“It’s crazy how much they’ve expanded,” he added.
As she listened, she wondered what a guy with a business degree knew about masonry work.
“I take care of the office end of things,” he said, answering her unasked question. Then he grinned and laughed fondly under his breath. “Mike and John have made a mess of the paperwork. Good thing I came back when I did.”
Anna crossed her arms. “If you run the business end, then what do you know about laying marble and bricking around a fireplace?”
“I’m not without my own skills.” He paused, then pitched his voice low. “I can do a good job for you, Anna. I promise. I’ll make it good. Real good.”
She swallowed hard and wondered if he was talking about laying marble or something else entirely.
Lindsay stepped in, probably catching his sexual undertones as well. “I don’t think you’re the man for the job.”
He shrugged. “I’m all you’ve got.” He gestured toward the house. “We’re the only game in town, so if you want the work done…”
“Send someone else from the company.”
“My brothers are on other jobs. Completely buried.” When he turned his mesmerizing hazel eyes on her, it felt like she’d been sucker-punched. “I’m your man, Anna.”
The way he’d said those four simple words caused the blood in her veins to boil. Years ago, she’d really thought he was her man. So sweet, kind, respectful and genuine. Confident, yet always a little shy around her. A real-life Prince Charming. But it was all an act to get her into his bed. She’d learned long ago that beneath that perfect package, Daniel Long was nothing but a bad apple.
And no matter how much he charmed her she would never, ever sleep with him.
She didn’t think.
Daniel watched her—watched the way her telltale opaque blue eyes had raked over his body with heated interest, her flesh moistening from want—only to turn around and see lust give way to anger when their glances collided and recognition hit like a wrecking ball.
What had he ever done to make her hate him?
That question that had plagued him for years. A question that had finally forced him to leave his high-paying job in the city and return home to Mason Creek. With the help of his brothers, he’d kept close tabs on Anna and her family over the years. After all, as teens they’d all been neighbors, and to this day, their parents still shared a backyard.
Truthfully, it was fate that he’d come back when he had. Shortly after arriving, Pamina had contracted their company for a job, which meant Daniel had to learn how to do masonry work and learn how to do it fast. A crash course later, here he was, standing face to face with the woman who’d tormented his soul since he’d moved in next to her during his senior year of high school.
In all the years that he’s been gone, he’d yet to get her out of his mind. And no matter how many women he’d bedded, he couldn’t help but imagine he was holding the sweet girl from next door. The same girl who’d always reduced him to a bumbling idiot whenever she was near.
Many years ago, the first sight of her face had pretty much ruined him for any other woman. Lord knows he’d tried for the distraction. After skipping town he’d slept with anything in a skirt, but all that proved was that his heart belonged at home, with Anna. She was smart, modest and romantic, so unlike the other girls he knew. He grinned, thinking about how many times he’d spied on her from his bedroom window, watching her indulge in one of her romance novels, or put together designs in her sketch book while she lounged on her back deck.
Back in high school, the girls had thrown themselves at him. Daniel had been captain of the football team, and everyone had wanted a piece of him. He could have had any girl he wanted, but the one girl he really longed for, the one who lived next door, was the one girl he couldn’t have.
Now he was back, no longer that nervous young boy he once was, ever determined to prove how good they could be together. She might hate him, for reasons he vowed to unveil, but he’d be damned if she didn’t want him. The desire in her eyes reflected his own and spoke volumes. They both had it bad for each other, and he was hell-bent on doing something about it.
As she stood there staring up at him, her blue eyes glistening beneath the early-morning rays, his heart did a little flip. The warmth in her gaze had never failed to affect him and just being this close to her had his brain swirling with need.
She felt that need every bit as much as he did. It was written all over her face; her eyes were full of want, her body full of unrequited longing. But she continued to turn a blind eye to it, ignoring the powerful chemistry between them, just like she had in high school, when she’d suddenly stopped speaking to him.
Sure he’d tried to speak with her, to figure out what had gone wrong, but every time he’d made an attempt, her protective friend Lindsay came between the two. Anna had stopped coming to the backyard fence to chat with him, and had distanced herself by staggering the time she left for school. Daniel had wanted to set things straight, but he was so young and insecure with her, and things had gotten so awkward he’d had no idea how to close the ever-expanding gap.
As he sorted through matters, he reflected on the emotions she brought out in him, the emotions he brought out in her. Oh yeah, it was well past the time to set the wheels into motion and go after
