The Best Man's Baby(44)

Chapter Nine

Jake picked up the last of his belongings before giving the area a once-over. He was on the second floor of their current condo project. Because he’d shifted some of the crew to the town house project, he was needed here. The building was still in the framing stage and without walls yet. It had an unobstructed view of Red River and the surrounding countryside. He had been heading up this project from the beginning, but that was about to change. While he was busy making his own business plans, he never stopped to reflect on how much he was going to miss working with his team, with his brother.

Clouds had started to roll in and he could practically taste the thunderstorms on the horizon. It was an abnormally hot spring day, and Jake had long since torn off his shirt and tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans.

There was just a handful of workers still around. Friday afternoon before a long weekend, with record-breaking heat, made for a hell of a lot of excuses for people to leave early. He glanced down at his watch. He’d have to leave soon himself because he was supposed to meet Claire at Holly and Quinn’s for dinner.

A low whistle from the man working beside him made him lift his head, pulling him from his thoughts. Jake glanced at the employee who had become a friend over the years. “What’s wrong?” Jake called out.

“Nothing’s wrong. Just some nice eye candy for a hot day,” Marcus said, wiping his sweating brow with his shirt and nudging his chin toward a female figure walking through the muddy construction site. Jake’s eyes narrowed, his stomach twisting painfully—he’d recognize that form anywhere. It was the one beside him at night, every night for the past week.

What the hell was Claire thinking? She was walking across the muddy, dangerous construction site in three-inch heels and a clingy sundress-type thing that seemed to highlight every sweet curve of her body.

“Jake!” He heard Claire yell up to him. He gave her a terse wave and then ran down the stairs to where she was standing like a pinup model at the bottom of the work site.

“I have some exciting news and I thought we could drive over to Holly and Quinn’s together,” she said as he stood in front of her moments later.

She wiped a strand of hair that had fallen out of her hair clip and he had to flex his hand not to reach out and run his fingers through it. He’d barely heard what she’d said. The spring rain that had been threatening all day finally decided to break free of the dense, heavy clouds, and raindrops started falling on them.

“Let’s go. And next time you want to come here, tell me first. It’s no place for a pregnant woman,” Jake said, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the car. Or trying to. She wasn’t budging.

“Well that’s the most sexist remark—”

He bit back the curse that was on the tip of his tongue. He was in for it. His one reckless comment was about to cost him at least five minutes of arguing with her.

“I’m not trying to be sexist,” he said through clenched teeth as the rain picked up and her already clingy dress became downright indecent. What he wanted to do was take her the hell out of here, back to his place, peel off the wet fabric…

“Are you telling me you don’t have any women employees on your construction crew?” His eyes darted from her outraged expression to her chest. Since she had plunked her hands on her hips in typical Claire-arguing stance, the scooped neckline of her dress gaped open. He could see the pale-pink lace bra she was wearing underneath and he knew for a fact she looked even better without the sexy lingerie on. It took all his self-control not to undress her right now. Then he remembered where they were and shot a glance over his shoulder. He tried to button the white cardigan that didn’t look as though it was supposed to be buttoned.

She swatted his hands away with an irritated noise.

“What is wrong with you?”

“It’s raining, you’re not dressed in any protective gear, and you shouldn’t be standing out here.”

“Why? You’re out here.”

Jake ran his fingers through his hair, resisting the urge to pull it out. He had never met someone so contradictory. “It’s raining and you’re pregnant—”

“I really don’t see the correlation.”

“If you don’t get into the car, I am going to pick you up—”

“I swear to God, if you pick me up in public, in front of all these men, I will never speak to you again.”

Jake stood glowering down at her and wondered how it was possible she could look so hot and be so completely irritating at the same time. He knew she meant what she said, and he knew he’d never be able to live down hauling her out of here. With a frustrated sigh he grabbed her hand and led her out to the parking lot.