs trembled just thinking about it.
Lindsay quietly made her way upstairs. She peeked into her room. “Brad, I thought you might like a sand—” Her words fell off when she looked around and found the room empty. Three steps took her to the window. She glanced out and spotted his truck in the driveway, but he was nowhere to be found.
She also noticed two other trucks parked on the street. Had Candace and Anna hired someone too? Dear God, perhaps they were up to the same thing as she was.
Before she had time to investigate, Pamina stepped into the room with a picnic basket. “I thought you might like to sit out at the pond and have lunch.”
Lindsay smiled. Just then her stomach grumbled louder. “I’d love to.”
They descended the stairs, walked out the back door and made their way to the apple tree. Lindsay tightened her sweater around her, breathed in the crisp autumn air and admired the beautiful colors on the fall foliage. “It’s just gorgeous out here.” She angled her head to see Pamina. “Like you said earlier, a wonderful place for lovers.”
Pamina handed her the picnic basket.
Lindsay frowned. “Aren’t you—?”
“Like I said, Lindsay, a wonderful place for lovers.” She waved her hand and Lindsay followed the direction. Her heart leapt when she spotted Brad sitting by the lake, legs crossed, head down, as though deep in thought.
“Enjoy.” Pamina then disappeared.
Lindsay drew a centering breath and with a lighthearted bounce to her step made her way to Brad.
She cleared her throat, heralding her arrival. “Hey,” she said as she came up beside him. It occurred to her that he’d been so engrossed in some book he hadn’t even heard her approach.
Startled, he closed the book on his lap and tucked it in beside him, out of her view.
How odd.
“Hey yourself.” He gave her a sexy smile that warmed her right down to her toes. “What are you doing out here?”
“Taking a break, like you.” She produced the basket. “I thought we could have lunch.”
He patted the ground beside him and she quickly took her seat. She gestured with her head. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing.”
“Obviously it’s not nothing.” She reached across him and grabbed the book. When she read the title she was taken aback. She glanced at him, her eyes questioning. “What’s this?”
He snatched the book back and put it inside his backpack. “Like I said, nothing.”
“You’re studying for a medical entrance exam?” Wow, there was a whole lot more to this guy than she knew.
He rolled one shoulder, brushing it off. “Yeah.” In an attempt to change the conversation, he reached for the basket. “What did you bring?”
She wasn’t about to let him off so easily. “When we were chatting about your job, about being a handyman, how come you didn’t tell me?”
His eyes got serious for a moment. “Most people think it’s ridiculous.”
As he reached into the basket, she said, “Well I don’t. You certainly have the brains for it.”
His hands stopped, and he looked at her. “What makes you say that?”
“You run your own business, don’t you, and you can put up walls as well as tear them down.” Not to mention that he was smart enough to understand her needs and desires in the bedroom, unlike the other men she’d been with. “Stupid people can’t do that.”
He laughed and squeezed her leg. “You’re so politically incorrect, Lindsay.”
She offered him a wry smile and grabbed an egg-salad sandwich. She bit into
