Page 27 of Holly Ever After

God, I should leave, I should get out of here before—

Before what? Before I kiss her full lips, which are slightly parted now? Before I forget that she's Holly and I'm Sean, the guy she hates, and who's supposed to be renovating her house, not contemplating the totally inappropriate thoughts running through my head?

It's my last chance to pull back, and I take it just before I lean in so close our mouths are almost touching.

“Better get dressed, Squirt. Walking around like this is a safety hazard.” I run my thumb over her bottom lip, feeling her shiver against me. “I’m a man that possesses plenty of self-control, but those panties might just push me to the limit. Don’t test me.”

Twelve

Holly

Istare at my reflection in the mirror, my towel now securely wrapped around me.

Did that just happen?

I huff and turn away from the mirror, reaching for my clothes. My wardrobe suddenly feels too casual, too mundane for this mess of emotions.

My heart is still racing, and I can’t help but wonder if Sean is as unsettled as I am.

I shake my head. “You've got to be kidding me, Holly,” I whisper, pulling on a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt.

I take a deep breath and march out of my room, determined to act like an adult who absolutely did not have a flirtatious spat in her underwear. As I step into the living room, the noise stops abruptly.

Sean sets down his drill and wipes his hands on a rag. “All dressed now, I see.”

I roll my eyes, refusing to let him rile me up again. “Thanks to you, I now know that my locks need fixing.”

“You're welcome.”

An awkward silence fills the room, both of us keenly aware of the lingering tension. To break it, I clear my throat and veer the topic to safer grounds.

“So, what are you working on?”

He glances at me, amused. “The list you gave me.”

I pretend to ponder. “Ah, yes. The list that magically omitted any mention of door locks.”

I take a closer look at the wooden paneling he’s been working on. The wood has intricate carvings etched into it—tiny, delicate leaves and swirls that give the whole wall a more rustic and elegant vibe.

“This wasn't in my list,” I say, genuinely impressed. “This is amazing.”

Sean puts down his drill and steps back to admire his work. “I thought some detail would give the place more character.”

I nod, completely captivated, not just by the work but also by how his eyes light up and his entire demeanor changes when he talks about it. “How did you do this?”

He picks up a smaller, more intricate tool from his toolbox and waves it in the air as he talks. “It's a technique called relief carving. You take a chisel and hammer, and you basically sculpt the wood. Takes a bit more time, but the results are worth it.”

The look on his face is almost gooey, like he's a kid talking about his favorite toy.

“You really love what you do, huh?”

He looks at me and his eyes soften. “I do. There's something about taking raw materials and turning them into something functional. It's rewarding.”

For a minute, I see Sean in a new light. Not as the annoying, smug guy who walked into my home uninvited, but as a craftsman passionate about his work, someone who finds joy in creating something beautiful. And for a fleeting second, that makes him incredibly appealing.

“Hmmm,” is all I manage to say. Then, not wanting to give him too much credit, I add, “So how much is all this really going to cost me?”

He arches a brow, looking offended. “Just keep the coffee coming.”

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