Page 193 of Love Bites

Wolfgang watched Natalie stomp around the side of the garage and out of sight, then turned to me, his brows raised. “Quit men?”

I waved him off. “It’s complicated.”

He caught my arm and didn’t let go, his smile mesmerizing. He must whiten his teeth. They couldn’t be that blinding naturally, could they? “You haven’t quit men, too, have you?”

Was he flirting with me? “Um, no.” I’d just taken an involuntary layoff.

“Good.” His thumb skimmed my wrist.

Okay, he was definitely flirting. A little voice in my head chanted my mantra of not mixing clients and sex—until I taped its mouth shut. Maybe just this once. It’d been too long. I was just mortal, after all.

I cleared my throat and pulled my arm free. “Addy. Why don’t you go see if Natalie has something in her pickup to make a nest with.” I handed Layne the baby bird and nudged him after his sister. “Take the bird and go help.”

After they’d trudged off, I focused on Wolfgang again. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought my kids along. I couldn’t find a sitter.” Or hadn’t tried—almost the same thing.

“They’re cute kids.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, leaned his shoulder against the garage wall. “I didn’t notice Natalie when I came around the house.”

“She was probably down in the grass, inspecting your foundation. She’s the only contractor I could find on short notice. Natalie has been working with her hands since she was a teenager. Her grandpa owned a contracting business out of Nemo. He just recently retired and moved to Arizona.”

Jesus, I was babbling. I wiped my damp palms on my shorts, took a deep breath, and clamped my teeth together to cage my tongue before it spilled all of my dirty secrets.

“If you trust Natalie can do the job, then I’m a believer. My house is in your hands.”

Wow, he knew just what to say to a girl. “Thanks.”

“I’m planning on returning to San Francisco at the end of the month.”

End of the month? Why so soon?

“Do you think Natalie will be able to have the place ready to sell before then?”

No way in hell. “Definitely.”

“Good. What about inside?”

Excellent question. One to which I had no answer. “I’m working on that.”

“Let me know when you want me to hire a moving company to remove the furniture and boxes.”

“Okay.” Wolfgang was all business now. I was beginning to wonder if I’d imagined that little flirting tango we’d danced a moment ago.

“I need to make a quick trip to San Francisco for a couple of days next week, so you’ll have free rein of the house. You remember where the spare key is hidden, right?”

“Yep.” After he’d signed the seller’s contract yesterday, he’d shown me the key’s hiding spot under a loose board on the bottom porch step. There was no need to get a lockbox for the place until I had it ready to show.

“I’ll drop off a check tomorrow to cover initial costs.”

“Sounds good.”

“That leaves just one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

He reached out and tucked a stray curl behind my ear, his fingertips lingering on my jaw, his touch feather-light. Cobalt eyes locked onto my lips.

Oh, boy! We were dancing again.He’s a client. The little voice was back.

“Will you have dinner with me Friday night, Violet?”

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