Page 58 of Single-Minded
“No, I guess it can’t.” His shoulders relaxed a notch. “We just don’t need any talk about how we treat our clients, if you know what I mean.”
“Understood.”
One-off, I repeated in my head. I hadn’t lied about anything. Everything he said was true as well.
Getting involved with Presley wouldn’t just be stupid because of risking my daughters’ disappointment. I got the distinct impression that, if Nick and I both excelled at our summer projects as we seemed to be, the final decision could very well come down to something arbitrary like client relations. Nick had tamed a busybody retiree who had nothing better to do than interfere with the project. That was a lot more desirable in a crew leader than a guy who had a secret fling with a hot homeowner.
“Anything else?” I asked Levi, impatient to start working for the day.
He shook his head. “Let’s get to work.”
Levi’s unspoken message was clear as day. Don’t fuck yourself by fucking the client.
Words of wisdom. Warning heard.
So why then, as I headed out to my SUV, was I fucking giddy at the thought of laying eyes on Presley again?
Chapter Sixteen
Presley
Monday morning, there was a distinct possibility I’d dressed for West.
I’d picked out my girly, pink-flowered dress that hit high on my thigh and dipped between my breasts in a neckline that teased without showing too much. I wore white sneakers with it and layered my cropped light-blue denim jacket over it. Then I’d actually put some effort into my hair, giving it beachy waves instead of throwing it up on my head like I did so often. I’d applied mascara and liner, then added pink lip gloss.
Sadly only Paul and Nathan had showed up to get today’s work started. They said West had a meeting with their boss and would be here soon.
I was meeting Magnolia at my shop for a long work session. We planned to talk logos, websites, marketing plans, and more.
The guys were in the bonus room installing flooring. I let them know I was leaving, then picked up my work bag and headed out the door into the garage.
At the same moment, West was walking into the garage. The second I laid eyes on him, a thrill and a dose of hormones shot through my body. I closed the door to the house and stood there on the single step, watching him as he approached, admiring the clean, prework version of him. When his lips curved into a smile, his eyes sparkling with the knowledge of what I looked like naked, I tried to downplay how much I wanted to throw my arms around him.
“Morning,” he said in a low, private voice.
“Morning.” My smile widened. I couldn’t seem to tone it down or play it cool. “I almost missed you.”
He checked behind him, as if making sure his coworkers weren’t around, then said, “Glad you didn’t. You leaving?”
“I’m meeting Magnolia at the shop today.”
He frowned. “I’ll probably get more work done that way.” He moved closer, so he was facing me. Since I was still on the step, we were nearly at eye level.
“That’s important,” I said stupidly as my gaze dipped down to his lips, then popped back up to his alluring green eyes.
“You gonna be gone all day?” he asked.
“Probably most of it. So you’ll be able to get a lot done, I guess.”
“Pity.” The word came out as a sexy growl that curled through me.
Without giving myself a chance to think it through, I pulled his head to mine and kissed him fervently, dipping my tongue in to his mouth, seeking out his tongue, my body lighting up at his familiar taste.
Knowing it would be a problem if anyone saw us, I ended it quickly, a little breathless as I met his heated gaze.
“So much for being able to get a lot done,” he rumbled in a lust-filled voice. “You’re not supposed to do that.”
“Oops.” Trying to collect myself and act unbothered, I smiled, wiped a spot of pink gloss from his mouth, then said, “Bye, West.” I secured my bag on my shoulder and stepped around him to get in my SUV.
