Page 9 of Nailing Studs

Taylor stood in Tabitha’s room, looking up at the corner section of the ceiling where some plaster had crumbled away. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I saw your belongings in a different bedroom and thought this one was empty. I should’ve knocked. Are you alright?”

That flush crept up my neck again and I fidgeted with the towel. Did it cover enough of my thighs? Why did it feel miniscule on me all of a sudden? “It’s okay. I’ll get out of your way.”

Taylor smiled and politely looked away. “You’re not bothering me at all.” He was amused. Whether it was because I was standing in a towel, practically naked, or because my attraction was plastered all over my face, I wasn’t sure. “Don’t you want the master bedroom now that you own the house?” he asked, still inspecting the corner ceiling spot.

“Eventually. But for now, I still see it as my great-aunt’s room. Also, the bed in the guest room is bigger, better.” I blushed when I heard the words coming out of my mouth.

“Fair enough.” He reached up to touch the ceiling, the muscles of his arm undulating, and I felt a twirl in my stomach. The sexier embodiment of the Brawny paper towel guy was in the same room as me, and I happened to be wearing nothing but a towel.

“I guess that ceiling is going on your list, too, huh?” I asked in the hopes of bringing my thoughts back around to professionalism. As professional as I could be wearing a towel and with wet hair in a messy bun.

“Definitely. There’s a lot to work on here, Miss Pratchett. Is it okay to go in the bathroom?”

“Yeah, I’m done. And call me Kayla.”

Taylor moved so confidently that it was hard to look away from him. I knew it was past time to excuse myself and go to my room and dress, but the way the morning sun hit him through the window, accenting his sharp features and stubble face, was mesmerizing.

I had to avert my gaze or get caught ogling him.

“So, I know you said you might be selling the place,” he said, “but I don’t know…when we talked yesterday, it seemed like I heard some hesitation in your voice about that.” He’d turned back toward me, gripping the top of the bathroom door frame as he spoke. With his arm up like that, it was easy to imagine him without that lumberjack shirt. Without those jeans. Without anything, actually.

“I moved here thinking I’d live in the house and find work here in Fosterman,” I said, “but I wasn’t expecting the house would need such an extensive renovation. I’m probably going to have to sell, but since you offered to give me an estimate…”

“Well, it’s great you’re assessing the situation and making an informed decision,” he said. “If you sell the house, you could make a nice profit. Old houses like these are getting snatched up like biscuits around Fosterman. Lots of people converting them into bed-and-breakfasts.”

“Really?” I hung onto my towel, which had started to lose its grip around my body. I figured by the way Taylor’s lips tweaked at the corner, he’d noticed as well. Part of me wantedto duck out and get myself dressed, but I realized that’s what the old Kayla would do. I’d come out to California to find myself, and right now, this new Kayla wanted to stand in front of a sexy man, even if she was only covered in a towel, and continue talking to him.

Taylor studied me. “Have you thought of that? Fixing up the place and then running a bed-and-breakfast, I mean? Tabitha said you were one hell of a baker.”

“I don’t have professional training. I only bake as a hobby.” I nibbled my lip. “I also like my privacy, so I’m not sure.” I shrugged.

He gave me a light smile. “I hear you about the privacy thing. To have a successful B&B you’dhave to constantly socialize with strangers.”

“Well, forget it then,” I laughed. “Pretty sure I suck at that.”

“I don’t know,” he said, “you’ve been pretty warm and welcoming so far.”

That smile! My god, he had to stop doing that.

Suddenly a vision of myself baking in this house swam into my mind. Tabitha's kitchen had always been filled with joy when we'd baked together. I would love to stay here forever, puttering around in the kitchen, growing herbs and fruits and vegetables in the yard, living my best life.

“I wish the decision about keeping the house were easy,” I said sadly. “Tabitha was the only person who really got me. It was bad enough that I missed her funeral because I was down with a case of pneumonia. I’d love it if I could do this place—and her—justice.”

He winced. “Ah. I’m sorry you were sick and missed the funeral, but Tabitha would understand. She’d understand about the house, too, no matter what you decide. She was a special person. Always made me smile whenever I ran into her. ‘Taylor, Taylor, why aren’t you a tailor?’ she’d say to me every time she saw me.” He chuckled and shook his head.

“Did she really say that?” I broke into a laugh. Yep, I could see Tabitha saying something that dorky. Always goofing off or flirting in her own way.

“She did.”

“God, I loved growing up around her,” I said, choking up. I had to stop talking about Tabitha or I was going to start crying right here, in front of this gorgeous man.

“Well, you did grow up, and you’re just as beautiful as Tabitha described you,” Taylor said quietly.

His gaze was filled with admiration, and I wondered if flirting was just second nature to him or if he was actually as attracted to me as I was to him. It was possible, but then again, it was also possible he was playing some kind of game. With all the questions he’d asked about the house, maybe he was just trying to convince me to do the repairs he recommended, whether I could afford them or not. Most people had no problem charging things on credit cards, but thankfully I hadn’t gone down that road. Maybe the only reason he was in here being so nice was because he wanted money out of me. Maybe—

“Hey, I’m sorry if I went too far,” he said. “Not trying to make you feel uncomfortable. I’ll go ahead and evaluate the rest of the house with Dom. We’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

I didn’t want him out of my hair. Not really. He seemed genuine. I hated that my past experience with men had made me jaded enough to suspect Taylor of nefarious plans when he’d been so nice. I hated that he was no longer smiling and I’d made him feel uncomfortable around me.

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