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“Great. Thanks for asking. You looking for Mikel? He’s already left for the day. I’m about to head home myself.” He shrugged the tool belt over his shoulder. “Andre’s the only one here. He’s in the room that will be your office.”
“Okay, thanks. Have a good night.” She nodded.
“You too,” Tom said before he walked out the door.
Mia walked down the hall, taking in the changes she’d missed that week. Almost every area had been sheetrocked and mudded.
The door to the office was open, the light on as Andre sat in a folding chair, flipping through a stack of papers. His work pants were covered in little white specks of what she assumed was mud. His hands had white bits of the plaster contrasting with his dark skin. The evidence of his hard day’s work all over his body did her in. It reminded her of all the times her father came in from a long day on their ranch. Her mother would pull off his boots and wash his feet. In turn, he’d do the same for her. Their marriage was a partnership, both working hard to build a life for Mia.
Andre glanced up at her, as his hands stilled. “Did you need something?”
Oh, right. The fact that she couldn’t get him off her mind and she needed an outlet for all the stress in her life.
She walked the rest of the way into the office as he stood, setting the papers on the chair behind him.
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about last weekend,” she answered, stepping closer. She searched his eyes, hoping he’d understand.
“Which part?” he asked, staring at her mouth.
Yes, that one.
“You kissed me.” Her voice came out breathier than she’d intended.
Andre bit his bottom lip. His chest rose and fell more rapidly.
Mia ran her hand over the side of his jaw, the electricity immediately flowing. “Do you feel this energy between us too?” She wasn’t asking for anything except sharing their bodies. That was all she could afford to do anyway. The chemistry of the kiss promised an experience she wouldn’t regret. She needed that escape.
“Yes,” he said, though it was part tortured groan.
She leaned her mouth closer to his, waiting for him to make the decision, to give in to the lust-fueled fire between them.
“But . . .” he said, his words tickling her sensitive lips.
“But?” she asked.
“It was a mistake in a moment of weakness and it won’t happen again,” Andre said, stepping back from her, every muscle tense. The lust was still evident in his eyes as his walls were reinforced.
Her anger and frustration rose. “Why are you punishing yourself?”
“I’m just not into you like that,” he defended.
“Your eyes say different. The way you kissed me tells me you’re a liar. What would have happened if I didn’t stop that kiss?” she asked.
His jaw clenched as he stared at the drop cloth on the floor, not responding.
He left her hanging. How had she ended up embarrassed and vulnerable by this man again? She needed to take control of the situation and protect her pride. “You want to play indifferent? Fine. You wanted space? I’ll give you that too.” She turned to storm out, but he grabbed her arm. She faced him, anger blazing through her as she waited for his response.
Andre didn’t move, his posture growing even more rigid. It was as if the man were made of stone.
“What?” she yelled.
He winced. “I told you to stay away from my friends—”
“Ugh! Eres mas terco que una mula!” Mia said as she yanked her arm away and stomped out of her studio to her car.
The man was insufferable.
