He ran an enormous hand across the back of his neck, his black T-shirt looking like it had been painted onto his formidable biceps, arm bulging with every movement in a way that made Cordelia’s blood run fast.
She knew women were supposed to swoon over men like Gordon, but so much testosterone in one package usually made her uneasy. She had ideas about men like that, and yet, she couldn’t ignore the long lashes framing his eyes or the fullness of his bottom lip, the way he looked a little lost in her presence, as if she, of all creatures, were able to disarm him.
He cut his brown eyes away from her and pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket. “I’m the groundskeeper,” he said. “I guess Togers forgot to mention me.”
Cordelia ran a weary hand over her brow, head still pounding. “He forgot to mention a lot of things.”
Gordon’s square shoulders rounded a bit; his lips pressed intoa line. “I’m sorry if I frightened you. I was coming in to treat the pond.”
She glanced back to where she’d left the low stone walls and brackish water.
“The algae gets out of control if I don’t put some bacteria in it regularly.”
“Charming.” She resisted pulling a face, hisniececomment making her want to bite back. “My sister and I are here to see to the arrangements,” she explained. “For our aunt.”
Gordon’s head bobbed in understanding. “Sorry for your loss,” he said awkwardly, as if they both knew better.
She smiled tightly, casting her eyes to the ground. “Yes, well. We weren’t close.” It was an understatement in the extreme, but she was growing tired of trying to explain the eccentricities of their family arrangement to others. “You probably know that already.”
His flash of a smile told her he did but wasn’t going to point it out.
It looked good nestled amid the strong contours of his cheekbones and the strip of dark hair on his chin, that smile, though it didn’t last long.Toogood. She was in no fit position to seduce a man, especially one who looked like he might run her over with his motorcycle as soon as make love to her. The very fact that she was thinking about it made her question her sanity and sent a jolt of desire and shame through her gut. That’s when she began to notice the tattoos—a giant ram’s skull wrapping his neck and the coils of a snake curled down one arm. On his other arm, a demonic woman with white eyes and black hair backlit by a pale moon and a flock of ravens.
Then she noticed other details like the silver chain he wore with a wolf’s head pendant andhell fireinked across the knuckles of his hands. She resisted the urge to take a step away from him as she placed a hand at the base of her throat. Beneath herpalm, she felt her chest grow hot and tight, adrenaline spreading under her skin.Fear,she told herself. But she knew that wasn’t all it was.
“You looking for something?” he asked her. “You seemed in a hurry.”
Cordelia cleared her throat. “I was just going to step outside. I needed some air.”
“There’s a door through the Australian tree ferns,” he told her, throwing a thumb over his shoulder.
“Thank you.” She started to brush past him, but his touch reignited all of her nerve endings like a high-voltage shock, causing her to pause and take a breath. “I think the place will go quickly,” she said nervously to detract from her behavior. “It’s what I do—real estate. We’ll list it right.”
She sincerely hoped it would, at least. She needed a windfall in the worst way. Molly had already texted to say the mold remediators were calling the bedroom wallthe tip of the iceberg.
Just tell them to get started, Cordelia had texted back with no idea how she’d pay the invoice. She only knew she couldn’t sell without that mold gone, and she couldn’t save herself if she didn’t sell both properties soon.
Gordon’s eyes narrowed, his large brow lowering. He crossed his bulging arms. “Go?”
Cordelia froze. She had a habit of speaking out of turn when she was anxious. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said. It’s just that my sister and I plan to put this place on the market in a matter of days,” she clarified. “Whoever wins it may have their own people. I will put a word in for you if you want to stay, but we can’t force them to accept a tenant.”
Gordon stared her down, and Cordelia began to get restless, knowing she’d put her foot in her mouth. They were alone in this solarium. Would Eustace even hear her if she screamed?
But it was more than his size that unnerved her. Thosecognac eyes and layers of gold sunbaked into his skin… He was the kind of guy John would point out with a disdainful laugh. He was also the kind of guy who could stomp John into the ground. Which, under the circumstances, endeared him to her. As much as she wanted to turn and run, she also wanted to lean in and breathe deep.
“I guess what I’m saying is I hope you have somewhere else lined up just in case,” she continued.
“Somewhere else?” He looked so perplexed Cordelia thought she’d made a mistake. Maybe he lived in the nearby town.
“I’m sorry. You said you lived here. I assumed you meant on the property. Thatisrelieving if you don’t. I hate evicting people.” She’d had enough experience being on the receiving end of that equation growing up. It made doing it especially distasteful to her.
“I do live here,” Gordon corrected. “In the old carriage house. And I can’t leave. Not yet.”
Cordelia drew back and gave her head a little shake. The temperature in the room dropped by several degrees. She was making a terrific mess of this. “If there was a contract, perhaps we can buy you out of it once the house sells? I’m sure you can find another arrangement. My sister and I will happily give you a reference if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Gordon turned away from her, hands on his hips as he breathed audibly. “Togers never said anything about selling.” His voice was low, angry.
“Well, it’s not really up to him, is it?”
