AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I was thinking about something…for work.” That was convincing, right? Her throat may have been a touch parched, and she snatched a water bottle from the counter, guzzling from it. It didn’t help that she found skilled, competent men appealing. How was she expected to survive this afternoon of painting? This was definitely a bad idea.
He patiently waited for her to finish drinking before trying again. “As I was saying, put some paint on your brush, but use the edge of the cup to wipe most of the paint off. You just want a little bit. When you paint, don’t start directly on the edge, but a little ways away from it. Then swoop closer to the wall letting the edge of the brush angle out. And you’ll get a nice clean edge. No tape needed.”
“Okay.”
Based on his flat facial expression, Sam was unconvinced. “Can I see you do it?”
She didn’t want to be put under a microscope at this moment, not until she was more in control of herself. “I said I got it.”
“I’m not signing you off on edge duties until I see you in action.”
She glared at him. “You’re not the boss of me! This is my kitchen.” How he managed to always push her buttons was a complete mystery.
“Wrong. This kitchen and the cabinets belong to Sunderland. Now get up here and start edging.” He jumped from the stepladder with a thud, which wasn’t remotely impressive, and pushed the brush and cup into her hand.
She released a long groan to make it clear how much she hated him, his ballcap, and his silly paint lessons that were not even close to being as sexy as herKarate Kidfantasies. Luna climbed the ladder, dunked her brush in the primer, and removed it.
“That’s too much paint.”
She wiped the brush on the lip of the cup.
“That’s still too much.”
If there was one thing she hated, it was being told what to do. She considered shouting,Forget it! I’ll just stick with the old wooden cabinets, to get rid of him. But, with her heart set on dove gray cabinets, she bit her lip to keep her temper at bay. He was probably doing this on purpose, and she wasn’t about to let him win.
Before she could attempt to get the appropriate amount of paint on her brush, Sam stepped on the ladder, took her hand, and gently guided it until the brush was wiped to his satisfaction. Her breath snagged in her chest. The close-proximity thing was happening, which she didn’t want… Or did want?Dammit.She couldn’t remember.
“A little goes a long way.” His face was raised to hers and his arms were on either side of the ladder, boxing her in.
Luna wondered about the scar on his left eyebrow. Was that from a childhood incident? From the car accident? There was a small desire on her part to smooth her finger along it.
“Are you worried?” he asked.
“About what?” Her voice was soft, almost breathless.
“That you won’t be able to do it.”
No one was allowed to doubt her and the spark inside reignited. “I bet I can do it better than you.” She took the wooden end of the paintbrush, putting it beneath the bill of his hat, and flipped the cap from his head causing the headgear to plop on the floor.
“Why do you keep abusing my hat?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you look better without it.”
The natural upturn at the center of his brow lifted even higher at this, his forehead wrinkling in a cute, sympathetic way. If she knew this was a possibility, she would have thought twice about removing his hat. Luna realized her mistake too late.
“Do I look as good as the porn rug guy?” he asked in a slow, easy fashion.
“At least that guy didn’t boss me around.”
“Maybe you need to be bossed around a little.”
“I may need a lot of things, but I don’t need them from you,” she replied.
“And, yet, every time you need help, I seem to be here.”
“Only because you’re always poking your nose where it doesn’t belong. I can handle everything on my own just fine.”
Sam shook his head. “You are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.”
