“Nah,” he says, like he’s confident in my unknown abilities. “You have control of the drill and the screw. It’s all about placement.”
I climb the ladder and he steps in close behind me as I line up the screw, one hand reaching to steady my wrist. This is making me nervous. Was there a doublemeaning in his words? He delivered them in his baritone voice that somehow now vibrates in my brain and chest.Control of the drill and the screw? Placement? Focus, Tessa … don’t make a fool of yourself.
“Not too much pressure. Let the drill do the work.”
Liam is now eye level with my ass while I stand on this ladder. I feel self-conscious about it, but also like it’s a close moment I’ve been wishing for … for years.
“I’m going to steady you on the ladder,” he says, placing his hand on my waist. The warmth of his palm and the solid feel of his touch begin to affect me. Not to mention, the language he’s using about drilling and screwing. It all sends a full-body rush.
I bite my lip and try to concentrate, but the drill bit skates slightly. “I’m doing this wrong.”
“You’re fine.” His voicereassuring. “Here.”
I feel him step on the bottom rung of the ladder. He wraps one arm lightly around me to guide the angle, his body brushing against my back. His chest is solid heat against me.
I stop breathing entirely.
We drive the screw in together, the sound of it biting into the wood oddly loud in the stillness.
When it’s done, he doesn’t step back right away.
Neither do I.
My pulse is in my throat. My knees might be jelly. I glance out of my peripheral vision and feel him looking at me … or maybe he’s reassessing the placement of the screw.
All of this feels like too much, yet I welcome it. I’ve wanted it … for a long time. Liam only lets go of my waist when I’m safely off the ladder.
I hand him the drill and begin to drown in the expression in his eyes. “What now, teacher?”
Chapter 13
Liam
What now, teacher?Her voice is low, teasing … almost sultry. It resonates inside me. I don’t know if she meant it as a challenge or a flirt, but my body reacts either way.
She’s still standing close, eyes full of mischief, chest rising and falling a little too fast. I’m close enough to catch her scent — warm, spicy, with a hint of something sweet.
I want to kiss her … right here on this porch. I want to pull her to me and show her everything I’ve been holding back.
My fingers twitch, almost reaching.
Almost.
But I don’t.
I take a breath and step half a pace back. Not because I want space. Because if I don’t, I’m going to forget every good reason not to cross that line.
She’s watching me. Expecting something. I clear my throat and school my voice into something steadier than I feel.
“Well,” I say, gesturing toward the brace we just installed. “Next, we’ll add another board for reinforcement. Anchor it through here.” I point to a second joint just above the first. “This will hold things up while we do the real repair work.”
She blinks. “The real repair work, huh?”
“Yes, it will be easy.”
“For you, maybe. Thank you for helping me, Liam. If I can get this porch roof right, it will save a lot of money.”
“It’s a two-person job,” I add. “You’ll need someone to hold the brace while you secure it.”
