“I do sometimes. I suppose when there is more work around here for us to do, I won’t be so…”
His eyebrows drew up. “Bored?”
She chuckled softly. “I guess living in a city has turned me into a time snob.” She glanced over at him.
“We could always use some extra help,” he suggested. “If you were an art major, I’m sure you’ll have no issues picking up a paintbrush.” He nodded to the walls. “We start painting in here in about a week. Course, we’ll tape it all off and spray, but…”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful. I know how to use a sprayer.” She clasped her hands together as if excited.
“I’m sure I can find other things for you to do around here.” He glanced around just as Elle stepped back inside.
“I’ve got to go meet the cleaning crew for the main building.” She glanced at her watch. “Aub…”
“I think I’m going to help out around here. Aiden says he could use the extra help,” Aubrey jumped in.
Elle’s eyebrows shot up as she glanced his way.
He nodded quickly, confirming. “If you can spare her today.”
“She’s all yours,” Elle said with a smile as she turned to go.
“Well?” Aubrey asked with a smile. “Where do you want me?”
The question right then was where didn’t he want her? His mind played over kissing her and taking her everywhere he could. Against the wall with her legs wrapped around him. She bent over his workbench as he pounded into her soft flesh. Taking her in a soft bed somewhere.
When she shifted, he cleared his mind and motioned towards the bathroom area.
“How are you with swinging a sledgehammer?” he asked.
She smiled. “I have some pent-up issues I could release on a wall.”
He chuckled and she followed him back to the bathroom.
“How about knocking out all this old pink tile?” He motioned to the wall of showers that had been tiled in a soft pink square tile so many years ago.
“You’re going to let me do all this?” she asked as her eyes grew big.
He ran his eyes up and down her and then smiled. “You look strong enough to handle it.”
She chuckled. “Oh, I am. I’m just happily surprised you aren’t treating me like a wilting wildflower.”
He smiled at this. “As I said, you look strong enough. When it really comes down to it though, it’s not strength, it’s how much pent-up frustration you have to keep you hitting the crap out of the tile.”
Her eyes move over towards the wall and grew a little unfocused and sad. She shivered once and then nodded. “How many bathrooms like this need to be done?”
“All twenty cabins.”
She frowned. “I could easily do twice that.” She picked up the hammer.
“Here.” He handed her a pair of leather gloves and some eye protection. “There’s a hard hat.” He motioned to the workbench. “Rule number one, safety at all times on the job site.”
She slipped on the gloves and glasses. “What’s rule number two?” she asked, picking up the hard hat.
“Have fun.” He motioned towards the wall.
He stood back for a few moments and watched her swing the hammer at the tile.
“You won’t be there the entire time, will you? It’s very intimidating. I’m sure you’re a pro at swinging this thing by now.”
He chuckled. “No, I think you’ve got it. If you need anything, I’ll be in the other room.”
She waved him off and returned to swinging the large hammer. Pink tiles flew off the wall, and she kicked them aside as she kept moving.
An hour later, he stepped in to check on her progress. She had knocked all the tiles off the shower area and was shoveling the broken bits into a wheelbarrow.
“Wow, you work fast.” He nodded to her progress.
She smiled up at him, and he could tell she wasn’t even really winded.
“I’ll haul all these to the dumpster and start on the next cabin tomorrow,” she said with a smile.
“Take a break.” He held up a bottle of water.
She set the shovel down, removed the leather gloves, and took the water from him. He watched as she took a slow drink from it.
Leaning against the wall, he asked, “So, are you seeing someone?”
Her eyes moved to his. “No,” she said softly. “You?”
He shook his head slowly. “Interested in going out sometime?”
He could tell she was thinking for a moment. He watched her smile slip slightly.
“I… don’t do relationships in the normal sense,” she warned. “And, if we did anything… together”—her eyes moved to the door—“I wouldn’t want them to know about it.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Embarrassed of me?”
She chuckled. “No, it’s just… my friends can be a little…”
“Overprotective?”
“God no, I was going to say pushy.” She laughed. “Very much so when it comes to everyone needing to find someone to be with.”
“Don’t you think you have a someone out there?” he asked.
She shrugged. “There is no such thing as true love,” she said with conviction.
He thought about how Danelle had left him raw and hurting and nodded in agreement. “So, casual then?”
Her smile returned. “Mutual pleasure is just fine with me.” He watched her bite that sexy bottom lip of hers and decided to test the waters to see if there was any spark between them. Placing his hands on the small of her back, he nudged her forward until their bodies bumped up against each other. He heard her breath hitch as he moved even closer.
“We might as well see if there’s anything here,” he suggested. Her eyes moved to his lips and then back to his eyes before she nodded her agreement.
When he brushed his mouth over hers, it was his breath that caught. Her body seemed to melt against his as her hands moved up to his shoulders. He slanted his mouth over hers, pressing, enjoying, tasting.
He lost track of time as he enjoyed the feel and taste of her.
Hearing a vehicle approach, he pulled back quickly. She swayed slightly. He glanced towards the windows and saw a golf cart zip by the cabin driven by Zoey. Moments later another one drove by, this one driven by her sister Scarlett.
“They race on those things all the time,” Aubrey said as she rolled her eyes.
He turned back towards her and realized he had yet to let her go. Dropping his hands, he took a step back. If he didn’t step away now, he might not want to and could end up taking her there in the middle of all the rubble.
“I guess we can confirm that there’s definitely something there,” he said with a chuckle.
She smiled. “Yes, definitely something.”
“I’ve got a trailer I’m staying at near the construction entrance. If you find yourself bored again this evening…” He smiled and ran a hand up her back slowly. He felt himself grow hard when she arched into his touch and made a soft sound. His smile grew.
This time when he kissed her, he felt his excitement grow at the knowledge that there was a bigger possibility of seeing her, enjoying her, later.