Page 26 of Built to Last
“See you tomorrow, Rose.” When I move to leave, her hand reaches out to grab my wrist stopping me in my tracks. Jade-green eyes search mine and she must find whatever she’s looking for because she takes a step closer, pressing a featherlight kiss to my cheek.
“See you tomorrow,” she murmurs next to my ear, her warm breath on my skin a welcome contrast to the crisp night air. She smells sweet, like honey and vanilla, and I desperately long to gather her up in my arms and bury my face in her neck. I want this woman to consume all of my senses until everything else around me fades away. Her delicate touch is there one moment and gone the next. Still, I know I’ve been irrevocably altered by the experience. Frozen in shock, I almost miss her glance back at me with a smile before unlocking her door and disappearing inside.
Chapter Sixteen
Rose
After what endedup being quite a late night with Phillip, I curse my alarm when it goes off, yanking me from sleep. I slap my hand across my bedside table, searching for my phone so I can hit the off button. Getting home so late with work the next day wasn’t the best idea, and I’d been too worked up to go to sleep right away. A simple kiss on the cheek shouldn’t have had such an effect on me, but between the closeness with Phillip and the realisation that he feels the same way about me I needed some relief before I could fall asleep. Spending a little quality time with my vibrator helped burn off the jittery false energy and I fell into a deep sleep soon after. This morning my tired eyes feel like someone has thrown sand in them but I can’t bring myself to regret the late night.
After dragging myself into the bathroom for a quick shower, I dress in a pair of jeans already covered in splatters of paint and a seafoam-green jumper. Shoving my hair up into a messy bun, I grab my bag and head out for the day.
Unfortunately, the bus journey over to Phillip’s allows time for my nerves to build up. Will things be different between us today now we’ve admitted we’re attracted to each other? Worse, will he somehow know I was so worked up after spending anentire evening with him that I brought myself to orgasm while thinking about him? I have zero poker face, my blush is bound to give me away. I don’t think he’d mind me using a fantasy of him to get myself off, but still, it feels a little awkward now I’m about to see him again.
Butterflies flutter in my chest while I wait for Phillip to answer the door. I’ve never felt this excited and nervous to be spending time with a man. It’s not like this is even a date. I’m here to work.
Phillip opens the door wearing jeans, work boots, a white t-shirt, and flannel shirt. The overshirt is unbuttoned, his t-shirt fitted enough to hint at the muscle definition underneath. He clears his throat and I whip my head up, embarrassed at being caught checking him out.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He grins cheekily, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I like you looking at me, Rose.” He steps forward and brushes a featherlight kiss against my cheek before running his palms down my arms to take my hands and tug me over the threshold. “Let me take that,” he murmurs against my ear, stepping back with my bag in hand before I can think to argue.
Phillip saunters off down the hall, leaving me standing there gaping like a goldfish. I had not been expecting that. Not that I thought he would ignore the way things have changed between us, but this kind of teasing is new. I’m not sure I can take a full day of it.
I notice the lights are already on in the garage when I catch up to Phillip, evidence that he’s already been hard at work. He seems to be in the habit of starting at eight and finishing at four, sometimes earlier if he needs to pick up his nephew from school on the rare occasions the nanny his brother hired is unavailable. Even though I’m eager to get to work, I can’t resist hovering near the corner of the workshop reserved for his other carpentryprojects. After all, yesterday he promised to show me his latest piece and I’m excited to get a proper look at the blanket box he’s been working on.
“You don’t have to show me,” I tell him gently, placing a reassuring hand on his forearm when I realise he looks unsure.
“No, I want to. It’s just been a while since anyone but Toby and my customers have wanted to see my work. Guess I’m a little nervous.” He smiles sheepishly. Without further preamble he takes my hand and leads me over to his workstation. “This is it.” Removing the dust sheet, he steps aside so I can get a better look, and for a moment I’m rendered speechless.
The craftsmanship is astounding. Twisting branches and gnarled tree trunks are intricately carved into the wood. Something that looks like it will become a deer is emerging in the bottom left corner of the panel he’s currently working on and there is a tiny squirrel perched on a branch up to the right. Before meeting Phillip, I never thought much about woodworking but seeing everything that goes into it has made me develop an appreciation for the artform. The care he takes chiselling away until every last detail is perfect makes it clear what a true labour of love it is for him. A warm feeling settles in my chest knowing he gets to do something he loves for a living.
“This is going to be beautiful,” I tell him, noticing the way his shoulders lower as my words sink in.
“Thank you.” His dimples are on full display as he smiles at the compliment, looking more confident now. “I think I’ll be able to finish this section today after we get the next coat on the set panels.”
“That’s great. I can’t wait to see it once you’ve finished and it’s all put together.” Pink tinges his cheeks at my enthusiasm.
“I’ll make sure to show you before dropping it off at the Gardners’.”
After we’ve worked together to get another sealing coat on the set panels, we take a quick break before settling in to focus on our own work. Once again Phillip hums along to his music, I’m used to it now and don’t find it distracting. That is until he suddenly starts belting out the words to a Meatloaf song, causing me to melt into a puddle of giggles only made worse when he starts to use his chisel as the pick for his air guitar.
Some people might think it was embarrassing for a grown man to behave this way but I enjoy Phillip’s playful side. He’s proven that he can be serious when the moment calls for it and that he’s reliable. But he won’t let me stay too serious for too long. It’s something I’ve never had in a partner but I’m realising now how much I value that. Not that we’re in a relationship. Although, since he asked me out, tentative hope that we might be heading in that direction has begun to prick at the back of my mind. Best not to get ahead of myself though.
Phillip
Rose has just left for the evening after telling me to have fun tonight. Blake is due to arrive at six, so I close up the workshop and call it a day. After showering I feel more capable of socialising and decide to make fajitas for dinner, knowing he’s coming straight from work and won’t have eaten yet either.
I’m still stood in the kitchen, teatowel slung over my shoulder, nudging chicken and vegetables round a frying pan, when the front door bangs open signalling Blake’s arrival.
“Kitchen!” I call out.
“Smells great in here,” Blake compliments as he wanders in, nose twitching at the mix of spices permeating the air. “Beer?”he offers, raising the pack of four bottles he must have stopped for on the way over.
“You know I have beer, right?”
“Yes, but this isgoodbeer. Now do you want one or not?”
“Please. You know where everything is.” I transfer the chicken and veg into a large glass bowl while Blake washes his hands then rifles through a drawer in search of the bottle opener.
