“Great. Friday it is.I’ll call you, okay?” He brought both her hands to his lips andkissed her fingertips. His eyes searched her face. Then hesurprised her by pulling her gently towards him and kissing herdeeply.
Shivers ran up anddown Chloe’s spine as her hands met his rock-hard chest and becamesandwiched between them. Goosebumps broke out on her skin. Hispassionate kiss took her places she had long forgotten.Wow, the man can kiss.Desire flooded her brain, and when he pulled away, she felt dizzyand disorientated. Hey … come backhere.
It took a few seconds for her torealise he was talking to her, saying goodnight, backing down thesteps and the path, to the car idling by the kerb. She floatedinside, locked the door, and made her way upstairs to her bedroom,unaware of Truffle trying to attract her attention by windingthrough her legs.
She changed into comfortable pjbottoms and a tank top, brushed her teeth and climbed in to bed onautopilot, still thinking of that kiss and her body’s response toit. As she drifted off to sleep, the last thoughts she had were ofhis eyes, the colour of midnight, as he kissed herhands.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Chloe spread outseveral drop sheets on the stairs and in the hall on the secondfloor. Paint tins and rollers had been lined up at the foot of thestairs in preparation for tomorrow’s early morning start. She hadjust moved the ladder into position on the landing when thedoorbell rang. Oh no, he’s early!She quickly stepped over Truffle who had beenshadowing her all day. He trotted downstairs behind her.
“Oh. Hi Todd, comein.” She accepted his kiss on her cheek, and moved aside to allowhim to enter. “When I heard the doorbell, I thought it was Patrickarriving really early. She pulled out the front of her bib overalls,splattered in paint. “As you can see, I’m not ready yet and he’spicking me up for a meal later.”
“I gather you’repreparing to paint upstairs.” Todd gestured towards the rollers,paint pots and ladder on the landing, He took the first few stepsand studied the height of the ceiling. “Don’t you think you shouldcall in a painter? It’s a bit tricky to reach those highceilings.”
“I think I can manage.I have long-handed rollers.” Chloe’s smile faltered.
“I don’t see why youwould want to take on all this work yourself. Ask Patrick, sinceyou two seem to be getting along famously. I’m sure he couldsuggest a reliable painter. A professional could probably get itdone in half the time.”
Facing in the opposite direction,he was unaware of the scowl forming on Chloe’s face. Todd rambledon. “Get someone in who knows what they are doing. Look. The wallsup here are a bit streaked. It’s not the best job.”
“That’s the firstcoat, Todd. I might not be the best but I enjoy painting.” Shefisted her hands on her hips.
“You’re kidding me …right? Enjoy painting? Why would you get any pleasure out of beingon your feet all day, working yourself to exhaustion scraping andsanding, and getting covered in paint?”
Todd ran his hand over thepaintwork, his face masked. “You look washed out and tired all thetime. We haven’t caught up for a meal or even coffee in daysbecause you’re busy sanding and prepping and painting. You’reliving in a renovator’s building site, with the constant fumes andthe paint paraphernalia all around you. How could you be enjoyingthis?” He spread his arms wide.
Todd didn’t see the storm cloudsbrewing in her eyes until he turned.” What?”
“Are you done with thecriticism?” Chloe didn’t even try to keep the annoyance out of hervoice.
“Don’t tell me you’reupset with me when I’m only pointing out the obvious. The ceilingis too high, and physically it isa hard job for any woman to reach those corners,let alone one with an injury. A professional painter would be moresuited to the task; can’t you see that?”
“You mean can’t I seethat I’m a weak woman, and not strong enough?”
“Well, I didn’t put itquite like that, but yes. It’s a man’s job.”
She could hardly articulate herannoyance as she took in his smug expression.
“Please go before Isay something I’ll regret later. I think you’ve made yourpoint.”
Chloe pointed at the front door.“Go!”
Todd slid his hands in his pantspockets and shot her a look of disbelief. He didn’tbudge.
Chloe marched to the front door,held it wide open and stared straight ahead, until he strode pasther. She slammed the door behind him so hard the windowsvibrated.
“Arrrgggg … pompousarse. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Annoyed and hurt byhis remarks, she plunked herself down on the bottom of the stairs.“Washed out … I’llgive him washed out.”
Furious and frustratedwith herself for allowing him to spoil her good mood, she shot toher feet. Gathering up the required paint, trays and rollers, sheprepared to work off some steam in the time left before Patrickarrived. She headed upstairs to make a start on painting theceiling. Calculating the height of the cathedral ceilings, sheselected an appropriate extension pole and locked the roller inplace. The ladder, propped open ready and waiting, appeared to betaunting her on the landing. His words rang in her ears… .“a hard job for any woman, let alone onewith an injury.”
On the top step of the staircase,Truffle sat licking his paws, which he then used to clean his headand ears. He looked unconcerned by all the fuss. She had to edgehim out of the way with her foot to open the ladder a fractionwider. Truffle gave her a disdainful look, resettling a few inchesaway to continue his grooming.
“Men! They think theyknow everything; they think their opinion’s all that matters. Aman’s job, is it? They think women are helpless little flowers, puton this earth only to cook and clean and do theirbidding!”
She poured a generous supply ofpaint into the tray and loaded up her roller. “I am just as capableas any man. And
