Page 21 of Nailing Studs

“Dom,” I began, my voice full of skepticism.

“Look, I know it sounds crazy, and you’re probably wondering what the catch is, but there’s no catch. Taylor and I work for ourselves. We don’t answer to anyone, and we have goals to expand our business big time. It would be great for all of us. Think about it. You could stay in the house you love so much.”

Well sure, that would be amazing. And I could also give input during the renovation. Maybe even consider turning the house into a B&B, the way Taylor had suggested, if I could get over my concerns about privacy.

I’d been looking for something to feel passionate about. My life had been okay, for the most part, which had been fine.

But that was just it—was “fine” all I wanted?

Suddenly a memory of Tabitha slipped into my mind. I’d been about eight, and Tabitha and I had been out in Tabitha’s gorgeous garden, one of her many lifetime passions, when a bee had stung her.

“Fuck,” she’d sworn at the top of her lungs.

“Ooo, you said a bad word,” I said.

“What?” Tabitha had said in surprise. “What did I say?”

“The f-word, Auntie.”

She laughed.

“Silly girl,” she grabbed my chin with her dirt-covered fingers, “fuck isn’t the f-word you should never say. It’s F-I-N-E.”

I’d sounded it out in my head. “Fine?”

“Shh,” Tabitha had hissed quickly before smiling and giving me a kiss on the forehead. I could remember knowing I’d heard something naughty, but profound.

Tabitha was filled with passion, love of life, joy and a sense of adventure. And her house was a part of it. Maybe fixing it up with Taylor and Dom could be my passion? Maybe that’s why she gave it to me and not anyone else in the family which probably would have made more sense.

All I knew was I wanted more than FINE. I wanted it all.

I could see Dom studying me as I pondered all of this. “I don’t know what to say. It’s beyond generous of you guys to offer this, but I don’t think I’d feel right taking that much from you. Maybe if I could pay you fair compensation for even a fraction of what you’d be doing, I’d be okay with it but I just don’t see how that can happen. I mean, once I got a job, that would help, of course, but then there’s the taxes, living expenses…” I shrugged.

“Kayla, we’re not hurting for money,” he said. “Taylor and I, we do fairly well. Business is booming here and in the nearby towns, and we always have work. But this could take our business up a notch, especially from the big dogs in Henderson, a few miles up the road. It could lead to a lot more business for us, doing what we love: historical renovation.”

When I remained silent, he sighed. “Look, I know it’s a lot to take in, so why don’t you just think on it, and the three of us, you, Taylor, and I, can talk more tomorrow.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to talk about it some more,” I said, then bit my lip. “I just… I refuse to take advantage of you. I’m not rich, but I’m independent and I have my pride, Dom.”

“Just keep an open mind. We can come over around noon, and we can go over everything again with Taylor there.”

“Okay, I’d like that. And no matter what, thank you for even making the offer. It means so much to me.” It really did. Here Taylor and Dom were strangers, and while they probably were trying to make an arrangement that would benefit their business, some part of me knew they wouldn’t make the offer to just anyone. They liked and trusted me, and I definitely liked them. I trusted them, too, as much as I could trust virtual strangers. I just wasn’t sure if that made me a good judge of character or an idiot.

When Dominic got out of the booth, he stretched his arms up in the air, and I caught sight of his bare stomach. His shirt rose a couple of inches, and some crazy part of me wanted to reach across the table and rake my nails over his skin. God, I had to see more of those perfect abs.

I quickly averted my gaze when I found him looking down at me with a victorious grin on his face.

The trickster—he’d made that move on purpose.

We headed out to the truck, and the fresh air outside felt good. Not that the diner had been stuffy, but with Logan interrupting and then practically undressing me with his eyes, I was definitely feeling off kilter.

I leaned against the truck door and briefly closed my eyes, the sun warm on my face, while I waited for Dom to unlock it. But when I didn’t hear the click of the lock, I opened my eyes and was surprised to find him standing right in front of me. He hadn’t reached for his keys in the front pocket of his jeans that were slung so deliciously around his hips. He hadn’t moved to the driver’s side of his truck. He hadn’t even glanced at it.

His eyes were on me. And me alone.

Dom seemed to be looking for something. He searched my eyes like some answer lay hidden just beneath my hazel irises, then he slid his gaze down, taking me all in. His head was slightly tilted to the side, like the curve of my waist was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. It wasn’t like how Logan had blatantly undressed me with his eyes, leaving me hot, hungry, and wet. Dom’s gaze was more...in-depth. Deep. Emotional.

I squirmed beneath Dom’s attention and glanced at my dusty sneakers because the intensity of his gaze left me feeling vulnerable, open, exposed in a way far more intimate than a naked body.

---