Page 3 of Fall In Love With Me (Fall In Love Again)

“Oh,” she says with a gasp, almost falling back, and that robe slips just slightly. As quick as I can, I force my gaze up to the left and turn slightly. Fuck me. That glimpse of her soft curves and that quick peek at her breasts will be burned into my memory forevermore. “Oh my God.” The sound of her stumbling over something is comical.

“I didn’t see a thing,” is all I say although it’s not exactly the truth. An asymmetric smirk lifts the corner of my lips up and I hide it by rubbing my hand over my jaw.

Her bare feet pad on the floor as she rushes out that she’ll be upstairs if I need her.

My mind wanders back to our past as I work. Back to the fact that her friend asked me out before I could ask Aubrey out. Pamela moved to Denver I think, had two kids and has a great life. I couldn’t care less about any of that. The only piece that matters is whether or not that’s changed Aubrey’s mind about dating me.

I huff a humorless laugh as I work on the busted pipe, cutting it out and doing everything I can to tamp down the feelings racing through me.

Aubrey is settled here, and I’ve only just come home, taking up this job until I get grounded. There’s no way in hell a girl like her would date a rough, blue-collar man like me.

AUBREY

All I can imagine is his rough, callused hands on my body. And it is so, so wrong. He’s here on business and working. Hell, I’m sure he didn’t even know I still existed until he saw me. He probably didn’t even remember my name.

Miss Peters.I remember him calling me that and it’s like stepping into a cold shower. Until I remember the way he looked at me when I told him to call me Aubrey. And how invested he seemed to be when he asked if I was a “miss.”

I bite down on my lower lip to stifle my squeal of delight and smile as I push open one of the two French doors leading to the en suite bathroom.

Bennet Thompson will never know what he does to me. Did to me. I try to correct myself but no, shaking my head I have to admit, he is very much doing it in present tense now.

It’s been years since I’ve really thought of him. I’ve buried myself in so much work as an editor that I’ve rarely noticed men at all. One look at Bennet and bam, I turned into a blushing fool.

Flicking the light on, I lean against the sink and try to contain myself.

Never in my life have I felt so … bad. He makes me think about things I shouldn’t. Makes me hot when I shouldn’t be.He’s only here to fix a broken pipe.

I can’t help the grin and the dirty thoughts that come to mind as I shake off my daydream and get back to the task of pampering myself. Pampering may not be the right word given that my calves are burning. This cream needs to come off right freaking now.

The water rushes out of the faucet as I wipe off the hair remover and go about my normal routine. One glance in the mirror and I cringe. Way to make an impression, I guess. If I had to depict it in a single sentence, I’d describe myself as a mouse who got caught in the rain. In the oversized robe I’m drowning, and my long brunette hair is nearly black because it’s still wet and stuck to my flushed skin.

It’s not exactly the outfit and styling I’d have chosen for the event that just played out on the first floor of my house. Grimacing, I keep myself firmly focused on the facts. Bennet doesn’t want me, he never has and I’ve probably made a fool of myself.

This reality is certainly not a part of the thoughts that run through my head. Streaming my favorite channel on my phone, I turn the music up and ignore what happened.

Hooking up with Bennet is nothing but a fantasy and one I haven’t thought about in years.

And one that most certainly isn’t going to come true.

With a firm nod in the mirror, I turn on the blow-dryer and for some unknown reason I make sure my makeup is perfect, complete with a deep red lipstick.

I even take the time to curl my hair. All the while I imagine Bennet will leave the moment he’s done.

I’ve embarrassed myself enough already.

With a pucker of my lips, I hang up my robe and head back to my bedroom to grab a matching set of lingerie I haven’t thought of since I bought it with a gift card from one of my friends two holidays ago.

I only make it a few steps before I turn to the door. I swear I heard a knock over the music, still blaring, and before I can answer, the door opens. Obviously on its own from the gentle push of a knock. I hadn’t shut it all the way.

My heart pounds as I screech out “one minute,” with one arm wrapped around my chest, the other down low to cover my hoo-ha, but it’s all too late.

In the blink of an eye … well, Bennet got an eyeful. Making those gorgeous pale blue eyes of his as wide as I’ve ever seen them as he chaotically reaches for the doorknob to slam the door shut tight.

…

Oh my God, how did this just get worse?

BENNET

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