Page 50 of In the Works

Instead, I peeled back the tarp covering the tabletop and lifted the safety glasses from my eyes. The glasses slicked my hair back against my head as I squatted to examine the bottom of the table. From below, the dovetail joints looked well-integrated. Once everything was sanded and stained, they would hardly be noticeable.

The goal was to end up with a table to look like it had been carved straight from the trunk, with as few visible seams as possible. It was a little more natural than my old sculpture used to be, but it was the design that spoke to me.

More than anything, I hoped it would fit in with Sarah’s vision for the space. She had shown me her ideas for the house, just enough to jog my imagination. But this felt a bit more rustic than the rest of the place.

I didn’t want to let her down on such a big job.

Just as I was getting lost in the thought, a loud knock came from the door.

Shit, it’s probably one of my lumber guys.

Tossing the tarp back over the table, I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the hem of my gray workout shirt.

“Just a second,” I called out toward the workshop's old, metal door.

Jogging across the shop, I swung open the rickety door to meet Sarah’s plumb face and excited smile. “Hi.”

I shook my head as I met her blue eyes. “Hi.”

“You said you missed me.” She bit her lip as she leaned against the doorframe.

My jaw dropped at her boldness. “And I’m supposed to believe this isn’t a ploy to see what I’ve been up to?”

Shrugging, Sarah pushed past me. A fresh floral scent wafted into my nose as her body brushed against mine. She planted a gentle kiss on my cheek; the warmth radiated straight to my stomach. “All I’m saying is that Bri Shaw was a chronic procrastinator in my experience. So I just wanted to check on you.”

As she tried to move away, I put my hands on her hips and pulled her ass against my hips. I lowered my voice and leaned into her ear. “So you didn’t miss me?”

Sarah leaned her head back, resting it on my shoulder. Her throat strained as she spoke, “Did I say that?” Jokingly, she shoved me off and headed into the shop. I watched her every move: the way her hips swayed, her lush thighs brushing together under her jeans.

In a matter of seconds, my entire body was pulsing with excitement.

She got to the tarp and ran her finger along it. Lifting her eyes, she wiggled her eyebrows at me. “How’s it going?”

I crossed my arms, flexing my forearms for Sarah to see. “Good. Like I said, it’ll be done on time.”

“Is that true?” Sarah narrowed her eyes at me as she held up the freshly cut pieces of detailing, still warm from the saw.

Crossing the room, I nodded and stood in front of her. “Yes, ma’am.”

Sarah’s gaze flicked between my eyes, my lips, and the bead of sweat trailing down my neck. “How are you working here without air conditioning? It’s so hot out.”

I pointed to the tiny unit in the back corner of the shop. “It does the trick.”

Rolling her eyes, Sarah shook her head and leaned her ass against the tarp. “That thing must be from 1992. I think you just like this disheveled, sweaty look. It probably pulls all the ladies.”

A smirk took over my face. I placed my hands on the table behind her and met her gaze. “Is it working?”

26

SARAH

My entire bodytense as Bri surrounded me. I was supposed to be here on a mission. A fact finding mission to report back to my client what progress had been made.

“Maybe.” I confessed, unable to stop the words from leaving my lips. It had always felt impossible to lie to Bri, but that had gotten even harder after our night together… and the dozens of flirty texts that had been exchanged since.

The kids had spent a lot of time at home the last couple weeks, making it wildly difficult to see Bri. But today, they were at a water park with Jason and Liv. So I found myself with a little extra time to see what Bri had been up to.

Licking my lips, I brought my hands to her chest. I let them linger there just long enough to feel her chest starting to rise and fall faster before I pushed her off and walked closer to the table. “It’s about to be August. We don’t have a lot of time left.”

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