Cujo smiled.He’d missed her.Harper had kept him updated.At first, she hadn’t wanted to get in the middle, but he’d worn her down.Well, in all honesty, he’d bribed her with offers of weekly sparring sessions at Frankie’s gym.
When he’d heard Drea’d taken up running with Harper, he’d been secretly thrilled.And when he arrived at the climbing center to find her halfway up the beginner’s wall, he’d watched her for a while before slipping out unseen.He’d given her space, when it hurt him like a gunshot to the chest.
But when Trent called to let him know he’d overheard Drea tell Harper she was putting the house up for sale, flickers of panic had stricken him.Was she leaving Miami?Where was she going?He’d assumed he’d be able to win her back when she was ready, but that would be impossible if she was miles away.
So step one of his master plan was reconnecting with her.As a friend.Even though it would be less painful to stick pins through his scrotum.
He juggled the smoothies he’d picked up for them in one hand and pushed the gate open to the yard.
“What the hell, Drea?”He put the drinks down on the ground and ran over to grip the rickety metal stepladder.It was a marvel she hadn’t fallen.Balanced precariously on the top step, she grabbed handfuls of lord knew what from the gutters.
He dodged a clump that landed by his feet.
“Brody,” she gasped.“What are you doing here?”Her hands were clad in bright yellow gloves, the kind made for doing dishes not heavy-duty yard work.She used her forearm to move hair from her face then climbed down a couple of rungs until they were at eye level.No matter what she had planned for the day, he wasn’t going to let her do it alone.He pulled her from the steps and placed her firmly on the ground.
Drea’s mouth twitched.She was fighting a smile.God, he wanted to pull her against him and kiss her firmly.He missed her.
“I’m here to help.”He grabbed their drinks, then handed her the less green one.Half his usual kale order, their compromise.“What’s got you so worked up so early?”
He watched the way her lips pursed around the straw, envious of the suction action it was getting.Fuck, he had sex on the mind.
“I’m selling the house.It’s time to move on.I can’t keep coming back here.”
The dark circles under her eyes were gone, her skin no longer sallow.She looked beautiful and sounded like the confident Drea he’d first met, although this wasn’t an act.This was the real deal, and she was glorious.
“I called Suzi, Raoul’s wife.”She leaned against the ladder.
He could have sworn she deliberately arched her back against it.Eyes front, Matthews.“Who’s that?”
“She’s a real estate agent.The house goes up for sale on Friday.They’re taking photos tomorrow.But it’s a mess.I’ve seen enough home-improvement shows to realize I might get more for the place if I fix it up.I’m doing what I can.I made a list of all the stuff I could do on my budget.If I get time, I might see if I can paint the living room.”
“And when were you going to ask me for help, Shortcake?”He put a finger under her chin and forced her to look up.
“Why would I?We aren’t… you know…”
Oh yeah, he was well fucking aware.“Lovers?Friends?Doesn’t mean I don’t care, doesn’t mean I can’t help.”
Drea stepped out of reach.“You have enough going on with your mom.How is she by the way?”
He allowed the digression.“There’s no real progress, but her injuries are healing, so she might be able to transfer into a rehabilitation place soon.”
“That’s good.How areyou, Brody?”
He rubbed his hand along the side of his head, noting when her eyes locked on the tattoo on his bicep.Perhaps it was fighting dirty, but he flexed his arm anyway.“I’d be better if you’d asked me to help you.”
“I guess I’m not used to having help,” she mumbled.
“Sorry,” he said, and stepped up until inches separated their bodies, bodies that knew each other intimately and responded instinctively.“What was that?I didn’t quite catch it.”
Drea batted his hand away, the corners of her lips turning up into a smile.The heat was still there, and she felt it as strongly as he did, he could tell.“I said you’re a grade-A asshole.”
“Yeah, well, I’myourgrade-A asshole.”He winced at his accidental use ofyour.“I have a truck to transport garbage, I can lift heavy things, I even have some room on my credit card I’d be willing to use to help you get what you need to tidy the place up.”
“No, I still owe you for my car.I’m not ta—”
“Yes, you are.I’ll keep receipts if you like.You can pay me back if it makes you feel better.I accept cash, all major credit cards, and blow jobs.I like the way you keep sucking on that straw, Shortcake.”
“Stop.”She slapped his stomach and giggled.“You can’t say that to me.”
