Page 21 of Beautiful Mess

Thinking back to dinner at Conway’s house last week, I’m filled with confusion. And embarrassment. Conway was flirting with me the entire evening; there’s no way I misread that. I mean, hell, he couldn’t keep his eyes off me the entire time I was mixing up the cupcakes—he wasn’t even trying to hide it—he licked batter off my finger out of nowhere, then he ate right out of my hand, quite literally, after dinner.

God, I fuckinglicked his mouth.

Who does that? Why would I do that?

And if that’s not bad enough, once the kids came in and almost caught us, he couldn’t get out of the kitchen and away from me fast enough. So, was he even flirting at all? Or did I only see what I wanted to see? And if it’s the latter…why the hell did Iwantto see him flirting with me? By the time I park in front of the half-built house where Conway told me to meet him, I have no clue how I managed to find this place. I sure as hell don’t remember hearing a single direction spoken to me from my GPS, yet I’m sure it did.

Suddenly, I’m hyperaware of the way I look as I climb out of the car and take in the half a dozen men walking around. I’m wearing a cute black sunflower sundress, but all the make-up I put on this morning before work is long gone from the cry I begrudgingly had in my office after I discovered the oven wasn’t working. My hair, whichwasstyled when the day started, is now thrown up in a bun that probably looks like it houses little creatures.

And then I see him.

My mouth dries as I spot Conway standing in front of a guy who must be one of his employees. They’re both wearing neon yellow hardhats, and Conway has a metal clipboard tucked under his arm as he explains something to the guy. Dark sunglasses shade his eyes, but based on the way he’s aggressively talking with his hands and the horrified look on the guy’s face, I’d say he’s not too happy with him.

Guess he’s not happy with his whole damn day, if the way he spoke to me is any indication.

Taking advantage of the fact that he’s occupied and hasn’t spotted me yet, I let myself check him out. I’ve never seen him at work, never seen him in his element like this, and I truly hate to say it’s doing something for me. The hardhat, the black t-shirt practically painted on his body, the mouthwatering way his ass looks in his jeans. Hell, even the sawdust or dirt or whatever the heck it is that’s all over him is sexy.

Something about a blue-collar man just hits different. They’re sweaty and dirty, and that, unfortunately, gives me all kinds of kitty butterflies.

“’Bout time you showed up,” Conway calls out, causing me to realize that I was too busy drooling over him that I didn’t even notice he looked my way.

Gosh, get a grip, Grace.This rollercoaster of emotions is giving me whiplash, especially when I replay what he just said to me, and feel annoyance flood my system all over again.

“It took me fifteen minutes to get here,” I mutter as he approaches me. “What the hell do you mean?”

“Well.” Glancing down at his watch like a tool, he says, “Seeing as it’s almost two, and we were supposed to meet at one for what was meant to be a quick, easy meeting, but I ended up waiting for you yet again, I’m sure you’re not really all that confused, are you, Sin?”

That freaking nickname again.

“Stop calling me that,” I growl. “And I already apologized for being late, so I don’t think you need to keep going.”

“Actually, you didn’t apologize.” I don’t need to see his eyes to know he’s wearing that same smug look. “You said it wasn’t your fault, then proceeded to feed me excuses.”

“You know what?” Reaching into my bag, I retrieve the papers I had stuffed in there and shove them into his chest. “I don’t need this. I’ve had a terrible day, and you’ve done nothing but make it worse. First, by yelling at me over the phone, then again when you made me drive all the way out here. Screw you, Conrad. Sooo sorry I was late. You said I fed you excuses, but what’s your fucking excuse for being such a raging asshole? You can deliver the papers to the principal. I’m out of here. See you at the auction in two weeks.”

Blinking against the tears welling in my eyes, I spin around and start back toward my car, but before I can get very far, Conway hooks an arm around my waist, yanking me back until I’m flush with his chest.Here he goes, freaking touching me again.My breath gets caught in my throat, every inch of my skin tingling when I feel the scratch from his beard graze my shoulder as he growls into my ear, “Don’t fucking be late to the auction, Sin. I mean it.”

Then he lets me go and leaves me standing here, completely dumbfounded, and more than slightly turned on.

Goddamnit. I cannot stand him.

Nine

Grace

“It looks so cute in here, Grace,” Gemma says as the two of us pause and take in our handiwork.

“Doesn’t it?” Pride fills my chest. The school gym that was nothing but over-waxed wood flooring, creaky old bleachers, and unappealing fluorescent lighting a few hours ago is now all glitzed and glammed.

Okay, that may be an exaggeration. But itismuch more aesthetically pleasing than it was earlier this afternoon. Gemma and I hung twinkle lights and cute silver and gold themed decorations we picked up at the party store, and set up a beverage and buffet station for the food that Taylor’s Grillis graciously donating for the event.

“When’s Conway getting here?” my sister asks.

“Not until right before the event starts.” I grab my purse off one of the tables, slinging it over one of my shoulders, needing to get home and get ready. “He’s in the middle of a huge project at work and down a few guys who apparently have food poisoning.”

“How’s it going with him?” she asks, arching an eyebrow curiously.

Shrugging, I keep my face as free of emotion as I can manage. “Fine, I guess.” It’s not a complete lie, but it’s not exactly the full truth either. I conveniently leave out all the weird and confusing interactions we’ve had over the last month. Although, since the day I stormed away from his job site two weeks ago, not much of anything has happened between us. He turned the plans into the principal, and anything we needed to discuss took place over text.

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