Page 26 of It’s Only Love (Citrus Pines #1)

When Beau turned up at the house the next day, Christy was shocked to see Dean with him once again.

Her heart started pounding as he headed towards the house.

The hot morning sun caught the blond highlights in his hair, emitting a slight glow around his head that looked remarkably like a halo.

Christy snorted at the thought, he was no angel, this man was all devil.

Beau came into the house and walked into the kitchen, but Dean veered off and went around the side of the house into the garden.

Christy shot out the front door, jogging around the side of the house.

She found Dean bent down, rummaging in the toolbox he brought with him.

Coming up behind him had been a big mistake, the way his jeans were hugging tightly across his firm ass had her regretting that she hadn’t gotten her hands on it yesterday.

His shirt was pulled tight across his back and shoulders, emphasizing their muscular deliciousness and again she realized she hadn’t seen those yesterday either.

She had been bare to him, but she hadn’t seen any of his body, except for the obvious part which had been very…

Stop! Stop thinking of yesterday. His dismissal of her reignited her anger, and she stormed in front of him.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

He stood up to his full height and ended up looming over her.

She felt the balance of power shift slightly, so she lifted her chin defiantly and folded her arms across her chest. Unfortunately, this pushed her breasts higher and, boy, did he notice.

If she weren’t already still flushing from her thoughts a moment ago, she would have blushed now.

“Good morning to you too, darlin’,” he replied. His southern charm flowing over her like a warm breeze, so sexy she had to fight a shiver that tried to steal over her.

“What are you doing here, Dean?” she demanded again.

“I’m helping out,” he shrugged.

“I don’t want you here,” she said, and he flinched slightly.

He reached out for her hand, but she stepped away from him.

“Look, I was going to come and talk to you before you stomped out here all in a snit. I want to apologize for yesterday. I acted like an asshole. Twice. First, I took advantage of you and then second, when it was over, I treated you badly.” He ducked his head and hooked his thumbs into the back pockets of his jeans.

She eyed him suspiciously. “What do you mean you took advantage of me?” she asked.

He lifted his head, piercing her with his electric blues which flashed brightly in the sunshine.

“When we were in my office. I shouldn’t have gotten personal in my place of business. I didn’t want you thinking you had to do…that…with me to get your car fixed.”

“What?!” she bellowed, and he looked at her sheepishly. “That’s not why I did…what we did! I’m not some prostitute who needs to offer sexual favors in return for services rendered!” It was just as well there weren’t any close neighbors, otherwise they would hear every word she said.

“Then why did you?”

“Because I wanted to! Not because it was a term of payment!”

“You wanted to?” he asked, and only then did she notice the spark of amusement in his eyes and she realized what he got her to admit.

“You…jerk!” she hissed, and he laughed.

“Hey, come on, I’m sorry. Again,” he said, and she took a step towards him, balling her fists. He held up his hands in surrender, laughing again. Her anger wasn’t funny, she may be tiny, but she was feisty dammit.

“I’m truly sorry, darlin’, I just couldn’t help myself.

I wanted to break the tension between us.

” His smile faded and his expression became serious.

“I mean it though, I acted like a grade A asshole yesterday and I’m so sorry.

Please let me keep helping you here. I love the work and I’m enjoying getting to know you and spending time with you.

” He sounded sincere and even a little shy, but she fixed him with a penetrating stare.

“You do?”

“Yes! You’re important to Taylor and Justine, and hell, Beau too. Which means you’re important to me.”

She eyed him closely, was she really important to him? She wasn’t sure, something still nagged at her, the whole situation yesterday didn't add up. Her stomach flipped as she steeled herself to bring up the incident that lingered between them.

“Dean, I don’t understand. Why did you...do what we did? I still remember what you said, in the hallway, in front of those boys all those years ago.” Her voice quavered at the mention of one of her most painful memories.

His face blanched, but he held her stare. “I’m so sorry for what I said back then. I didn’t mean it. I was just an immature and insecure kid. I was embarrassed, hurt, and lashing out,” he explained, his features softened.

