“Do I mind what?”he asked.
“I’m trying to study,” she said.
He set down the power drill and removed his glasses to get a better look at her.She was wearing a soft-looking lavender tank top and shorts combo.He didn’t know what women called those one-piece outfits, but she wore it well.“Am I disturbing you?”
“The sound of that goddamned drill is like an ice pick in my ear.”She pointed at the side of her head to punctuate the statement.
He chuckled, despite her serious tone.He hadn’t heard her curse since the night she’d gotten drunk.Nor had she raised her voice at him, because she’d been playing it cool, as if nothing bothered her.She wasn’t cool now.Her eyes flashed with anger, and he liked it.He liked her unfiltered language and hot temper.
“You’ve been at this since the crack of dawn, and I can’t take it anymore.Between the loud music and nonstop screeching, I’m losing my mind!”
He wiped the grin off his face and set the drill aside.“I wasn’t drilling at the crack of dawn.I start my day at eight, because that’s when Emily wakes up, and I knock off at one so she can have her afternoon nap.Those hours are incredibly short by construction standards.Now you want me to accommodate your study time?I think you have lost your mind.”
“Can I just have one day of quiet?”
“This is my job, Vanessa.I’m not on vacation.”
“Your schedule is flexible.”
“It’s not that flexible.”
“Do you have todrill?”
He sighed and checked his phone screen.It was almost ten, and his brother had sent several texts he’d ignored.“I guess I can take a break.”
“Thank you,” she said, throwing her hands up.
“Maybeyouneed a break,” he said.“You seem tense.”
She shook her head in denial.“If I don’t study, I won’t pass my exams, and I’ll end up working the zombie shift in some backwater ER.You think I’m cranky now?You should see me after a few weeks on nights.”
He drew her into his arms, despite her protests.“Take a break with me.I know just the thing to help you relax.”
She let out a huff of breath, but didn’t object as his hands roved lower.Encouraged, he kissed her bare shoulder and nuzzled his way to her earlobe.They’d hardly touched since their wild first date.
“Later,” she said, pushing away from him.“We’ll relax later.”
“Later tonight?”
“There’s a mattress outside,” she said.“It just got delivered.”
“I’ll set up the bed.”
She left without making any promises, but his body reacted as if she’d given a firm yes.Not that he really cared one way or another.Although he wanted to have sex with her as often as possible, in every position imaginable, he was perfectly content to sit next to her while she studied, or go for an evening stroll with her and Emily.
Paul knew something was wrong with him.Never in his life had he been so desperate to touch a woman, but also fine with abstaining.He followed her to the doorway to watch her hips sway as she walked back to her cabin.She glanced over her shoulder and caught him looking.With a sultry smile, she went inside.
He leaned against the doorjamb, his heart thudding in his chest.He’d stopped trying to fight his feelings for her, even though he knew it wouldn’t end well.If she invited him to a dentist appointment, he’d be there with bells on.
His obsession with her was unsettling.He wasn’t used to being in a vulnerable position with women.He felt likehewas the bunny, soft and defenseless, completely at her mercy.He couldn’t wait to see her again.
His phone buzzed in his pocket again.Kyle was texting in all caps.
“CALL ME BACK NOW.”
Paul frowned at the message and pressed the call button.
“Finally,” Kyle said in greeting.“Are you alone?”
