Page 21 of Mine Forever
He hands me the drill, and standing next to him, I line up a screw and drill it in.
It goes sideways though, and even with my limited knowledge of working with power tools and wood, I know that isn’t good.
“Eden, you’re going to need to get closer to get some leverage on that. Otherwise, none of them will go in straight.”
With his head, since his hands are holding the wood, he gestures for me to get closer to him. “Come here. Stand in front of me.”
I bite back a sigh and duck under his outstretched arm to stand in front of him. “Like this?”
There’s a hesitation and clearing of his throat before he says, “Yep, like that.”
The position of our bodies makes me pause.
His body heat is like an inferno at my back, his arms caging me in between him and the wall in front of me.
I bite my lip and lift the drill, holding the screw at the end and trying not to show how affected I am to be so close to him.
With a pull of the trigger, I drive a screw in before moving over the required distance and repeating the process.
“That’s it. Just like that,” he murmurs near my ear.
His breath tickles the hairs on the back of my neck as we move up one side of the sheet and down the other, our bodies moving together as though we’ve worked together like this before.
Of course, our bodies moving together has never been our problem.
When I secure enough screws to hold up the rectangle of wood, he drops his arms, but doesn’t step back. I lower my arms and briefly close my eyes before turning to face him.
He’s close, so close I can see a dusting of sawdust covering his skin and the brown specks that make his green eyes so unique.
The smell of wood, leather, and man assaults my senses and makes me weak in the knees.
I lean against the wall of the garage in order to stay vertical. Even after all this time, all the things we put each other through, he still has this effect on me.
Will I ever get Chase Hanover out of my system?
I have to; I have no choice. As soon as he gives me the answer I need, I’m headed back to New York and my life.
His eyes wander over my face and draw me in, just like they always do.
They’re like a tractor beam, and I can’t get away even though I know it would be the best thing to do.
“Why is it every time I see you, you’re more beautiful than the last?”
He lifts a hand and brushes the back of his knuckles against my cheek. They’re warm and a little rough from the dust, but that featherlight touch puts me on high alert.
Warmth spreads in my blood, pooling in my core, causing my panties to dampen with more than just sweat. I sway once, just before I lean my face into his hand.
He shifts slightly and is just inches from my face, his body still so close, but not touching mine.
I wanted to mind it, but I don’t.
Our gazes hold, and he brushes a lock of hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear and under the edge of my baseball cap.
“Am I interrupting?”
Chase drops his head and chuckles. “Fucking Nate.”
I let out a breath, thankful for the interruption before I lost my shit and did something I knew I’d regret.
