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The more jaded part of me did wonder if she was hiding a secret.
I didn’t want to doubt her. But I wasn’t an idiot. I knew people could keep secrets, even otherwise good people. I just hoped I wasn’t setting myself up to get burned.
A good reminder. Take things slow. I was sleeping at her house, next to her in bed, and the desire was there. I wanted her. Badly. But it was probably smart that we hadn’t gone there yet.
I needed to be careful.
“Nothing more we can do over here,” I said to Max. “Let’s go next door.”
Max followed me to the remodel and promptly curled up in a corner for a nap. Apparently watching me install cameras had been tiring work for a dog.
The baseboards were in and about half the windows were trimmed out. I needed to finish the windows and get started on the door trim.
After second-guessing the trim package, I’d finally asked Audrey what she thought. She’d liked the four and a half inch baseboards with stepped detailing at the top. Now that they were in, I had to say, she’d nailed it. The white looked great against the wood floors and the height set off the room perfectly.
The windows were looking good, too, with trim that echoed the lines of the baseboards. I got to work, measuring, cutting, and installing. Once in a while Max would get up and want some attention or need to go outside. A bit after one, I decided to take a break. He hopped in the truck with me and we ran into town to grab some lunch.
I stopped by Audrey’s office to make sure she was okay. She came outside to say hi to me and Max, but couldn’t stay long. She was in the middle of wrapping up an article for next week’s paper. Still, it was good to see her—and kiss her. And Max was thrilled to see his mama.
He really was a cute dog.
After lunch, I went back to work. The afternoon went quickly and I made good progress on the windows and doors. It was finally starting to look livable.
Which reminded me, I needed to make a decision on the countertops. My cabinet guy was already working on the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, but I wasn’t sure what to do about the counters. I’d originally thought quartz, but granite was also a possibility. However, the granite samples I’d grabbed weren’t doing it for me.
Maybe I’d ask Audrey about that too.
Max jumped up from his spot in the corner and ran for the front door.
I glanced at the time. Already after five. “Is your mommy home?”
He looked at me and wagged his tail, as if to say,let’s go see her!
I couldn’t help the smile that stole over my face. If I’d had a tail, I’d have been wagging it too.
Damn. I was in trouble.
I brushed the sawdust off my hands and went outside.
Audrey got out of her car with a smile already on her face. It was such a cliché, but the woman was sunshine. I could feel her warmth from where I was standing.
Max ran to greet her, tail wagging so hard I wondered if he’d throw out his back.
“Hi, Max.” She crouched to scratch him while he gave her excited dog kisses. “I missed you too.”
I let the dog have his moment while I walked across the grass. Her eyes lifted to meet mine and I took her hand to help her stand. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said with a smile.
I pulled her close and kissed her lips. It was possible Max had just licked her face but I didn’t care. I needed her mouth on mine, the warm feeling of our tongues sliding together. She tasted like mint and a flavor that was distinctly her.
It was starting to get addicting.
She moved back and licked her lips. “Wow.”
“How was your day?”
“What? My day?” She blinked a few times. “Sorry, you just scrambled my brain. My day was fine. How was yours?”
