His eyes focused back on her, a naughty grin spreading across his face. “How bad do you want that screwdriver?”
Olivia narrowed her gaze. “I’m still upset with you, so keep your lips and all other body parts to yourself.”
Jackson reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, feathering his fingertips down her jawline. “You can still be upset and turned on.”
Batting his hand away, she lifted her chin because damn it she was definitely turned on.
“I’m not any such thing,” she insisted.
His laugh mocked her, but she held her ground. No way would she admit the mere sight of him did funny things to her belly. Fighting this attraction clearly wasn’t working. How could she lose a battle with herself? That didn’t even make sense.
“Well, then I guess that was someone else clinging and moaning when we kissed.”
Before she could reply, he’d released her and headed into the garage. And he had the gall to whistle. Whistle as if he hadn’t kept her on her toes since she came back. Whistle as if he hadn’t a care in the world while she was more confused than ever.
She hoped a big hairy spider crawled inside his shoe and bit his toes off.
“Don’t you have a daughter you need to be with?” she asked, remaining on the outside away from the unknowns inside.
“Cash has her at the gym,” he replied, his back to her as he searched through the mess. “I was headed home to shower when you texted, so I have time to find a screwdriver and glance to see if there’s any tools I might want.”
He went back to whistling and it took everything in her not to explode. She waited while he dug around, muttered under his breath, examined various parts to machinery.
“The screwdriver,” she reminded him when he seemed too enveloped in all the other things in the garage.
“I’ll get to it. I’m just looking as I go.”
“Well I need some brackets down so I can start painting. If you could speed up your shopping spree, I would appreciate it.”
With some greasy part in hand, Jackson turned to face her. “I have a screwdriver in my truck. Why didn’t you just tell me you needed something done right now?”
He laid the part down and headed down the driveway. “I did tell you,” she argued as she followed the infuriating man.
“No, you just said you needed a screwdriver. I thought you wanted one on hand for convenience.”
He opened his squeaky door and reached behind the driver’s seat. Pulling out a small black toolbox, he dug around and found what she needed.
When she reached for it, he shook his head. “Show me what needs done.”
“I can do it myself.”
He kept walking and started up with that damn whistling once again. Olivia ran ahead and stood in front of him, blocking his path.
“Why are you doing this?”
He raised his brows, but she couldn’t see his eyes behind his aviator glasses. “Can’t you just let people do things without questioning everything?”
“No.”
Jackson laughed and darted around her. “Get used to it if you’re going to be working with me.”
She followed behind as he mounted the back steps and just helped himself into her house. No, her father’s house. This wasn’t hers other than on paper.
“What does that mean?” she demanded as the screen door slammed at her back. “You’re going to do the renovations?”
“It means I’m not completely opposed to more discussions.”
He stared at the brackets and leaned against the counter. When he reached up over his head to unscrew the pieces, his T-shirt came up slightly, giving her a magical glimpse of the side of his abs, and the vee disappearing into his jeans.
She really should have looked away, or replied to . . . what had he said?
“Piper has a birthday party Saturday afternoon. We can talk then. Just come by my house.”
Olivia took a second to process what all he was saying. He wanted her to come by his house . . . when they’d be alone? Did that mean they wouldn’t even be chaperoned by an adorable four-year-old?
“Don’t you have to go to the party?” she asked.
He sat one bracket next to the sink and reached up to remove the other. “I offered, but another mom took pity on me since it’s a spa theme and she didn’t figure I’d want my toes painted.”
Olivia laughed. “Oh, but red would be your color.”
Jackson pulled the last bracket out and laughed. “Well, I’ve had many shades in the past several months. Piper has really taken interest in girlie things. I went to the dollar store and bought some things for her to play with. Makeup and stuff, but I don’t have a clue what I’m buying. I found some sparkly tote to put it all in so that seemed to excite her even more.”
Why did he have to be such a great dad? Jackson may have had a rough hand dealt to him, but he hadn’t once complained, at least not that she’d heard. If anything he acted like he was the most blessed man on earth. He kept Piper and the airport at the top of his priority list. He was faithful, loyal . . . and so damn sexy she was having a difficult time finding a flaw with him.
“I hate not to go to the party, but at the same time, I know she would rather go with a woman,” Jackson went on as he sat the screwdriver and last bracket down. “She loves her best friend’s mom, so she’ll be fine. It’s just difficult sometimes—”
“I’ll take her.”
Where had that come from?
Olivia didn’t know who was more startled at her declaration. Jackson stared at her with his mouth wide open and Olivia rubbed her palms down her pants. She had not given herself permission to say such nonsense. Why on earth would she volunteer to do such a thing?
“You don’t have to do