“Hurt?” she asked, confusion pinching her brow.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish.

“I overheard you, Tay, and Justine talking at a sleepover one night. You called me stupid, a lot , and I guess it struck a nerve with me. My dad used to call me that all the time and it's true, I was struggling in school. But I was embarrassed and upset, so when the guys started talking about you, I lashed out. I know that’s no excuse, but that’s why I said it. ”

She was mortified that he’d overheard her bitchy comments.

She thought about how she felt after what he said about her: she had been so hurt and upset she would have potentially done the same thing.

Jesus, she did do the same thing, with the girls.

Some part of her understood why he did it and his explanation was like a soothing balm to her pride.

“I didn’t really think you were stupid. I was just being idiotic and mean,” she replied, and he chuckled. They fell into silence. It was impossible to stay mad at this man.

“So, you want to put this behind us and be friends?” she asked. She thought she saw a flash of disappointment cross his face but it was gone so quickly she must have been mistaken, the heat was getting to her.

He nodded. “Friends,” he said, putting his hand out and she stared at it a moment before sliding her palm into his warm grip.

As they shook, his thumb gently stroked over her skin, tingles branching out from the area and her nipples tightened as she thought about what his hands had done yesterday.

She pulled her hand back sharply and cleared her throat.

“Thanks for dropping my car off yesterday.”

“No problem, and there’s honestly no charge, please consider it part of my apology.”

“Okay, thank you.”

She felt tension mounting as they stared at each other, feeling awkward. The heat bearing down on them, causing a trickle of perspiration to slide down between her breasts. She nibbled her bottom lip, and he dropped his gaze to her mouth then abruptly turned away.

“So, what would you like me to do today? I was going to make a start out here, but it feels too hot right now,” he said, grabbing his toolbox.

“I’m not sure. We better go in and check with Beau. He knows what schedule we should be following,” she replied, and turned to go back to the house.

*

Man, she looks good today, although doesn’t she always?

Dean followed Christy back to the house.

Dressed in her little white shorts and another of those off the shoulder tops that drove him crazy.

Exposing her delicate shoulders while hiding her breasts.

He was desperate to rip it off and see the strapless bra underneath that would be cupping the most gorgeous breasts he had ever seen.

Just the visual had his mind going crazy and his jeans tightening uncomfortably.

He was such an asshole yesterday; he was still shocked at his behavior.

He hadn’t dealt with his emotions properly and had reacted poorly which wasn’t like him at all.

Something about her got him all worked up like no one else.

The ferocity of their interaction had scared him.

All he could think about was when they could do it again and how amazing it would feel.

But Dean had to remind himself of his goals: find his soulmate and start a family.

Christy wasn’t going to be sticking around, and with Taylor’s warning ringing in his ears, he had responded by pushing her away, by literally dragging her out of the office.

He’d lain awake all last night, replaying the moment in his office over and over until he was gripping himself.

He couldn’t avoid Christy, especially now he was helping her with the house and if he was honest, he didn’t want to.

He could spend time getting to know her.

Being her friend and someone she trusted was becoming very important to him.

Now that they’d cleared the air properly over their past, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

She was a vital part of Taylor’s life, which made her important to him too.

The only problem was, could he be her friend and keep his hands off her delectable body?

They chatted as they walked back to the house. She asked him if the new deputy had come by and introduced himself yet and they were still talking about him as they went inside and found Beau.

“He seemed really keen on developing relationships in the community which I thought was really sweet,” Christy was saying.

“Who’s that?” Beau wanted to know .

“The new deputy sheriff, Blake,” Dean replied. “I’m glad he’s here. I worry about Taylor up at the bar on her own, especially now.”

“Why, what’s happened?” Beau asked, concern pinching his brow.

“Nothing yet, but I wanna keep it that way. She’s having some trouble with her ex,” Dean said.

Beau immediately tensed. “Has he tried to hurt her? If he has, I swear to God...” he growled angrily, pacing up and down like a caged lion.

“Whoa. Calm down, Hulk!” Christy cried, staring at Dean who was covering a smile with his hand.