Page 22 of Summer Love

I didn't like the sound of that. "Be respectful. She's here to write a magazine article about the company."

"Let's be honest, boss. It's about you, not the business," Jimmy said.

"It's to bring positive publicity to the company. I suspect we will be busier than ever after it's published."

Ralph shook his head. "I think you mean you'll be busier than ever, batting away the eligible women who want to snag you."

I grunted. "You have me confused with my brothers. I'm not interested."

I watched them work for a few more minutes, getting my wits about me. I needed to focus on the job, not Elena Perkins, or I was going to fall behind at work.

If my crew members were commenting on it, then they'd already noticed my loss of focus. I needed to be a good example.

ChapterSix

ELENA

Putting up drywall should have been tedious and boring, but it wasn't, not when I shared the task with Hudson. Sometimes we worked in silence, and other times I peppered him with questions about his childhood, college years, and what it was like to work with his family.

We'd fallen into a nice rhythm, and I felt more confident each time he handed me the screwgun. But I noticed that his dirty innuendos had faded away. Maybe he felt the need to be professional since he was the boss, but I missed the flirty exchanges.

I wondered if I was distracting him or slowing him down from his timeline. Maybe I should offer to watch from the sidelines, but I was having too much fun. I could see what it would be like to work on a house with someone. To make it your dream home. Putting the sweat and muscle into something you could enjoy together forever.

On Friday night, he got a slew of text messages at the end of the workday. I sat on a nearby toolbox, drinking water. "Is everything okay?"

"My brothers want to go out tonight."

"You can. You don't have to worry about me. I know I said I'd shadow you everywhere, but it's not necessary." Especially if he didn't go out with his brothers because of me.

He looked up at me, his forehead creased. "They want you to come."

I nodded. "I am supposed to be shadowing you, and I haven't seen you much outside of work."

"I measured your Grams's porch the other day."

"True." But that was different. He'd moved around the porch, using his measuring tape with such efficiency; he had my heart thumping. It was different than when we worked together on this house because he was doing something for someone who was important to me. It had nothing to do with how he was helping me too, or that I thought it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me.

"Come out with us. Obviously, you'll need a shower first. You stink."

I grabbed a rag that was laying around and snapped it at him. "Take it back."

He sidestepped me with a grin. "Definitely not."

I chased him around the room, snapping the towel, and when it finally made contact with his hip, he pulled me into his body, his arms banding around me like he was hugging me. It felt nice. My ass was nestled against his crotch, and my body heated all over.

When footsteps sounded on the steps, his arms loosened, and I pulled away from him.

"We're heading out, boss," Ralph said.

I'd gathered he was the second-in-command, taking care of things if Hudson couldn't be on site.

"Thanks. I'll do the final walk-through and lock up."

"Have a good weekend."

"You too."

Then he was gone, and we were alone.

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