Page 31 of Tempting Me

Nothing major happened just now.

Just a simple reminder of the deadline I'm under and the fact that I hired the enemy to help me get it done, whom I have to hide from almost the entire town.

I blow out a breath.

“I think I'm in way over my head.”

Sadie smiles and nods toward the front window.

“I think you might be right.”

I follow her gaze to see Luca walking away, but his attention is on me as he passes the window.

As if I didn’t have enough problems right now, my heart starts to race.

Just like it did all those years ago.

“I’m goingto need to bring a trailer over tomorrow during the day.”

I look up from where I’ve been working to find Luca standing in front of me with his hands on his hips. He’s been working for the last hour, clearly working hard if the sweat marks on his chest have anything to say about it. In fact, he’s sweating so much that his shirt sticks to his pecs just enough to outline them for me.

I swallow and then shake my head.

Hold it together, Shay.

Jesus.

“Not an option,” I tell him and then go back to my computer.

Along with the renovations Luca is completing, I’m trying to plan other events in The Marina’s backyard that line upwith big events either at the lodge or with one of the many silly festivals our town holds each summer.

I call them silly only for the fact that it feels like our town will do anything to get everyone together. Like one big hangout. We just call them festivals, but still, my brother didn’t do any of this when he was in charge, and then I’d skipped planning last summer to give this place a makeover, and now the new plan is to do everything at once.

Because, you know, I have so much free time these days. Between working at The Marina during the day and working with Luca at night, I’m busy.

“It’s the only option,” Luca counters, still talking about his trailer.

I let out a sigh.

“It’s too risky. Someone might see you.”

“You really don’t think people will start to piece this together? I mean, suddenly this place looks brand-new and no one saw anyone working on it.”

“No one is paying that close attention.”

“This is Lovers. Everyone is paying close attention.”

“Not to me.”

“Especially to you.”

My gaze snaps up.

“What does that mean?”

He shakes his head and goes back to where he’s been measuring baseboards and marking them, then setting them in piles based on the marks. “It means that your family is well-known around here, Shay, and everyone knows they are currently overseas, so we are all watching out for you until the rest of the Parker pack returns.”

He says each word with less and less excitement.