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His expression was unreadable, and he kept his eyes on hers as he raised the bottle to his lips. As he swallowed, Chelle watched his Adam’s apple roll up and down his throat.
She wanted to lick him there.
Gah!
She took a long pull of her beer and broke his gaze.
“Chelle...”
“We make a good team,” she said quickly.
He said nothing.
The temperature in the room spiked a few degrees again. “I need some air. Let’s go sit out back.” She rushed past him and unlocked the slider, shoving it open and taking a huge inhale to calm her nerves as she stepped outside.
She didn’t bother to see if he was following but when she heard the slider close, her question was answered.
Since it was late enough for the sun to be down, she flipped the switch for the string of lights that hung from the outer edge of the overhang and met in the middle, like the top of a circus tent.
She loved the backyard area of her house. Over the years she had done the work herself, or hired it out when she could, to get it to how she wanted it. Like installing the six-foot-high wooden privacy fence and the large patio made of stone pavers.
Once the girls learned to swim, she had a small above-ground pool installed for them and their friends to enjoy. Though, she got some enjoyment out of floating around on those hot, sweltering days, too. Or lounging on the patio in the shade, reading.
She had spent a lot of time out back, working on the landscaping, planting flowers, evergreens and butterfly bushes, and simply decorating the area with cute yard sale finds to make her happy.
And it did.
When the girls weren’t home, it was a good place to enjoy the quiet. She had neighbors on both sides who kept to themselves, friendly but not overly nosy. And the neighbor directly behind her was elderly and didn’t come outside too often.
So, her little haven was peaceful.
She settled into a thick-cushioned wicker chair and took another sip of beer, kicking up her feet on the matching ottoman in front of her and leaning back. Her sigh filled the silence.
She was bone-tired and tomorrow she was sure she’d be stiff and achy from all the taping and painting they did in the last two days, but it would be worth it. One room down, too many to go.
She wasn’t in a rush since she wasn’t moving anytime soon. Whether she’d stay in Manning Grove after she retired from her job, she didn’t know but doubted she would since northern Pennsylvania could be very cold and snowy in the winter. It also depended on where her girls settled. She would love to be near her grandchildren.
She had a difficult time wrapping her head around her babies raising their own. Hopefully neither would rush to make her a grandmother.
Again, that reminded her to have another discussion with them about safe sex. She already knew her girls would love every second of that conversation and she’d get plenty of eye rolls and sarcastic complaints.
Speaking of sex...
Shawn had taken the chair on the other side of the side table and after a few more minutes of silence, he asked, “You do all this?”
She stared out at the yard. “Yes.”
“You swim?”
“Yes,” she answered automatically, then twisted her head toward him at the odd question for someone who owned a pool. “Don’t you?”
He didn’t answer and also didn’t look in her direction. Instead, he tipped the bottle to his lips. When he was done, he reached up and pulled the elastic band from his head, shook his long, curly hair out and let it fall around his shoulders and chest.
Holy hell.
He raked his fingers through the length a couple of times, released a long, low sigh and put his boots up on the ottoman in front of his own chair. Then he melted into it like every bone in his body no longer existed.
She smiled at how relaxed he looked. He had worked hard so he deserved to kick up his feet and have a beer. Or two.
“Beautiful,” he said softly, still surveying the outside area.
She turned from his strong profile and let her gaze slide through the backyard to see it through his eyes. “Yes, it is.”
“Not it. You.”
She caught her bottom lip in between her teeth and stared at him again. He was so quiet, she wished she could read his thoughts.
She didn’t know the last time anyone had told her that, besides her girls while using her to practice on with hair or makeup.
Oh, and her hairdresser, Teddy. He always made a fuss about the natural color of her hair.
Other than that, no one had told her she was beautiful in a long, long time.
She blinked away the unexpected sting at the corner of her eyes. She should thank him but she was afraid her voice might crack.
