Bolts of electrifying energy ricocheted through her insides. JC flushed hard, biting her lip playfully. “Got one in mind, do you?”
Reed volleyed with a raised brow. “Workin’ on it, but I like to take my time.”
Heat rippled down her limbs. Her smile eased into a hungry stare for what seemed like an eternity as excitement roared through her.
“That all right with you, darlin’?” he asked with a heavy drawl, slipping his finger over her forehead to brush a long strand of hair from her eyes.
Utterly captivated by his light blue eyes that resembled a glacier ice melt on the National Geographic Channel, she could only nod.
Not very often, if ever, had a man enamored JC so deeply she couldn’t speak. Sensual tension caught in the pit of her stomach, tied her tongue into a double knot and left her hands wringing wet.
“Wh…what are you working on?” she stammered through ragged breaths.
Turning his attention to the wall in front of them, he said, “I’m gutting this place. Everything in here was from the seventies. So I’m tearing down walls and redoing the kitchen, bathrooms, pretty much a complete remodel. And I’m adding a pergola out back, maybe a pool too if I decide to keep it.” Flirtation tugged at the corner of his full lips somewhat hidden behind the stubble of his trimmed beard.
Finding her courage, JC nonchalantly glanced around. “It’s got great potential. Luckily, you’ve got ten foot ceilings. That’s unusual for a house this old. Do you have a set of plans?”
“I do.” A lazy wry smile slid from one side of his jaw to the other. “How does a girl like you know anything about architectural plans or building?”
“I’m not a girl. I’m a woman.” JC chimed, repeating the remark he’d made earlier in the day.
Reed’s gaze drifted over her. “Hmmff. That you are.”
“My daddy was a contractor, so I grew up around building. Pink tool belt and all.”
He motioned her to a bedroom set up as his office.
JC studied over the floor plan.
“Got any suggestions?”
“Do you really want to know my opinion?” She nervously chewed on her cheek. “I have two recommendations, but only if you truly want to hear the answer.”
“Don’t hold back. Let’s hear it,” he assured.
Reed leaned forward, resting his palms on the table. Their shoulders touched as she pointed at the plans. Hard muscles and heated skin played against the length of her arm. The warmth filled her with hot sparks. Attempting to reign in her nerves, she pulled a deep breath through her nose, only to be hit with the intoxicating scent of a steamy male. The energetic scent of black leather and cedar wood hung in the air.
“Well, you have four bedrooms and an office—”
“I’ve already remodeled the master bedroom and bath when I first got here,” he informed, handing her a pencil to sketch out her idea.
“Can I see it when we’re done?”
“Sure.”
“These four bedrooms all share one bathroom in the hallway. I know bathrooms are an added expense and I don’t know what your budget is, but if you get rid of this bedroom and switch the closet layout, each of these bedrooms could have their own bathrooms. The waterlines are already in the perfect place. Not very many people need that many bedrooms nowadays. Bathrooms are a big selling feature, second to a great kitchen.” JC smiled with a shrug.
He stared at the plans. “That’s a great idea. What else you got?”
“You already finished the master?”
He nodded.
“My only other suggestion would’ve been to make the master closet bigger. Women love big closets. Even if they can’t fill them up, they still want to dream about it.” She playfully nudged her shoulder against his.
Reed smiled, reaching for her hand with his long tapered fingers. “Come on. I’ll show you what I did in my room.”
Entering Reed’s bedroom proved to be almost too difficult for her. Suffused with the intense awareness of his solid masculine presence beside her, a nervous chill chased down her spine. She struggled as the air between them sizzled with zealous chemistry. Comforted by the warmth of his hand, she wanted to reach for him when he released her fingers and tucked his hands into his pockets, dragging his jeans lower on his hips, exposing yet another defined muscle.
JC turned away from the sight of his carved bare chest and abs, covered with the perfect amount of dark hair dusting his tan skin. All the men she’d dated over the last few years manscaped. They waxed, got manicures and a few took longer to get ready than she did. JC couldn’t remember the last time she’d ran her fingers over a chest like Reed’s. I’ve never dated a man like Reed.