at the back of the garage, near the front of her car. Not bothering with flicking on the light, as there was more than enough sunlight coming in through the open door, Tess continued on toward the row of stacked paint cans.
These few moments away from Jack were exactly what she needed. Her head already felt clearer, as if the butterflies of arousal that had made their home in her body had finally taken their leave, allowing her to think logically once again.
Bending down to grasp one of the paint cans, a scrape reached her ears. Stilling, Tess stood slowly and peered around the area.
“Probably just Mitsy,” she said quietly. The neighbor’s cat liked to sleep in her garage, and she’d been known to feed the furry little thing, even though she knew the kitty’s humans cared very well for her.
Shaking her head, Tess resumed her duties. If she didn’t hurry, Jack would make his way to the garage to help her. Who knew what would happen if she came face-to-face with him in a dark room, sweat running enticingly down his chest, dampening his t-shirt, forcing it to stick to his well-sculpted chest?
“Jesus, Tess, get over it,” she whispered, and shook her head.
Lifting one can in each hand, she started toward the garage door.
Another scrape sounded, and this time, it was followed by what she identified immediately as footsteps, and not Mitsy’s little kitty footsteps.
* * * *
As quick as a shot, she’d jumped off the porch and disappearing around the side of the house before Jack could blink, much less offer to help.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm his fast-rising arousal, Jack chuckled. Maybe he’d been thinking too little of Tess’s attraction to him. He’d caught her checking him out the first time they’d met, but thought nothing of it, an innocent once-over to evaluate the new neighbor who’d just so happened to find her standing nude on her front lawn. But now, the way she’d let her eyes rake over him had been anything but innocent. If he wanted to get to know her on an intimate level, which he absolutely did, he needed to see just how far he could push her before she started backing away.
The blush in her cheeks, and her shallow breath as she’d ogled him moments ago, made him wonder if she would put up a resistance at all were he to make a move. He knew it would be better not to push things too quickly, but with Tess’s obvious attraction to him and his raging need for her, he didn’t know how slow he could actually go.
An idea formed quickly in his mind. Grabbing the hem of his shirt, he lifted it over his head and tossed it over the porch rail. A little sexual teasing might aid his cause.
Jack wasn’t a vain man. He worked out on a regular basis and felt comfortable with his body, but he couldn’t suppress the trickle of self-doubt that slid through him. What if Tess didn’t appreciate his physique? The way she’d admired him moments ago should’ve put that worry on the back burner for him. Shrugging the thought away, he put on a brave face. He’d just have to take that chance.
Happy with his idea, Jack picked up the paint scrapers and walked to the toolbox parked at the bottom of the steps.
* * * *
Looking about quickly, she spotted nothing out of the ordinary, but knew for a fact she wasn’t alone. The sounds reaching her ears kept her certain of that fact. Whoever was in the garage with her was hiding on the other side of her car, in the shadows where the sunlight didn’t reach. She needed her gun, and luckily, she kept one under her driver’s side seat.
Keeping her composure, she lowered the cans of paint to the floor.
“Oh, shoot. I left my keys in the car,” she lied lightly. If whoever was with her thought she was only going after her keys, she would be able to get her gun without them knowing. Then she would have the upper hand.
Grasping the handle, Tess opened the car door, quickly reached beneath the seat, and grabbed the gun, but the sudden rush of
These few moments away from Jack were exactly what she needed. Her head already felt clearer, as if the butterflies of arousal that had made their home in her body had finally taken their leave, allowing her to think logically once again.
Bending down to grasp one of the paint cans, a scrape reached her ears. Stilling, Tess stood slowly and peered around the area.
“Probably just Mitsy,” she said quietly. The neighbor’s cat liked to sleep in her garage, and she’d been known to feed the furry little thing, even though she knew the kitty’s humans cared very well for her.
Shaking her head, Tess resumed her duties. If she didn’t hurry, Jack would make his way to the garage to help her. Who knew what would happen if she came face-to-face with him in a dark room, sweat running enticingly down his chest, dampening his t-shirt, forcing it to stick to his well-sculpted chest?
“Jesus, Tess, get over it,” she whispered, and shook her head.
Lifting one can in each hand, she started toward the garage door.
Another scrape sounded, and this time, it was followed by what she identified immediately as footsteps, and not Mitsy’s little kitty footsteps.
* * * *
As quick as a shot, she’d jumped off the porch and disappearing around the side of the house before Jack could blink, much less offer to help.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm his fast-rising arousal, Jack chuckled. Maybe he’d been thinking too little of Tess’s attraction to him. He’d caught her checking him out the first time they’d met, but thought nothing of it, an innocent once-over to evaluate the new neighbor who’d just so happened to find her standing nude on her front lawn. But now, the way she’d let her eyes rake over him had been anything but innocent. If he wanted to get to know her on an intimate level, which he absolutely did, he needed to see just how far he could push her before she started backing away.
The blush in her cheeks, and her shallow breath as she’d ogled him moments ago, made him wonder if she would put up a resistance at all were he to make a move. He knew it would be better not to push things too quickly, but with Tess’s obvious attraction to him and his raging need for her, he didn’t know how slow he could actually go.
An idea formed quickly in his mind. Grabbing the hem of his shirt, he lifted it over his head and tossed it over the porch rail. A little sexual teasing might aid his cause.
Jack wasn’t a vain man. He worked out on a regular basis and felt comfortable with his body, but he couldn’t suppress the trickle of self-doubt that slid through him. What if Tess didn’t appreciate his physique? The way she’d admired him moments ago should’ve put that worry on the back burner for him. Shrugging the thought away, he put on a brave face. He’d just have to take that chance.
Happy with his idea, Jack picked up the paint scrapers and walked to the toolbox parked at the bottom of the steps.
* * * *
Looking about quickly, she spotted nothing out of the ordinary, but knew for a fact she wasn’t alone. The sounds reaching her ears kept her certain of that fact. Whoever was in the garage with her was hiding on the other side of her car, in the shadows where the sunlight didn’t reach. She needed her gun, and luckily, she kept one under her driver’s side seat.
Keeping her composure, she lowered the cans of paint to the floor.
“Oh, shoot. I left my keys in the car,” she lied lightly. If whoever was with her thought she was only going after her keys, she would be able to get her gun without them knowing. Then she would have the upper hand.
Grasping the handle, Tess opened the car door, quickly reached beneath the seat, and grabbed the gun, but the sudden rush of
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