Page 43 of Between Now and Forever
I take a deep breath and twist to the gutter again. “Because I’m cleaning the gutters.”
“I’m sure it can wait a few minutes.”
“Nah, I’m already up here.” I drag my hand through the sludge and dump another handful into my bucket. My stomach turns at the smell. “Gosh, that reeks.”
“If you come down, I’ll finish the job for you.”
“Thanks, but I got it.”
“Gabrielle . . .”
It’s the way he says my name that does it.Gabrielle.Like he’s exasperated that I won’t listen to his direction.
Well, Mr. Stetson, screw that.
“Look,” I say, turning until I can see him. But either I move too fast, lean too far away from the house, or the ladder is lopsided ... Or maybe it’s a combination of the three. For whatever reason, the ladder begins to tilt backward. I slam my chest against the rungs and force the top rungs to lie snugly against the roofline.“Ho-ly crap.”
My heart thunders. Sweat dots my back. I calculate how many broken bones I might wake up with tomorrow if I don’t start remembering I’m ten feet off the ground.
When I glance down, Jay’s hands are on the ladder. Judging by that heavy scowl on his face, he’s displeased.
This shouldn’t be that hot.
I don’t tell him that this isn’t helping. Maybe he’s keeping the ladder from rocking, but that won’t stop me from falling if my knees turn to gelatin from the heat in his eyes. His grip on the rails isn’t going to stop me from sliding straight down the metal as I melt into a puddle of orgasmic need.
He smirks.
I didn’t say that out loud, did I?
“Look, I’m sure you can do this on your own,” he says. “But taking a little help when it’s offered isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.”
I roll my eyes.
“Come on, Gabrielle.”
“Come on . . . what?”
I return his smirk as the innuendo hits him in the face. His eyes darken.
Yeah, Jay. Imagine me just like that.
“Don’t worry,” I say. I slide my gloves off and drape them over the side of the bucket. “I don’t expect an answer. I already have it.”
“Answer it, then.”
I watch him over my shoulder. His features are severe, his jawline so sharp it could cut granite. It would be so easy to let him win this battle of wits ... if I were willing to lose.
“I can come on whatever I want as long as it has nothing to do with you.” I grin, lifting a brow. “Right?”
His eyes narrow.
“Oh, stop it,” I say, sighing dramatically as I move down the rungs. “Calm down. I know you don’t want me.”Or so you say.
He barely steps back enough to make room for me to get down.
My butt, then my back, brushes against him as my feet drop to the ground. A blast of heat burns through me and pools in my belly. Turning around is going to be akin to fireworks—I know this. But I also know I can’t refuse to face him either.
I brush my hands off and sidestep away from Jay. “So was Dylan a pain in the butt, or did he remember some of the manners I’ve worked hard to instill in him?”
