But I’d lost his attention. He picked up his nail gun and wrapped his fingers tightly around the handle.
“I mean, you’re a princess. Your pajamas are silk and lace. Nothing’s ever out of place on you. Bet your dad is a lot like you.”
“He doesn’t wear silk and lace.”
His shoulders popped then lowered. “My point stands.”
“I’m not afraid of working hard. I tried to help you with the deck and you refused, remember? As for my dad, no, he doesn’t get his hands dirty with manual labor, but that doesn’t make him less of a hard worker.”
“Never said that. You asked why I laughed, I told you.”
I stood there, dismissed. Lachlan went back to work. If he would just look at me, I wouldn’t have been so bothered by his disinterest. It wasn’t as if I was interested in him. He was too big, too broody, too rough. I had no idea what wilderness he’d emerged from, or who his parents were, or what his plans postgraduation were. I didn’t want toknowthis man—but why the hell didn’t he want to know me?
“You still haven’t apologized.”
“Yeah.” He tucked a lock of unruly hair behind his ear. Of course, it slipped right back out. “I misjudged the situation, so I apologize.”
“Thank you.”
He peered up at me, sweeping over my bare legs again before landing on my face. “Gonna give me my hoodie back?”
I tugged on the strings hanging in front. “I’ll consider it.”
“I’m building you a deck for free, Elsa. Think that warrants the return of my favorite hoodie.”
I hugged my arms around my middle. “But I washed it, so it doesn’t even smell like you anymore.”Lies.“And it’s so soft and comfy.”
He groused under his breath while he worked methodically, shooting nails and double-checking his work with his level. I had no idea how long I stood there watching. Probably an embarrassingly long time. But it wasn’t as if Lachlan noticed anyway.
He finished the deck the next evening with two days to spare. I stepped out onto it with my bare feet while he swept up random nails and sawdust.
“It looks good.”
He grunted. “Yeah, it’s all right.”
“Thank you.” He turned my way, stopping short to take in my teal cotton and lace chemise that stopped midthigh. I held out one of the beers in my hands. “You saved me.”
He leaned his broom against the new rail and carefully approached, accepting the beer. He took a long, long pull. His throat worked, bobbing with each swallow. Stubble trailed down to his Adam’s apple. When he opened his eyes, he caught me looking.
I took a sip of my beer, hoping the cool liquid would calm some of the heat stoking in my belly. Not that it was a bad feeling, but it was foreign. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been truly attracted to a guy, much less squirming on the inside from his presence.
Thank Prada for vibrators when I was alone and warming lube when I had to spread my legs for one of my parents’ friends’ sons.
I didn’t think I’d need lube for Lachlan. He could slide right in and—
“Thanks for the beer.” He held up his empty bottle.
“Of course. Consider it payment rendered.” I reached for the sliding door. “Want another one? You deserve at least one more for all the work you did.”
Not waiting for his answer, I went to the kitchen and grabbed a cold bottle from the fridge. When I turned around, Lachlan wasright there. He accepted the beer, then placed it on the counter beside him.
My breath caught in my throat. His gaze scraped me raw, from my toes all the way to the top of my head. I’d worn this chemise to dig under his skin. But maybe it was more than that. Maybe I was still trying to capture his attention.
I had it now.
His nostrils flared. The sinews in his powerful forearms rippled as he curled his fingers into his palms.
“Fuck it.”