As she spun back around the other way, her foot slipped from the ledge, but Ezra caught her legs. His arms were strong and warm, his muscles bulged against her thighs. She practically sat on his shoulder, and he righted her as if she hadn’t just crashed her whole body on top of him. “Sorry about that.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Just lost my footing. I usually do my work on the ground, not on a platform.”
His fingers flexed on her thighs and she suppressed a shiver.Bad idea, she reminded herself. She patted his shoulder. “Thanks for the save.”
“No problem.” His voice was quiet and husky.
She took a step away and he reached over, getting close again, but he held up the green marker she’d been looking for. Her fingers grazed his when she took it. She didn’t imagine the jolt up her arm at the contact, nor did she imagine the look in his eyes. He was as interested in her as she was in him. She broke eye contact and turned to the window while uncapping the marker.Get back to business. Maybe in a few months, when they were done with forgeries and thefts, she could think about seeing him.Seeing him?Where did that thought come from? She was almost done with her project. They could have sex and go their separate ways.
She cleared her throat. “Do you normally work late at night like this?”
“Sometimes. I like the quiet.”
She chuckled. “Then I must really drive you nuts.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“I guess.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nope. Are you?”
“No. But I’m not looking for anything serious. I’ve been focusing on my art and work. Relationships tend to take a lot of effort, and I’m not sure I have the energy for one right now.”
“Understandable.”
That was not the opening she was hoping for. Most guys would recognize that she’d flung the door wide open for a casual fling.
“I bet you’re super busy running your own business, too, right?”
“Yeah, but being the boss has its perks. I can take a day off pretty much whenever I want. Or take a long midday lunch break. I haven’t had reason to do those things, but I could if I wanted to.”
“That’s good to know.” She colored in the last letter of her window signage. Then she picked up the white and made a few snowflakes. Then she added a wreath in the corner. She hopped off the platform and studied her handiwork. “What do you think?”
“It’s way more than I would’ve done. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I hope you’re not planning on driving anytime soon,” he said, pointing out the window again. “It looks like it’s getting worse.”
She shrugged. “I don’t have anywhere to be. I feel a little guilty that you’re stuck here, though.”
“It’s no big deal. Like I said, I come here at night pretty often to work.”
“I do appreciate it.” She stepped closer and handed him the paint markers. “I’ll, uh, get back to the glass now.”
He accepted the markers, his fingers brushing hers again. “Let me know when you’re ready for me.”
Woo-boy. I’m ready now.Instead of speaking the words, she swallowed hard and nodded. She left him to arrange his wares in the newly painted window and went back to the furnace. Not that she noticed the additional heat. She was already feeling pretty warm.
Ezra kept his distance while she created the tree topper. When this one was done, she’d ask if he might be interested in going out for drinks. Not tonight obviously, but maybe tomorrow. Or a long lunch like he mentioned. He wouldn’t have said it if he wasn’t interested at all, right?
She was usually better at reading people than this. She knew how to pick guys up at a club or a coffee shop. Why did this feel different?