As much as it killed her, she had to ask. “May I ask why?” Then she cursed herself for sounding so prim and proper.
He let out a huff and raked a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable with her question. “We’re friends, Mallory. We’ve known each other for years and…well…I look at you like…you know…a friend or a little sister.” He paused. “You’re still a kid, for crying out loud!”
The irritation in his voice spoke volumes, she thought, but couldn’t figure out why he should be so upset. She was the one who humiliated herself. What was she thinking, throwing herself at him like that? She wished the deck would open up and swallow her just so she could escape.
Not sure of what to say, she gave a curt nod and looked away and willed herself not to cry. Beside her, Jake muttered a curse and pulled her into his embrace. He was all warm and muscled and if she could, Mallory would simply climb inside of him. She wanted to apologize, to turn back time so she wouldn’t have made her move without thinking it all through first.
“God, Mallory,” he murmured, his voice low and just a little tortured. His breath was hot against her skin and it sent delicious shivers down her spine and if she wasn’t mistaken, he placed a gentle kiss right there on the shell of her ear. She felt the rasp of his tongue and held her breath. “You have no idea how much I want…”
“I’m heading out with Jake!” Behind them, they heard Sam’s loud proclamation and instantly broke apart.
Jake looked away but Mallory watched him – stared hard at him – willing him to finish what he was going to say. But he didn’t. In the blink of an eye her brother was back and clapping a hand on Jake’s shoulder.
“Dude, let’s go!” Sam said excitedly. He looked at Mallory. “Mom’s looking for you again. I think she wants to discuss all of the plans for tomorrow.” The grin he gave her made her want to punch him. “Have fun.”
“Goodnight, Mallory,” Jake said quietly as he turned and walked away, her brother right beside him.
“Please tell me there are going to be a ton of girls there tonight,” Sam pleaded.
Jake laughed. “More than you’ll know what to do with.”
Then they were out of sight and Mallory’s heart sank.
All of her hopes and dreams just walked away to go pick up other girls – girls he didn’t look at as friends or little sisters – and it made her want to cry.
Well…she’d show him.
“You just wait, Jake Summerford. You’ll be sorry.”
4
She was trying to kill him.
It was the only excuse Jake could think of. Five days after their kiss, and he was slowly losing his mind.
Had he really only ever seen her as a kid?
Well…those days were long gone.
Sam had gone back to New York at the end of the weekend, but Mallory and her mother had stayed. They’d all spent Zeke’s birthday weekend together, but there were enough people around that they were never alone. But once Monday hit? Yeah, it had been nothing but a test of his self-control.
His current job with Coleman Construction actually had him working on Zeke’s place. It was only him and six other guys, but he was the lead on it. They were replacing the roof on the house. It was a last-minute decision apparently and because he lived right next door, Zeke had asked him to be the one to handle it. Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal, but with Mallory prancing around the house, the yard, and pretty much everywhere in his line of vision, it was making work difficult.
One week. The job would only take a week, he reminded himself. And it was half over.
He’d had to knock more than one guy in the head for looking at her and making crude comments, but he wasn’t going to share that with anyone. And as he crawled down the ladder late Wednesday afternoon, he wondered if that was the right thing to do. Maybe if he mentioned something to Zeke, he’d tell his great-granddaughter to stop walking around in skimpy shorts and bathing suits while there was a construction crew on the premises.
With the crew gone for the day, Jake walked around and made sure things were cleaned up and all the tools and supplies were put away so as not to disturb the Coleman family. He noticed a couple of extension cords weren’t wrapped up and as he bent down to grab them, he looked out toward the Sound and saw her.
And had to bite back a groan.
Today’s bikini was turquoise and as Mallory walked down the pier toward the boathouse – a place she seemed to favor – he couldn’t help but stare. He knew if the men from his crew were still here, they’d all be watching her too.
And it had to stop.
Now.
Tossing the cord aside, Jake took off after her. The only thing keeping him from actually sprinting was the fact that he needed a minute to get himself under control. If he were beside her right now, no doubt he’d start yelling and say something stupid and that wasn’t appropriate. After all, their steamy kiss aside, she was still his boss’s great-granddaughter and he needed to treat her with respect.
No matter how much it killed him.
As he made his way across the yard, he watched as Mallory climbed the ladder to the flat roof of the boathouse. The party deck. It was a spot he knew she favored for the views of the Sound but…it was a little late in the day for her to be up there in a bathing suit – she certainly didn’t need to be wearing one to just go up there and relax. If it were earlier in the day she could possibly use the excuse of trying to work on her tan…
At the end of the pier he stopped and tried to clear his mind and regain some control, but every time he closed his eyes he could see her walking in her tiny bikini and now he was going to have to see it up close.
Turn around…no one even knows you’re here…
He was climbing up the ladder before he even realized it.
And there, sprawled out on her stomach without a care in the world was Mallory. Her dark hair pushed across one shoulder and nothing but smooth skin broken up by tiny strips of fabric.
Turn around! There’s still time…
She leveraged up on her elbows and turned her head to look at him. Lifting one hand, she shielded her eyes to block the sun. “Jake?”
It was like there was sawdust in his mouth and he couldn’t seem to utter a single word. And then – Lord help him – she turned and completely faced him. Her body was every fantasy come to life – all sweet curves and temptation.
Then she stood and began to walk toward him. He knew if he took more than one step back, he was going over the rail and would either break his neck on the pier or end up drenched in the Sound.
Like a cold shower, only more embarrassing.
“What are you doing up here?” she asked, but she kept moving until they were practically toe to toe. The knowing smile on her face told him she wasn’t really surprised by his appearance – almost as if she orchestrated it.
Which – let’s face it – she did.
Forcing himself to clear his throat, he began, “You can’t be walking around like this while work’s being done on the house, Mallory.” He was going for a firm and commanding voice, but it was way harsher. “Do you have any idea what my crew has been saying about you?”