Page 81 of Fairy Tale Lies
Her hand fell from him, her smile faltered. However, she didn’t move away. “I was told you’re amazing at repairing antiques. I’d like to hire you.”
Trying to figure her out, Jacob studied the woman. Her statement was work-related. The way she kept eyeing him wasn’t.
What does she think my services provide?“What do ya need?”
“My mother has a record player from her childhood. She cherishes the old thing. The stick-thing you set on the record is broken. Is this something you might be able to fix?”
It’d be easy enough, and her request held no flirty undertones. Maybe she was one of those overly touchy women. Her reason for finding him sounded legit.
He worked to arrange his cool expression into a friendlier one. “I could fix it.” Jacob pulled his wallet from his pocket. After fishing around, he handed her a business card. “I have to warn you. I’m swamped right now. There’s a waiting list.”
She ran a thumb along his wrist while taking the card. “I don’t mind waiting for you.”
He jerked back.
Time to go inside.
He didn’t want to deal with her mixed signals. Before he could put some distance between them, the patio door opened, and Greta stepped through, her glare falling on Macy.
She took a quick step back.
Jacob didn’t blame her. There was murder in Greta’s eyes.
She stormed across the patio and kissed him hot enough to set his blood on fire. He forgot about Macy and her confusing behavior.
Hell, he forgot his own name.
“I couldn’t find you,” she breathed against his mouth.
“Damn woman, I’m going to wander away more often if this is what you do when you find me.”
“I’m staking my claim.”
He peered around the deserted balcony then back at her. “I’m not complaining, mark me any way you want, but you know, we’re the only ones here.”
“Yeah, now we are. Macy,” Greta spit out the name like it tasted bad, “was here. She hightailed it back inside since she doesn’t have you alone anymore. What did the tramp want with you?”
Jacob swallowed a smile, not wanting Greta’s ire to turn on him, but her jealousy was cute. “My card. Someone must’ve told Macy what I do for a living. She wants to hire me to repair her mother’s record player.”
“Please. Men are blind,” Greta grumbled. “She wants you to work on something all right. Her.”
Jacob ran a hand down her back. “You’re the only woman I want to work on.”
“Good. I do love your capable hands. And mouth.” She brushed her lips across his.
He backed her against the iron railing, pressing the length of his body against hers, reveling in her soft curves. “Have I told you today I love you?”
“Love? You sure it’s not lust,” she teased, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
“There’s a lot of that, but love’s the overruling emotion.”
“Let’s go home. I need you to show me your love and lust,” she whispered against his mouth.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Excitement bubbled over as the miles passed under Greta’s car, bringing her closer to Jacob. Her stress and loneliness melted away, shifting to anticipation.
Their time apart had been longer than predicted. A heavy workload and the upcoming grand opening of Rework kept Jacob from visiting. Her demanding semester schedule kept Greta in Lansing.
