Id like to talk to you.
Imuh She looked around, probably for a handy excuse.
Save it, Princess. You want to ignore me on a personal level after one kiss, fine.
He had to give her credit, she didnt so much as sputter. Id already forgotten about that one kiss, she said evenly.
Really?
She let out a long breath. No.
Just like that, his heart tweaked, good and hard. If its any consolation, youve pretty much kept me up all night for the past two nights running, he admitted.
She lifted a shoulder as if she didnt care, but her eyes warmed a little. Its some consolation, I suppose.
Look, Taylor
I dont think talking about it is the right thing to do. Under the circumstances.
Circumstances?
That were not going to let it happen again, she said.
Right. But it bugged him that he knew why he didnt want it to happen again, but not why she didnt. Look, I get it now, why you didnt move out. You have nowhere else to go, no money, and youre stuck here until were done.
Well, why dont you just spell it out, she said with a mirthless little laugh.
This isnt about your pride, Taylor. Bottom line, youre putting every cent into this building and dont want to waste it on paying for a place to live.
She lifted her hands. Caught me.
Stepping closer, he watched her pupils dilate a little.
Because of their closeness? It was affecting him, too, he could smell her, some exotic combination of sweet and sexy, and he could see the pulse at the base of her neck beating wildly, a dead giveaway that she was not as calm as she wanted to be. Im trying to tell you well work around you, he said. Well do this room last.
But you said you wanted to hit it all at once, so that you didnt have to get your subcontractors back through here again. You said that it was hard enough to-
I know what I said. Im telling you Ill make the adjustments.
Why?
Does it matter?
To me, yes.
Because as my client, I want you to be happy with the job.
As your client, she repeated, sounding a littlehurt?
Impossible.
Im just trying to do the right thing here, he said.
Because you feel sorry for me?
Hell, no. Youre too ornery to feel sorry for.
For a long moment she just stared at him, then a ghost of a smile curved those lush lips. Okay, then. As long as its not that. Oh, and Mac? She climbed off the bed with the smooth grace of a sleek cat, no longer looking plastic. She would never look plastic to him again, and as she came close, he actually had to fist his hands to keep them off her.
Thank you, she said softly.
He didnt want to contemplate what just that smile of hers did to his insides. Did she know? Probably not, or she wouldnt still be looking at him like that. Theyd both agreed-nothing could, or would, happen. But he had to make sure. Now, about the personal stuff.
Her face closed up again and he had to laugh. After all youre going through, Id think a little kiss would be the least of your problems.
If it had been just one little kiss, she said, shocking him with her boldness, then it would be the least of my problems.
Hell. At her sides, her own hands were fisted. Because she couldnt keep her hands off him either, or because she wanted to slug him? Tell me why you dont want this, he asked quietly.
Truth?
Truth.
She lifted her head, so close to him now that they could have leaned in just a fraction and had their mouths meet. I do casual, she whispered. I do casual real well. But not more than that, not ever more. And this She sighed, closed her eyes. This feels like more to me, Mac, and it scares me to death.
Yeah. Look, I-
Mac. One of his laborers stood in the doorway. Youre needed downstairs.
Taylor turned away.
Well finish this later, he told her slim back.
She lifted a shoulder.
Taylor-
I dont think thats necessary.
Oh, its necessary, he said, watching her stiffen. He was sorry for that, but they worked together, would have to continue to do so.
They had to finish talking about this, they had to.
Then maybe he could stop thinking about it.
7
BUT LATER NEVER CAME. Not that day and not the next, because Taylor did something Mac didnt expect. She avoided him. She avoided him good.
She avoided him through the installation of all the plumbing and electrical. Through the hanging and taping of the new drywall.
Which admittedly wasnt that difficult, as he used good subcontractors, and for nearly two weeks his presence wasnt required more than an hour here and there.
One morning he stood out front of her building with the hose, spraying down the tools theyd used to texture the new walls, lost in concentration, when a breathy female voice whispered excuse me in his ear.
Head whipping up, his gaze collided witha petite version of Taylor? Hed have sworn Taylor Wellington was a serious one-of-a-kind, yet this woman had the blond hair, the same see-through green eyes, the matching cynical tilt to her headbut thats where the similarities ended.
She came barely to his shoulders, and where Taylor defined elegance and sophistication, this slightly younger version defined urban hip. She was dressed in painted on jeans and a little crop top that showed off a sparkling diamond in her belly button, and when she turned around in a circle with a little delighted laugh, he saw the rose tattoo rising above her belt line.
