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I pointed to the cracked kitchen walls, the ugly cabinets hanging off broken hinges.

“We demo first. Knock all this shit out. We open the floor plan up, then we can start on your suggestions and go look for reused cabinets and other stuff we need.”

She nodded slowly, pulling on the gloves, her fingers fumbling a little.

“Don’t look so scared,” I teased.

“I’m not scared,” she snapped.

Her little attitude made my dick hard. Made me want to bend her over one of these raggedy-ass countertops and fuck her full until she got some act right in her.

I handed her a hammer and watched her grip it tight instead.

But then stopped her before she swung.

“Hold on.”

I jogged back out to the truck, grabbed the little surprise I threw together last night when I couldn't sleep.

When I came back in, she was still there, gnawing her plush bottom lip.

I wanted to do that for her.

But I needed to chill. I could tell I was applying too much pressure too soon. Of course she was confused. She needed time.

I tossed her the pink hard hat.

She caught it awkwardly, peeking inside.

“They got hard hats with silk bonnets in them now now?” she asked, one eyebrow cocked.

I smirked. “Nah. I glued one in there for you. I know how Black women are about their pretty hairdos.”

She stared at me, blinking slow, like her brain couldn’t compute my words.

For a second, she didn’t say nothing.

Just turned the hat over in her hands, running her fingers over the inside like it was some kind of treasure.

Then she shook her head. “You’re trying to make me fall in love with you.”

She said it half-joking. But her voice cracked just enough that I knew—knew—I’d hit something deeper than she wanted to admit.

I shrugged, nonchalant-like, rubbing the back of my neck, because the truth was itching under my skin.

“Maybe that’s just what’s happening.” It was at least on my part.

“Sam,” she said. A warning was heavy in the way she said my name.

“I’m just saying.” I held up my hands like I was innocent and not trying to push her in the direction I wanted her to go.

She sighed, slipping the helmet over her hair.

I pulled the second part of her surprise from behind my back and slapped it against her chest.

“Sign these.”

She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. “What is it?”