Smitten by Janet Evanovich Page A

hadn’t mentioned Paris. If she’d asked the samequestion of him, he might have said he’d like to get married and have a family. Of course, she’d already done that, so he understood she would want something different. But understanding didn’t make it any easier.
    He decided to change the subject. “So, how do you like construction work?”
    â€œI like it. It’s useful. I like being outdoors. The men have been nice to me.” She looked into his eyes. “And I like working next to you. You’re restoring my interest in the opposite sex.”
    She saw the way his eyebrows raised and his mouth curved into a mercurial smile.
    â€œI don’t just mean in the sexual sense. My marriage had a lot of painful moments. As the years progressed I reached the sorry conclusion that not only weren’t men necessary to happiness, but they were a definite pain in the neck.” She shook her head. “I was basing that judgment on very limited experience. There haven’t been many men in my life.”
    â€œDoes this mean I’m not a pain in the neck?”
    â€œNo. The part about the pain in the neck still holds. The part about happiness has changed. When we work as a team I feel like all the puzzle pieces fall into place and make a whole.It’s comfortable. It makes me happy inside. I decided it has something to do with man-woman chemistry and friendship. We would probably make wonderful love together.”
    Matt fanned himself with a hand towel. Maybe she would mention the trip to Paris after all.
    â€œAm I making you uncomfortable?” she asked.
    â€œYeah. It feels great.”
    Jason knocked on the closed bathroom door. “I gotta go.”
    â€œGo upstairs,” Lizabeth yelled. “Matt’s working in here.”
    Matt looked amused at that.
    â€œI thought you might want to continue the discussion,” Lizabeth said.
    â€œAbout making love?”
    â€œMmmm. Bathrooms are so intimate. They inspire frankness, don’t you think?”
    Matt grinned at her. “Have you been drinking?”
    â€œNope. I’ve been thinking.”
    â€œThat’s even more dangerous.” He stood and pulled her to him. “What else have you been thinking?”
    â€œUh-uh, it’s your turn to think.”
    His hands spanned her waist, framing her hipbones. “I think I should kiss you.”
    â€œA man of action, huh?” Their eyes locked for a fraction of a second. Their mouths met, and all things cerebral were forgotten. Only passion remained. They had both been abstinent far too long. Physically and emotionally abstinent.
    He pressed her to him. The closer he held her the more dissatisfied he felt. It was always like this, he thought. He was never able to get enough of her. Never enough talking, never enough laughing, never enough loving. It was the loving he needed now. He needed more, not a stolen moment in a bathroom, but hours and hours in total privacy.
    Someone rapped on the bathroom door, and Matt whispered an oath into Lizabeth’s hair.
    â€œYes?” he muttered.
    â€œI have to use the facilities,” Elsie said. “You gonna be done soon?”
    Lizabeth took a moment to find her voice. “We’ll be done in a minute, Aunt Elsie. Matt’s just finishing up in here.”
    â€œI bet he is,” Elsie said. “When that door opens I better see some fancy caulking.”
    Matt moved away and gathered his tools. “I think I’m in trouble.”
    â€œIt’s all my fault,” Lizabeth said.
    Matt handed her an empty container of grout. “Damn right it’s all your fault. Next time you want to have a discussion about making love it’s going to take place in my house.” He saw the panic register in her face. “That suggestion make you nervous?”
    â€œVery.”
    â€œYou know what you are? You’re a tease. Every time you get passionate with me it’s in a