He smiled. “I’ll start working on that Wednesday evening.”
“I…uh…can pitch in.” She drew in a deep breath as if oxygen-starved. “I’m off this Wednesday.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.” And because he couldn’t help himself, he leaned in and kissed her.
What was supposed to be a quick brush of lips swiftly morphed into a hot-as-hell embrace that had need canceling out all reason. Leo crushed Kaydee close, loving how she gripped his shoulders, as if he stole the strength from her legs.
Yeah, he liked that. A lot.
She tasted of tea and lemon, and if some asshole hadn’t driven by blowing his horn and whistling out his window, Leo would’ve deepened the kiss. But she deserved better than him ravishing her in the middle of a damn parking lot.
With a reluctance he felt down to his steel-toed boots, he broke the kiss. “Sorry,” he rumbled. “I can’t seem to think straight with you in my arms.”
“Ditto.” Her warm, ragged breath washed over his neck. “You fog my brain.”
Good.
His chest swelled. It’d been so long since any modicum of satisfaction paid him a visit.
“I should go.” Kaydee pushed out of his arms and fumbled behind her for her door handle. “You need to get back to your crew, and I’ve…uh…got to see a guy…about a thing.” She yanked her door open and dropped into the seat, as if maybe he really had stolen the strength from her legs. “Good luck with the rest of your first day.”
“Thanks.” He smiled. “I’ll see you Wednesday.”
And he was still smiling, twenty minutes later, when he parked at the job site. The woman was sweet and sexy at the same time, and the fact that she had no clue fueled the flame she ignited deep inside him.
But when he walked into the house, all thoughts of Kaydee disappeared, along with his smile.
What the hell?
Chapter Six
“Stop what you’re doing!” Leo clenched his fists as he marched toward his crew. “You’re busting out the wrong damn wall.”
Dirk frowned, while two other crew members stiffened before turning to face him.
“What?” Tucker, the fourth crew member, scratched his temple. “We’re removing the one you told us to take down.”
“No.” Leo shook his head, trying really hard not to lose his shit. “I told you to takethatone down.” He jabbed a finger toward the wall still intact. “Not this one. It’s load bearing.”
Thank God some of it was still there. Jesus, if he hadn’t walked in when he had, they would’ve compromised the integrity of the whole damn second floor.
“But this is the one you told us to take down before you left,” Dirk insisted.
Fuck.
Leo shoved a hand through his hair and gripped the back of his neck. Had he been unclear in his instructions? He ran the scene through his mind. Perhaps. That’d been right after Kaydee’s lunch invitation.
Dammit. He should never have left.
“What do you want us to do?” Tucker asked as the others stared at him, waiting for orders.
Dirk blew out a breath. “Should we rebuild it?”
Leo glanced at the clock on the dining room wall and shook his head. “No. The Burmans will be here soon.” It wasn’t as if they could frame, drywall, spackle, and paint the damn thing in ten minutes. “Go to lunch. Take an hour.”
Tucker stepped forward. “But we’re the ones who screwed up. Not you. It’s not fair that you should take the rap.”
“It’s okay, Tucker, and yes. Iamto blame. I’m the supervisor, so I’m the one responsible. Go on and enjoy a good lunch. I’ll take care of things here.”