Now, why anyone would want a plant growing out of their butt boggled the mind, but having passed his thirtieth birthday almost two years ago, hed discovered he was completely out of touch when it came to such things.
I look a lot like her, dont I? She grinned. Im Liza. Taylors baby sister. And youre
Mac.
The current boy toy?
She actually batted her lashes as she asked this, and suddenly Mac saw another difference. Where Taylors eyes and voice were soft at times, even giving, there was nothing soft about Liza. She was cold and hard, and had been around the block more than once. Boy toy? he repeated, scratching his jaw. Uhno.
Liza laughed. Youre rougher than her usual type, which is usually way tooupscale for me. A sideways look raked over his body, slowly. But if she put you in a well-tailored suitoh yeah, baby, I can see her going for you. Running her tongue over her bottom lip, she looked at him from beneath half-closed, sleepy, sexy eyes. Youre hot.
Itd been awhile since a woman had come on to him so blatantly. In fact, he nearly looked behind him to make sure she was talking to him.
I have to give it to good old sis, Liza said. She always did have great taste. Some advice though, just dont get attached. Taylor doesnt dabble with one man for long, not since Jeff.
Jeff?
Her one great love, she said with overplayed dramatic flair, and stepping close, she ran a finger over his shoulder, down his arm. Sis is under the mistaken impression that he was the greatest guy on the planet, and that her turn at happiness has come and gone. Stupid, huh? I mean there are billions of guys on this planet. Her eyes went sultry, speculative. So how about it, big boy? Are you playing with Taylor, or are you available?
He caught her wandering finger just as it roamed down his chest toward his navel. Im the contractor.
Ah, the contractor. Her eyes darkened as she looked up at the building. Grandpa always did like her best.
Mac figured the sisters werent very close if even he knew better than that.
So is she here? She tossed her head, flipping her hair artfully around her face. Or are we all alone?
Look He wracked his brain for her name. Liza-
Uh-oh. She affected a pout, and before he could stop her, she cupped his face in her hands. Youre scowling. Didnt your momma ever tell you that would give you wrinkles?
Now she rested her body against his, making sure to rub up against the vee of his jeans like a cat in heat. Or maybe you dont care about wrinkles. Men never do, they dont need to. Your laugh lines are sexy.
Curling his fingers around her wrists, he pried her off him and held her away. Okay, thats enough-
Liza!
Liza didnt flinch at her sisters voice, just stuck out that lower lip even further as she turned to face Taylor, who came out of the building, looking sophisticated and elegant as ever, even with her eyes flashing.
Hey, sis. Liza sidled back up to Mac. Look what I found.
Stop torturing my contractor.
Oh, Taylor, but hes so gorgeous. Can I keep him? Mashing her breasts against Macs arm, she batted her lashes at Taylor, who looked immune. Pretty please?
Knock it off. She wore a loose and flowing white skirt, a bright red top and wide-brimmed straw hat. And looked good enough to eat.
Mac was suddenly starving. He separated himself from Liza, not an easy feat. Taylor was looking at him again, and he still didnt have a clue to what she was thinking.
What do you need, Liza? she asked her sister.
You arent going to even invite me in, show me around?
Thats not why youre here.
Liza tried sticking her lower lip out further but Taylor didnt budge or soften her expression. Money, Liza muttered. I need money.
Try asking your mother.
Shes your mother, too.
Taylor just stared at Liza, not giving an inch.
Well, shes so damn tightfisted, whats the point? Liza muttered.
Taylor lifted a brow, apparently agreeing with that assessment, but she shook her head. I have nothing to give you.
You never have anything to give.
Taylor closed her eyes briefly. Im sorry about the times I wasnt there for you when I could have been. But the truth is, now that I might want to help, I cant. I just cant.
Yeah, whatever. Its no skin off my nose. With one last lingering look at Mac, she spun on her heels and stalked off.
Liza.
Liza didnt look back, just let herself out of the gate where she faded into the noon crowd on the streets.
Mac expected Taylor to spin on her heels as well, heading back into the building. Or toward her car. Instead, she just stood there, lost in her own world.
Eyeing her with wariness, he stepped closer. Your sister isinteresting.
She lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes were filled with annoyance, temper and a good amount of heat. Shes the baby of the family, and Id say a spoiled rotten brat, but what she really is, is a woman-child desperate for attention.
That was no child.
No, youre right, shes twenty-one, old enough to know better. Did shebother you before I got out here?
No.
Did shesexually harass you?
Mac let out a bark of laughter at that. Yeah. And Im going to sue over my good honor.