Sexy Jerk(32)

There may have been many times in my life that I hated my parents, but I never stopped loving them.

The floor machine turns off and I refocus on my task at hand.

"This wood is in fantastic shape," the carpenter compliments. "I just have the back room left. I should be done by Monday afternoon."

I quickly wipe a stray tear away and stand up. "That's great news. I didn't expect you to finish so quickly."

"Nick asked me if I could hustle, and I owed him a favor."

I smile at that. "Well thank you. The floors look great."

"It's no problem. I'm glad you like the work," the carpenter says, and starts to pack up.

Nick.

Nick has been a huge help. I wanted to do this alone, but after I made over a dozen calls on Tuesday morning, I quickly discovered the lead time for contractor work is more than thirty days out.

That's when I decided to drive Max over to Nick's office and take him up on his no-strings offer to assist me in coordinating the renovations. While there, I met his two field scouts, Ash and Hayden. Between the two of them and Nick, all the contractor work was arranged by the day's end. That was Tuesday, today is Friday, and the place is shaping up quickly.

Sitting back down at my makeshift desk, I move my mouse and continue with the design template the sign maker sent to me. I have decided to call the café, 'The Press Room'. A play on coffee and the fact that this place used to be an old printer's shop. I would like a typewriter-like font so I click on my choices and watch the sign come to life, virtually anyway.

As I click font after font, my mind wanders to the past five nights. Each night spent with Nick. Each night, as soon as we got Max to bed, we raced for the spare room desperate to have each other. And each night I fell asleep with him by my side and woke up the same way. 

I'm not lovesick, don't worry.

In fact, I try not to put much stock in it.

I'm the flavor of the month, after all.

Knowing me, you'd think I'd be livid about that fact, but looking at things objectively, he's the guy after my long-term relationship went bad, and by all accounts that makes him my rebound guy.

Right?

And rebound relationships never work out anyway, or so they say, but I'll take what we have until we don't anymore.

That's all I can do.

I sigh and rest my head on my chin, memories of this morning rushing back. When I woke, I rolled on top of him, and stared down waiting for him to open his eyes. When he didn't, I traced one fingertip over his eyebrows, one at a time. He smiled, and I knew he was awake. Still, he didn't open his eyes, so I drew a finger over his lips, they parted just enough for me to slip the point of my index finger inside. He bit it gently, then sucked, and the sensation sent a delicious shudder through out my entire body.

It was sweet and wicked at the same time, and right at that moment, I felt myself becoming attached to him in a way I knew I shouldn't.

"See you Monday, Miss Winters," the carpenter calls, and I shut down the thought process that will only make me overthink my situation.

Collecting myself, I twist in my seat. "Bye, have a great weekend."

"I'm leaving too Ma'am," the painter says.

I give him a wave. "I'm twenty-eight, not eighty-eight, it's Tess."

"Yes, Ma'am, I mean Tess."

I laugh. "Thanks for everything. See you Monday."

Alone in my new café, I cast aside my thoughts of Nick and I in bed and ponder what to do tonight. Nick and Max are going to Jace's for their Friday night ritual. I could go out to eat, or to a movie, but I'm a little dirty and don't really feel like getting all cleaned up to go out alone. In the end I decide I'll just go back to Fiona's. It's not even five yet though, so I think I'll finish up what I'm doing first.

Resuming plugging away at the sign-making app, I'm surprised when the door swings open. "Did you forget some-" I wheel around to say, but I am struck speechless when I see Nick standing there in the dapper suit he wore to work this morning.

One hand is shoved in his pocket. His pose is both casual and arrogant, and my breath catches. As soon as he catches my eye, he strides toward me in a manner that exudes confidence, charm, and power.

God, does it turn me on.

If someone would have asked me if I thought I'd be attracted to the alpha male persona, I would have said, "Hell no."

I'd have been wrong.

"Hey," he says averting his eyes from me to wander the space I've rented from him.

"Why hello," I say in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Nick stops right beside me, stares down at me, and then answers with, "I came to see how things are coming along."

"Pretty good, if you ask me."

He grins knowing things are pretty good because of him. "Got any plans for tonight that you can't cancel?" he asks.