Page 13 of Perfect Guy

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to feel your skin, have you dance with me, wonder what your lips taste like.” Her breath hitches. I should stop, but those baby blues pull me in like a siren at sea. I’m the lost and lonely sailor wanting her.

“Cane…” she whispers. “What is this?”

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“I’ve known you for practically my whole life.”

I nod at her comment.

“So…” She shakes her head as if urging me to speak.

My words are lost. I have no explanation. All I know is that I get happy to see her, and my heart beats a little faster when I do. Ever since she started working with me, maybe it was before, and that’s why I recommended her to my boss.

Madelyn returned from college a bit different. She was more careful, more watchful. I noticed, but I’m not sure how many others did. She’s good at hiding it. It’s also strange that she even wanted to move back, and I’m not sure many people close to her buy her story that she missed Mason Creek.

“Can you say something?” Her question is accusing.

“I want to kiss you.”

Her eyes widen, almost comically.

“Not what you wanted me to say?”

“No,” she shrieks. “It would be a bad idea. Terrible.”

“Why?”

“Hmmm…” Her sarcasm is loud and clear with that one sound. “One, you’re Joy’s brother, and doing anything with friends’ siblings is complicated. Two, we now work together, even if it’s temporary. Three, you’re older and more experienced, and I’m not the kind of girl to just hook up with someone.” She crosses her arms and arches a brow. She’s a spitfire.

“One,” I smirk. “Joy’s dating one of my friends.”

“And look at the disaster that was at first,” she interrupts me.

“Water under the bridge,” I wave her off.

Madelyn rolls her eyes. “For years, you weren’t even friends with Brayden.”

“Like I said, that’s in the past.” I shift on my feet, leaning into the tower.

“Two, you’re the architect on a site. There’s no rule against dating. Three, I know you’re not that kind of girl. If I wanted that, I’d go sniff somewhere else. You’re the forever kind. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that, I’ll be honest, because I want to be able to give the woman in my life everything and more. My life’s busy right now, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see you for what you are.”

I don’t bring up the experience comment. I’m not a manwhore. I don’t sleep with anything that has legs and a pussy, but I’ve dated my share of women. Definitely more than Madelyn’s dated, though I’m sure she met guys in college. It was harder for her to date here since Wilder and Levi could be overprotective of her. She had a couple of boyfriends in high school that I can remember, but I was already in another phase in my life.

“Canaan,” she sighs, shaking her head and looking away. “I’m not sure I’m in a place to be with anyone, especially someone I do work with, no matter how temporary it is or lack of rules against it.”

“Why?” I narrow my eyes and look closely at her.

“I rather not talk about it.” She turns away.

I grab her wrist and tug her toward me. “Don’t leave like this. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She nods stubbornly. My thumb brushes the inside of her wrist, and I feel her pulse point. It’s beating fast.

“You’re lying, but I’ll let it go for now because it’s late.” I lift the hand I’m holding and kiss the inside of her wrist where my thumb was.

She gasps, staring at me.

“If I can’t kiss your lips, at least I can do that.”

Madelyn turns without a word and begins to climb down the water tower. I wait a few minutes, getting myself under control. I’m going to find out that double meaning in her comment.

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