Page 4 of Once Upon A Player
A mortified groan shudders through me as I wash the surprisingly clean workbench in the kitchen. There’s no chance I can sneak out of here before he returns, but it doesn’t stop me fantasizing about it.
Why couldn’t he have been a total wanker?It was way too hard being all detached and professional when he was helping to clear up the rubbish. Even though I try and hold his smirk against him, it’s not working.
That’s my own fault for eyeing his goods. He probably thinks I’m just playing hard to get.
He’s a player in every sense of the word, and I need to remember that.
By the time he strolls back into the room, I’ve managed to compose myself.No more sneaky peeks at his equipment.Luckily, his shorts hide everything there, and he’s also pulled on a white short-sleeved shirt, which would be helpful if he’d taken the time to button the damn thing up. As it is, he’s just hotter than ever.
He folds his arms on the back of the sofa I’m working on and leans over it, which is distracting when I’m trying to clean the white leather.
“Hey, Violet.”Why does he keep using my name?It sends a tingle down my spine and Isodon’t need that. “Do you want a coffee? Or cup of tea?”
I could do with a stiff whiskey. “No, thank you.” I concentrate on the task at hand and refuse to give in to my weak desire to glance up at him.
“Have you been working at the cleaning agency for long?”
Why does he want to know that? It can’t be because he wants to lodge a complaint. I’ve been super polite. Anyway, he’s not behaving like he has a problem with the service. I give in, roll back on my knees, and catch his warm Mediterranean blue gaze.God, I loved his blue eyes when I was fifteen.
“For the last three years.” I hope that satisfies his curiosity. I’m not sure if he’s aware that Mum’s cousin is his agent, and I don’t want to accidentally say something I shouldn’t. On the other hand, I’m not going to lie, since it wouldn’t take him a minute to find out the truth.
“Full time?” The distracting flash of dimples that accompanies his inquisition should be illegal. If not for the way my ratbag ex, Geoff,totallyplayed me by cheating with my best friend Monica, I’d be in serious danger of falling for Lucas’s sweet talk.
He’s only asking me about my work!Well, yep. And this just goes to show how much of a hermit I’ve been when it comes to chatting with guys during the last year.
While the logical thing to do is to tell him I don’t have time to gossip, there’s no way that will sound anything but rude, and I can’t let Mum and Bec down like that.
Yes, sure, that’s theonlyreason why I’m going to answer him.
“No, I’m just casual. I help out when needed.”
His forehead creases, which has the effect of making him sexier than ever. “Is this the first time you’ve been here?”
“Yes.” I decide it’s time to get the conversation on a more professional footing. “And I’m very sorry, but I’m afraid the contracted hours won’t cover a full clean this week.”
His lips twitch, as though he’s trying not to laugh which isn’t exactly the response I was angling for.
Wasn’t it?
“Sure,” he says, and to give him credit, he sounds sincere. “Just do whatever you can, no worries. I’m guessing the hours will have to be renegotiated once I’ve moved in?”
Yes, but definitely not by me. “That’s something you’d need to discuss with the partners.”
“Right then.” He straightens up. “Where’s the vacuum?”
Is heserious? “We’ve already had this conversation. Why don’t you go and,” I wave my arm in the vague direction of the kitchen, “have your breakfast or something?”
“Tell you what. Why don’t you leave the rest of this until tomorrow, and I’ll take you out for brunch now as an apology for the extra work?”
I clench the cleaning cloth and try not to hyperventilate. Did Lucas Carter just ask me out?
Yes, he did.Oh, my freaking God.
“That’s really not necessary.”
“I know. But I want to.”
His friendly smile reaches deep inside and turns my stomach warm and liquid, a phenomenon that hasn’t blighted my existence in over a year.Do. Not. Fall. For. It.
