Page 25 of The Boyfriend Gamble

He whistled. “Well, okay, then. I think you’re nuts if you’re going along with it.”

I put my hands on my hips. “It’s her house as well. If she wants—” I scrambled for the right words but could only repeat what’d been said before. “—frou-frou and fancy, then that’s what she’ll get.”

“You’re more accommodating than I would be.” He eyed the house. “You don’t even have a man cave.”

“A what?” I wrinkled my nose.

“A room where you can hang out with the guys. Play video games. Watch sports.”

I shuddered. “I don’t do those things. You know that.”

He winced. “Sorry.” He took a deep breath. “Master bedroom, two guest bedrooms—”

“Kids’ bedrooms.”

“—and three bathrooms.” He frowned. “Not a lot of privacy.”

“Why would I need it? Plenty of families have much less. Three bathrooms is a luxury. And the master bedroom is on one side of the loft while the kids’ bedrooms are on the other.”

“Josie tell you what you’re having?”

I looked at him, startled.What? Who’d have thought? Hey. No. Is he implying?

He chuckled. “Well, she’s got everything planned out. I figured she’d have that organized as well.” He pushed off my car. “Gotta go. I’ll be here first thing Monday morning. I know you’re working, but feel free to drop by at any point.”

“I’ll be able to help—”

He grasped my hands, running his roughened, callused thumbs along my pristine, soft fingers.

Little tingles went up and down my spine, and my body stirred. My breath caught.

“Soft hands.” His teeth glinted in his smile. “We’ll find something easy for you to do.”

I didn’t want easy. I wanted to be one of his best helpers.

Still, when he released my hands, an odd bereft feeling settled over me.

Aside from Josette stroking my cheek this evening, when was the last time I’d been touched? Mom and Wally weren’t big on showing affection.

And in a romantic sense?

Never.

But he’s not touching you in a romantic sense. He’s proving you’re not fit for hard labor.

So true.

Then why do I want more? Why am I imagining him kissing me? Holding me? Telling me everything will be okay?

He nodded, made his way over to his pickup truck, and within a few moments was pulling out of the driveway.

I followed, but much later.

Chapter Four

Jacob

Thefirstdayofconstruction always got my juices revving. I was always ready to tackle everything all at once, even though that wasn’t realistic. Still, with my crew all there at seven a.m., the possibilities felt endless.

---