Page 2 of Say Yes

“What will you do?” He was very curious, but he held no sympathy for Ted. In fact, he wanted to rub his hands in glee over Ted’s folly. The idiot.

Sara lifted her chin, then slowly stepped around the broken glass on the floor. “I’ll take care of Ted.” Gavin watched her stiff posture as she walked away, and he wondered if he should accompany her home so she wouldn’t have to face Ted alone. Then he thought better of it.

Ted didn’t stand a chance.

Besides, Sara was private, with a streak of dignity and pride a mile wide. She wouldn’t want an audience when she gave Ted the boot. He knew Sara—not as well as he’d like to, but probably better than Ted would ever know her. At least he knew enough to realize how important old-fashioned values were to her. Possibly because they were important to him as well.

She’d talk to Ted, listen to his lame excuses, then toss him out on his miserable can. She’d be hurt for a while, but she’d get over it, just as she’d get over Ted. Gavin was willing to give her some time.

And then it was finally going to be his turn.

* * *

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER.

Stunned, Gavin slowed his truck until he came to a complete stop. Sara had been avoiding him. The friendly talks in the yard had ceased, as had her spontaneous visits to the construction sites. It used to be that Sara couldn’t keep away when she saw the crew working on another house on her street. She loved the process of seeing a house built, of everything coming together to make a home, almost as much as he did.

But lately, her pride and embarrassment had caused a wall he was damn tired of beating his head against.

And now she wanted to sell? Like hell.

Cursing to himself, he put the truck in Park and climbed out. He glared at the stormy, cloud-filled skies, then glared even harder at the For Sale sign. Stomping over to her yard, he ripped up the sign and threw it into the back of his truck, then brushed his hands off in a show of satisfaction. Try to sell, would she? Without a single word, without giving him the chance he’d been waiting for? Ha!

He’d been patient too long, that was the problem. He had a plan, and it was time he put it into motion. He wanted Sara, had wanted her for a long time. And starting right now, he was done with waiting.

* * *

SARA WAS NAKED, she was wet, and she was frustrated.

She was also alone.

Water sloshed over the sides of the large Jacuzzi tub when she jerked awake. The vivid fantasy she’d conjured in her mind evaporated. She realized it was the loud clapping of thunder that had startled her from the luxury of her bath—and the man she’d been dreaming of.

Disgusted, she shook her head. She’d made a point of avoiding Gavin since that awful, fateful day. She shouldn’t be dreaming about him, either. She was tired, that’s all, too much overtime at work wearing her down. She’d counted on a leisurely soak in her Jacuzzi tub to ease away her weariness and her aches and pains. But since Gavin had built the house and installed the tub, it was no wonder her thoughts had chased after him again. Now the storm was here, and her fantasy gone, so she supposed her bathtime was over.

Water dripped onto the ceramic tile floor as she threw a worn towel around her body. Sheesh. Even in her imagination, she couldn’t indulge a satisfactory romantic interlude. Maybe she should give up on dream men, just as she’d given up on the real thing. Romances, even the imaginary kind, evidently weren’t meant for her. Besides, dogs were much more reliable. Unfortunately, like the house, dogs required upkeep. And as much as she wanted one, she wasn’t home enough to keep a dog company—or vice versa.

Still dripping, she stomped off to close the windows. Without the cooling breeze, the interior would soon become unbearable, but she couldn’t afford air conditioning any more than she could afford a dog.

The evening had turned very dark, and she remembered her front door was open, with only the screen door latched. As she went to close it, she saw the threatening sky, felt a spattering of the rain as it blew in over her porch. She thought again how nice a pet would be, another living thing to keep her company on a dreary night like this. Granted, a dog wouldn’t provide quite the same company as a man, but then, a dog required much less maintenance. Dogs weren’t as messy as men. They were more loyal and friendly. Dogs never made promises they couldn’t keep…

Suddenly she noticed her For Sale sign was missing. She’d only just put the thing in the yard that day!

Distracted from her daydreams by the possibility of vandalism, she clicked open the lock on the screen door and stuck her head outside, automatically breathing in the churning, moist night air.

“You planning to dance buck-naked in the rain?”

Squealing, she lurched backward and slipped off her wet feet before the familiarity of that deep, masculine voice could penetrate. She would have fallen if her backside hadn’t smacked up against the gaping front door.

It took her a moment to regain her dignity—what was left of it—before she cautiously stuck her head outside again. A burst of white light splintered through the night, and she saw her one and only neighbor, Gavin Blake, standing to the side of her door. He was in the shadows, but she would recognize his body, his voice, his presence, anywhere. She shivered. Boy, could she recognize him!

But Gavin would forever be relegated to the role of her fantasy man. Nothing more was possible. Not after the incident.

She continued to stare, then blinked in surprise as her eyes adjusted. Soaked completely through by the storm, Gavin stood there in a soggy T-shirt and shorts, with a bottle of wine in one large hand.

Good grief! He was too darn gorgeous, too big and imposing and male. He was also the last person she ever wanted to see, other than in her dreams.

But…but there he stood.

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