I stilled even as gooseflesh broke out all over my skin. His warm breath hit mynape.
"Of course." I leaned back a little and pressed againsthim.
He sucked in a breath. "Katie," he said, his voicestrangled.
"Yes?"
His warmth abruptly leftme.
By the time I had turned, he'd disappeared back into my guestroom. Igrinned.
So far, I had him completelydiscombobulated.
Martin
Okay.What the hell had happened between last night when I saw her mouth getting devoured by a vamp and today when she was putting off more sex appeal thanFifty Shades of Grey? Not that I had read that book, but I had to hear about it in excruciating detail from not only my sisters, but my mother too. Talk about noboundaries.
When I walked in this morning and saw Katie dancing that slow erotic number, all I wanted to do was drop my tool belt and run my fingers through her exquisite hair while simultaneously devouringher.
But I was a gentleman, and I wasn't sure what game she was playing here, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to be the winner or theloser.
I shut my eyes and gritted my teeth against the sight of her in that tiny sun dress, and the way her skin prickled when I came up behind her...she was attracted to me, as sure as the sun rose each day. But was she willing to act onit?
And what had happened with Kristoff? I wasn't willing to ruin her friendship even though her signals were screaming at me to go full speed ahead. I didn't want to spookher.
I also didn't want to encroach on another man's territory. Even though I thought Kristoff was wrong for her, I wasn't the kind of person who was going to mess that up for her. She needed time to make her own decisions. And with her history, I didn't want to spookher.
I wanted her. All of her. Every single day. No matter what she was. I was obsessed with her. With the way her brow crinkled in concentration as she was trying to measure out the perfect amount of flour. At the way she handled life throwing all kinds of shit at her. At her determination to be successful even as she was outed in the worst possibleway.
Even at the way she occasionally glared atme.
I wanted to wake up to that beautiful face every day. And I wanted us to marry and have children and...I banged my head against the wall several times. "Slow down, Roma. This is not a romcom."
But I wanted it tobe.
Whatever the hell game she was playing, if she was doing this for her own amusement, I was going to make her pay. But if she was trying to show me that she wanted me, I was going to make her work for it. Because I'd been working for it for months now, and watching her date while I slaved away here made me want to chew onnails.
I picked up the crowbar and got to work, still wondering about her motives. But I had to admit, I was looking forward to whatever thiswas.
25
Ikeptthe sundress on the entire day and made excuses to walk to the back of the house, one time bringing Martin a glass of water and bending down too low to show him some cleavage. I watched his throat work but he said nothing, other than to thank me for thedrink.
That evening, I made chicken fried steaks and asked him to stay for dinner, but hedeclined.
When I asked him why, he mumbled some excuse about having prior plans. I didn't press, but a horrible part of me wondered if he had a date. That would be just my luck. Finally coming to my senses only to have lost him to some wonderful, kind woman who wasn'tme.
Damnit.
I waved as his truck drove away and wondered what the hell I was going to do with four chicken fried steaks. Grabbing my cell, I made my way into the living room and dialed Helen Reaper up. She answered on the second ring and sounded completely out ofbreath.
"Hey, it's Katie. You soundpreoccupied."
"Katie! Busy. With very weird stuff. Thanks toPortia."
I practically growled when I heard the woman'sname.
At my silence, Helen laughed. "Yeah, some days I feel the sameway."
