Andrea marched into the garage and opened the door as she stepped down, walking past her car to where she kept all of her yard tools in a neat and orderly fashion.
“There, knock yourself out,” she grumbled as she waved her hand toward the lawn mower.
Michael looked at the mower then at her.“Out of curiosity, are you always this friendly or am I just special?”he asked in all innocence.
Andrea scoffed.Leave it to this man to think he was special.“It’s how I treat everyone.You are no more special than Mrs.Krantz.”
“Ouch,” he clutched his chest in mock pain, “I’m offended.”
“You’ll survive, I’m sure,” Andrea replied dryly, not fooled for a second that he was offended.The man seemed immune to every snide remark she spoke.
Another thing that annoyed her about him.Nothing seemed to faze him.It must be nice to not have a care in the world.Unlike her, always having to ward herself against people to keep from getting too close to anyone.
“I’m offended on behalf of Mrs.Krantz.She is a remarkable woman.”
She was.Though nosy, Mrs.Krantz was a sweet woman.“Fine, she’s more special than you,” Andrea amended.
“Well, she’ll be happy to know that.”
“Getting close with her now?”
“Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your tone?”Michael looked at her with interest.
“No,” Andrea quickly denied.“She’s just a sweet older woman.I’d hate for you to take advantage of her.”
“I’d hardly think it was taking advantage, but don’t worry on that score.My tastes run younger.”
“Good.”Andrea didn’t know why she should care who the man slept with.It wasn’t like Mrs.Krantz would complain if the man gave her a tumble in the sheets.Though it might cause her a heart attack.There were worse ways to go…dying from pleasure.
“Do you want to know where my tastes lie?”
“No.”She could care less so long as he stayed away from her and Mrs.Krantz.
“They run toward brunettes with hazel eyes that are more green than brown,” he commented.
He had just described her.Andrea licked her suddenly dry lips.“Well, there are plenty of brunettes in Florida.I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding one.”
“What if I already have?”
“I told you before, I’m not interested.Now take the lawn mower or don’t, but regardless, I’m leaving.”Andrea spun on her heel and walked back into the house without a backward glance.
As soon as the door shut, she fell back against it.She closed her eyes, feeling her heart thunder, and it had nothing to do with marching throughout her house so much in the past few minutes.
It had everything to do with the man on the other side of the door.He unnerved her like no one before.Not only his ability to deflect her barbs, but his ability to dish them back.She had never found an opponent like that before.
Most thought her as prickly as a porcupine and avoided her once they were on the receiving side of her sharp tongue.Not him.He actually made her smile and laugh.
Andrea felt her lips and pulled them into a grin.A motion that felt foreign yet good.If she wasn’t careful, that man would find a way to worm himself into her heart.That she could never allow.It still didn’t stop her from turning her head and pressing her ear to the door when she heard the lawn mower being pulled from the garage.
Chapter 7
Now that she was awake, she might as well get something done today.That was easier said than done when she heard the lawn mower and watched Michael mow for the next ten minutes.Dark splotches bloomed across his shirt as the heat beat down on him.
Andrea sat in her office that overlooked the front yard, trying to work on the agenda for the charity she volunteered for, yet her focus kept turning out the window.
Andrea expected him to take off his shirt, but he never did.Thank goodness for that.He had already unloaded his van without one, probably giving several neighbors heart complications.No sense in adding more excitement to these poor people.
Disgusted at herself for ogling the man, Andrea closed her blinds and went into the kitchen at the back of the house, which was furthest away from the noise, and sat down at the kitchen island.
