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“…ain’t that right, James?”
Jerking my wandering thoughts under control, I gave her a quick nod. I wondered what I’d just agreed to. As she came to me, her smile widened a fraction more, and I decided whatever it was, it didn’t matter. I’d do whatever to keep her looking at me like that.
“I told you it was a mess here,” she said as she stopped in front of me with a wry grin on her face.
“I’ve been on construction sites before.”
“Somehow, I’m not surprised.” She gave the surrounding area a quick look. “It’ll look like this for a few more days—we have to make sure everything is safe. We’ve got another inspection tomorrow, and if things go well, the actual work can begin next week.”
Just then, a heavy thud filled the room, and she grimaced as she followed my gaze to the hole I’d seen in the wall. It was now three times bigger.
“The former owners put up the drywall,” she said. “There is water damage, so all of this has to be addressed before moving forward. If all goes well, we finish that part of the project this week.”
“We…?”
Arching a brow, she met my gaze. “Yes, me and the crew. I like the physical aspect of the job as much as the other aspects.”
I thought of a hundred things that could go wrong. I almost told Tinanotto get physically involved, but I stopped myself. Trying to control how she did her job was a good way to fuck things up quickly.
“I think you’ll do a fine job with the demolition,” I said, forcing the words out instead of the ones I wanted to say.
She gave me a half-smile, but the look in her eyes made me glad I’d held back. “I will. And I’m good at it. Don’t worry. It looks worse than it is.”
“Really?” I cocked a brow. “Are you sure?”
She grimaced. “I know, this does…look bad. It’s all a big mess. But…you knew that going in.”
“Yes.”And I’d do it all over again if she kept looking at me like that.
She colored under my gaze, and I wished we were alone. I wanted to peel off her sleeveless, dusty pale blue shirt and watch that rosy flush that made her skin go pink down to her tits.
She sucked in a breath, and I met her eyes, watched the need awaken and spill through her. If I touched her now, if I slid my hand between her thighs, she’d be getting wet. I could practically feel that honey on my fingers, and smell it in the air.
And I hadn’t even touched her.
“Stop it,” she said in a low whisper, the two words so quiet they barely carried.
Because I’d agreed to be professional, I broke eye contact and stepped away.
“You’re going to salvage this?” I asked, touching the protective cloth covering the mahogany check-in counter.
“Yes. It’s so beautiful. The carvings alone.….” She made a happy little sound under her breath as she stroked a hand along the surface. “The repair work will just be cosmetic touch-ups here and there.”
“Hey, boss!”
Tina looked over her shoulder, then nodded before meeting my eyes. “They need me.”
“Of course. I’ll just walk around a bit.”
It was evident at a glance Tina was in charge there.
One guy pointed out something, and Tina bent lower, a gloved hand on the grimy floor to support herself. Another guy had his eyes on her ass, and Tank, walking by, smacked him at the back of the head, giving him a dark look.
Grouchy Tank had redeeming qualities.
My phone rang, and I slipped outside.
“Hey, Gianni. What’s up?”