Page 48 of She Was Made for Me

“Of course.” I wouldn’t have heard her over the music from the Bluetooth speaker on my desk and the banging on the floor above me. The guys are framing up the bedroom walls on the second floor, but I haven’t seen Kyle this morning. Probably for the best, after the things I pictured him doing to me last night…

I clear my throat, feeling warmth touch my cheeks. Sadie’s eyebrows rise, but before she can say anything, I ask, “What are you doing in this neighborhood?”

“I’ve got a meeting with a potential client on Clark Street. Thought I’d see if you’re free for a coffee first.” Sadie works at a respected marketing firm in Manhattan and I’ve always admired her for it.

I glance down at my laptop, then over at my Gantt chart. We’ve got a countertop being delivered today, ready for the kitchen install starting next week, and I’m not sure when it’s arriving. “I don’t know if I can get away,” I say. “I might need—”

“You should go.” Kyle’s voice enters the parlor and Sadie spins on her heel to see who it is. By the looks of things, Kyle has just arrived from the gym. He’s a little sweaty, his moist tee clinging to the hard swell of his biceps and the broad expanse of his chest.

Oof.

“Hi.” Sadie steps forward, hand extended. “I’m Sadie.”

Kyle drops his gym bag on a chair and takes her hand. “Kyle.”

“Oh,you’reKyle.” Her gaze sweeps over him, assessing, then swings to me. Her widened eyes and barely contained grin tell me she approves.

Kyle glances at me, mirth shimmering in his eyes before they quickly swing back to my friend. “You’ve heard about me, have you?”

Sadie, realizing her mistake—and that I’m going to kill her—hastily backtracks. “Well, Violet mentioned you’re the foreman. That’s all.” She beams up at him innocently and I roll my eyes.

“Right,” Kyle says, clearly unconvinced. A Rogue Valley song comes onto my Bluetooth speaker and his eyes flash to mine, then away.

I sigh. Last night was magical, but today he can barely even look at me. This sucks.

“Ooh, I love this song.” Sadie leans over to turn up my speaker. “They’re playing a show next week.”

“Really?” This seems to pique Kyle’s interest. “Where?”

“Dumbo, I think.” She glances at him. “You like this band?”

His gaze meets mine again and he nods. When he doesn’t immediately look away, a little zing of adrenaline zaps through me. I feel it in the way my heart skips and goosebumps spread across my arms. It’s summer, for God’s sake.

“Anyway,” Kyle mutters, wrenching his gaze away and reaching for his clipboard. “You should go for coffee, Vi. We can handle things here for an hour.”

“Are you sure—”

“Yes. Go.”

I reach for my purse with a frown and follow Sadie outside. The minute we’re down the front steps, she wheels on me with a wicked grin.

“Oh my God, Vi. He is capital Hhot.”

“Shhh,” I hiss, grabbing her arm and dragging her away from the house. But as soon as I’m sure we’re out of earshot, I can’t help but join her. “He is, right?Sofucking hot.”

She nods vigorously as we head to Joe’s. “He’s got that sexy daddy thing going on.”

I glance at her. “Daddy thing?”

“Yeah, you know. An older man who knows how to take control.”

I snort a laugh. “Well, I won’t be calling himDaddy,” I say, thinking of my own father and how horrified Kyle would probably be.

Sadie waves a hand. “You don’t have to call him that. It’s like… an energy. A vibe. Anyway, the technical term is ‘Stern Brunch Daddy.’”

I laugh as we step into Joe’s and wait to order, even more confused. “What does brunch have to do with it?”

She cocks her head. “You know, I’m not sure. It’s from my romance novels. It basically means he’s both sweet and caring, but also fierce and protective.”

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