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I sighed, raking a hand through my hair. "I never have much time, and when I do, I'm too exhausted to focus. I want to finish it before the girls get home for the weekend."
"Would you like some help?" she offered. "I'm no master carpenter, but I can swing a hammer. It would be good practice for the bar reno. Plus, if I don't keep busy, I'll just keep baking cronuts until I’m up to my eyes in them."
"Seriously?" I quirked a brow, taken aback by her offer. "You’re up for helping out?"
"Of course! We're neighbors, after all."
"All right then." Earlier on, I’d been trying to avoid her, but now, I felt a surge of giddy excitement at the thought of working alongside her.
We rose, clinking glasses one final time before draining them, then setting them aside.
Elara ascended the ladder first, and it took every ounce of my willpower not to ogle her perfect ass. I followed and handed her a hammer. As she took it, and our eyes met, just for a moment, our fingers touched. It was like I’d touched a live wire. A wave of buzzing energy coursed through my body, almost making my hair stand on end.
Fuck.
"R-right. We need to hammer these planks down. We'll clad the house and then lay down the railings."
She saluted me with the hammer. "Aye aye, captain!"
We fell into an easy rhythm, and I marveled at how seamlessly we worked together. Laughter rang out as we passed tools back and forth, hands grazing, elbows playfully bumping. With each casual touch, I felt that electricity spike again, stronger and stronger each time.
"Hand me the level, would you?" Elara asked. I obliged, watching as she ensured her handiwork was straight.
"This is so much easier than making caramel," she said, flashing me a satisfied grin.
I couldn't help but return the smile, feeling a swell of pride at our progress. The sun cast golden rays through the leaves as we hammered away, the tree house taking shape before our very eyes.
Hours later, as the light began to fade, we called it quits.
"It's looking incredible!" Elara marveled at our progress, genuinely thrilled.
She was right, the tree house looked fantastic. Not even a little crooked.
"Couldn't have done it without you." I wiped the sweat from my brow. "Coffee before you head home?"
"I never say no to caffeine.”
Inside the trailer, I flicked on a light against the encroaching darkness and began preparing the coffee. Elara joined me in the kitchen. "I'll grab the milk."
That's when it happened.
The instant she opened the fridge, the power cut out, plunging us into inky blackness.
"Damn," I muttered under my breath, feeling the tension between us rise. “Circuit’s fried.”
In the darkness, all I could think about was how close Elara was, her breath warm on my face as we stood mere inches apart. I could feel the heat radiating from her body, my senses heightened by the dark.
"Well, this is . . . inconvenient." I could hear her so clearly. The wetness between her lips. Her tongue on her teeth.
I could feel her desire for me.
Don't do it, Cole.
Free will. It's a lie.
In a heartbeat, my arms were around her waist, my lips crashing against hers. She made a soft sound of surprise before melting into me, leaning hard into the kiss. She tasted so good—Champagne, a hint of salt. Lust surged through my veins as I pulled her flush against me, gripping those toned baker’s arms I'd admired all day before sliding a hand down to squeeze her perfect ass. She moaned into my mouth, her tongue tangling with mine, her hands roaming my back.
Fuck, it was good. Better than good. My cock throbbed in my pants, desperate for me to take this further. I wedged a thick thigh between her legs and she groaned as she ground her crotch into my hard muscle. Her hand found my hardness, and I nearly saw stars, a guttural moan escaping me as she palmed me through the fabric. My brain was on fire, and my body wound like a coiled spring, waiting to explode.
