LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

her favourite swing singer, only to switch it off again in a mild panic when their song had come on, as Blane might see it as a sign she wanted to create a cosy atmosphere or, worse, take it as an indication she’d changed her mind.

      She’d retied her hair into its signature French braid, blown out all the tea-light candles, switched on the bright fluorescent strip hanging over the bar, and removed all traces of the essential oil she’d been burning since closing, all in an attempt to ‘de-cosy’ the place.

      The last thing she needed was him getting the wrong idea.

      Which was?

      An image instantly sprang to mind of the two of them sitting in the plush lounge area of the café situated towards the back, curled up on one of the comfy sofas, sharing a steaming moccaccino, or maybe one of the fine Merlots she kept out the back, with the lamps muted and the luscious aromas of cinnamon and vanilla in the air from the essential oils she used to complement the baking.

      Oh, yeah, she could see it all too clearly, and unfortunately her vision of the wrong idea appeared way too right.

      Casting one last critical look around—and satisfied she’d obliterated any semblance of romantic ambience—she fiddled with the espresso machine, going through the soothing motions of pouring milk into a stainless-steel jug, sliding it under the frother, filling the scoop with coffee, using the tamper, checking the water level.

      The familiar actions calmed her, giving her something to do with her hands rather than tug on her plait till it unravelled.

      She had nothing to be nervous about. Absolutely nothing. This was business. Nothing to do with pleasure at all.

      With a groan, her head fell forward and thunked against the espresso machine. It was the thought combination of Blane and pleasure that did it.

      Of course, he had to find her like this, with her head slumped against the machine, his rapid knock snapping her head to attention in time to see his face creased with concern as he peered through the glass door with hands cupped against it.

      Giving her head a rueful rub, she crossed to the door and unlocked it, beckoning him in.

      ‘You okay?’

      She ushered him in before relocking the door. ‘Yeah, fine. I was just inventing a new way to check the coffee-ground levels.’

      He smiled, his dubious expression saying he didn’t believe her for a second. But what could she tell him? The mere thought of seeing him had her in a spin, wishing she could clunk her head against a hard surface repeatedly to knock some sense into herself?

      ‘How have you been?’

      He propped against the bar, giving her a tempting view of a broad expanse of muscular chest beneath faded sky-blue cotton, not to mention a healthy set of biceps. Just what she needed, a great set of biceps…to fix the fridge, of course.

      Clearing her throat, she said, ‘It’s been flat out here. I haven’t had a moment’s peace.’

      His right eyebrow rose a fraction, as if questioning her rather pathetic excuse for not calling him. ‘Yeah, work gets like that sometimes.’

      Didn’t anything ever rattle him? She’d expected him to call her on her excuse, not agree with her!

      ‘Sounded like you were busy earlier when I rang? All that noise in the background?’

      Though eager to get the hinge fixed so she could usher him out of here, the polite thing would be to make a bit of small talk before offering him a coffee then the door.

      ‘Yeah, the current project is coming along nicely.’

      ‘Bet you still get a buzz constructing something from the ground up, getting your hands dirty.’

      Her gaze drifted to his hands casually clutching the bar, and languid heat stole through her body at the thought of those strong, elongated fingers and broad palms getting downright dirty with her.

      Fighting a blush, and losing, she tore her gaze away and forced it upwards, not surprised to see the glint of amusement in his eyes, and his lips curved into a knowing smile.

      ‘I like it.’

      He pushed off the bar and crossed the short space between them in a second, sending her pulse rate soaring.

      She swallowed, trapped between the espresso machine and a cake display, unable to stop thinking about those hands reaching out to her, resting gently on her waist, pulling her closer and…

      ‘Would you like me to get started?’

      Her gaze flew to his as her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, her body in total meltdown.

      He was talking about the fridge hinge.

      Of course he was, but it didn’t stop her imagination taking flight in all sorts of wicked ways as to how he could get started—with her.

      ‘It’s down here,’ she managed to say, thankful her voice wasn’t half as shaky as her resolve to hold him at arm’s-length.

      ‘Okay, let’s take a look.’

      He squatted down, dispelling the intimate fog that had surrounded them a second earlier. However, Blaine focusing his concentration on the hinge didn’t help cool her down, not one bit, considering his crouching down on his haunches only served to pull the work-worn denim taut across his butt, and she stifled a groan.

      Had he grown oblivious to the attraction zinging between them? Had her disinterest in returning his call served its purpose? If so, she should be springing over the bar and adding a high side-kick for good measure. Instead, she squatted down next to him, disgruntled and confused and totally out of sorts.

      It had been so long since she’d felt this way, preferring to play it safe where guys were concerned and not date, knowing she could rely on her business—the male of the species another matter.

      Right now, staring at Blane’s butt with heat licking along her veins and sending her intentions to hold him at bay up in smoke, safe was the furthest thing from her mind.

      ‘I assumed you have tools when you said you’d given it a go yourself at trying to fix this?’

      ‘Uh-huh.’

      Reaching under the nearby bench, she pulled out her tool kit and slid it over to him.

      ‘It’s pink.’

      ‘Your powers of observation are truly amazing,’ she said, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from joining in his laughter.

      ‘I’ve never seen a pink toolbox before.’

      She rolled her eyes and flipped it open, handing him the screwdriver he’d need.

      ‘That’s because you work with boys. I’m sure if you had the foresight to hire a woman to be on your work crew, you’d see pink tool kits every day of the week.’

      ‘Maybe.’

      He grinned as he took the proffered screwdriver, his fingers brushing hers, sending shards of electricity shooting up her arm as she struggled not to yank her hand back. ‘I’m impressed.’

      ‘With the pink tool kit?’

      He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his mouth twitching. ‘With the fact you knew which screwdriver to use.’

      Puffing up like a true feminist, she said, ‘I’m not a helpless female. I know a Phillips head from a flathead.’

      ‘Obviously.’

      She knew he was baiting her, teasing her as he had too many times to recall when they’d first met, and it felt good. It felt downright fantastic to be firing right back at him, to be swapping banter without guarding her words for fear of saying the wrong thing.

      ‘Think you can extend those tool-discriminating skills to hand me a wrench?’

      ‘Here you

Скачать книгу