Move? A horde of wild horses couldn’t get him out of here.
He quickly removed his soaked pants and underwear while she got the condom. When she returned, he sat ready and waiting for her. Legs spread, erection hard, eyes devouring every inch of her naked body. She smiled, so cute and sweet, before handing him the condom. Andre wrapped his hand around hers and gently pulled her down toward him. She straddled his waist, and he cupped the side of her face.
“You are so fucking sexy,” he told her.
Her eyes never wavered as she stared back. “Goody Two-shoes can be sexy, too?”
“You’re the worst kind of sexy. It makes me want to find the bad girl beneath.”
She shook her head. “No bad girl here. Just a woman who wants to have sex with you.”
Desire punched him in the gut. He got harder and his heart felt like she’d put it in a choke hold. If he wasn’t careful, Tamara would have him wrapped around her little finger and he’d like it.
He kissed her before flipping her over onto her back. With quick work he put on the condom and then was inside her and his world went from black-and-white to high-definition color. She felt so damn good. A part of him, the kid who’d once been embarrassed that she saw him cry, couldn’t believe he was here. That he was in her arms knowing she had the ability to tear him down to the basic parts of himself. He buried his face in her neck and then sucked on the spot. Not just because he wanted to taste her skin, but to hide the emotions churning inside him.
“Andre.” She panted his name.
Her nails dug into his back. Andre squeezed his eyes shut. His heart twisted as if she’d clenched it. For someone who’d protected his heart ever since he was fourteen, Andre realized he was in danger of losing it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
THENEXTDAYat work Andre had a skip in his step. The complaining subcontractors, the upcoming safety investigation and the delay in the track lighting for the building did nothing to diminish his mood. The night before with Tamara had been fucking fantastic. Not just the sex, but her openness and the way she’d taken charge. Everything she’d done was a turn-on, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
Conversations still needed to happen. They’d spent their time together making love and sleeping. She’d made him coffee at four in the morning when he’d finally said he needed to get home to shower before work. He’d kissed her goodbye and tried to pretend he hadn’t noticed the multiple questions in her eyes. What were they doing? Where was this going? How did they move forward now? What they’d done didn’t necessarily mean they were automatically in a relationship, but dammit, he didn’t want a one-night stand. For the first time in his life, the idea of long-term or commitment didn’t make him itch and want to back away. Tamara seemed like a commitment type of person, so he felt pretty confident that she was feeling the same way. He hoped so at least.
The door to the construction trailer where Andre was taking a much-needed coffee break opened. The lanky frame of Alvin Edwards, his foreman, filled in the door. The frown on Al’s face foretelling bad news.
“Hey, Andre, we’ve got a problem.”
Andre suppressed a sigh and sipped his coffee. He stopped scrolling through emails on his phone and put his cell into his back pocket. “What now?”
“We got the wrong Sheetrock. The architect called for a five-hour rating and the supply company says it’s out of stock. Instead, they’re sending over half inch.”
Andre’s shoulders relaxed. “Oh, that. I spoke with the supply company a week ago, and they told me they didn’t have what was on the plans. They won’t have what we need in time to fit our schedule, so I made the decision to go with the half inch. It’ll give us the same fire rating if we use two sheets of that.”
“Did you run that by the city to make sure they’ll accept it?”
Andre shrugged. “I didn’t see the need to do that. We’re getting the same thing.”
Al scratched the back of his head. “I know that, but you know how some inspectors get. They’ll try to call us out for going against the plans.”
Andre waved off Al’s concern. “You don’t worry about the inspector. I’ll handle that.” If the inspector gave them trouble, then he’d get his architect to approve the change. He’d been in construction long enough to know that he wasn’t risking safety with the change. Some inspectors understood that and went with him if he made field changes. Others could be jerks about it and insist on an architect’s signature.
Al nodded and shrugged. “You’re the boss. I know it’ll work. The inspector should, too. Hey, me and some of the guys are going for beers after we wrap up the site tonight. Want to join?”
Andre had joined his crew for beers a few times when they were on a job. The automatic yes was on the tip of his tongue. Then he thought of Tamara. What was she doing tonight? Would he get the chance to spend time with her again?
“You know, let me get back to you. It’s something I want to do, but if my plans change, I’ll show up.”
“Works for me. I’ll get back out here.”
Andre stood from behind the desk. “I’ll go with you. I need to see how things are going with the electrician.”
He followed Al out of the construction trailer and into the bright late-morning sunshine. He was proud of the project. Even more proud to be a part of something that would make Peachtree Cove a better place to live. People hadn’t thought he’d amount to much back when he’d been a kid here. Now he was doing something that would leave a permanent mark on the town. Something people could be proud of.
Miriam had even brought up the idea of him serving on the town’s planning commission or joining the local chamber of commerce. He’d pushed the thought aside, not sure the good folks of Peachtree Cove would want to have a former hellion on one of their boards or commissions, but maybe he’d disagreed too soon. Just like he’d brushed aside his mom’s suggestion that he find someone to settle down with too soon. Maybe, just maybe, he could make a life in the one place he never thought he’d ever want to belong.
TAMARAFINISHEDHERmeeting with Robert on the progress of another commercial building proposal before grabbing her tablet and hurrying to a meeting with Miriam, the town manager and the public relations director on an upcoming public meeting about changes to the county’s comprehensive plan. A project she was personally responsible for as the planning director. The retrofit of the old mall was one of the major components of the plan’s goals to bring life back to the once-thriving part of town.
