Knox drew himself up.“When?”
“Not long after we spoke.”
No way.“Laylee, that was hours ago.”
“Yup, believe me, I’m aware.The pooches and I have been out here killing time.It’s hotter than Hades, but the hose helped.”She gestured to the yard.“Plus, I cleaned up the mess from the storm.I mean, why not?I would have put it off, you know, but I grew tired of my own company, and the dogs wouldn’t play anymore.It was either clean up the yard or cry.”
Frowning, Knox squatted down by her chair.“Why didn’t you just call me?”
“You were working, and you’d already fallen off the roof once.”Suddenly sitting forward, she said, “Knox.You fell off the roof.”
Had she only just remembered?He hid his smile.“As you can see, I’m fine.Probably fared better than you.”
“Knox,” she softly chided, lightly brushing her fingertips below a long scratch on his neck, then a few more on his forearms.Wearing a tortured expression, she said, “I’m so sorry.”
The second he felt her touch, his body kicked into hyperdrive: breathing deeper, skin warmer, heartbeat racing.Once she’d sat forward, they were close.Kissingclose.
The temptation to put his mouth to hers, to finally taste her, to show her how good they’d be together, was so strong he could barely resist.
Timing won out.Right now, it was all wrong.Laylee was wilted, worried, and he could tell that she was drawing unfavorable comparisons between her ability to withstand the heat and his.Yes, he’d worked under the hot sun, but that was his job, one he loved.He’d put on roofs in worse conditions, as had his father, who’d started the business.
Laylee wasn’t into construction.She was a tall, slim woman with soft skin and manicured nails, not a man who labored for a living.
“It wasn’t your fault that I lost my footing.I was practically raised on a roof.The fall was just one of those freak accidents.”
She huffed in disbelief, making him grin.
“Seriously, my dad supported our family with his roofing company.As soon as I was old enough to hold a hammer, he wasteaching me the proper way to nail down shingles.Used to make my mom nervous.”
“Gee, I can’t imagine why.”A teasing mood was better than guilt.
“Dad never let me fall, but through the years he taught me a lot of usable skills.”He’d also taught Knox, along with his siblings, the importance of commitment, the awesomeness of having a family you loved, and the value of doing your best.“The house we worked on today was small enough that the job didn’t take long.The last hour was just cleanup and writing out an invoice.”
“Thanks for making me feel better.”
To ensure he wouldn’t do anything rash, like jump the gun and kiss her, Knox stood.Catching her hands, he hauled her to her feet.“My pleasure.I’m glad you had some shade, but you have to be getting hungry.And where are your shoes?”
“I left my sandals inside.”
“You could have stepped on a bee or a prickly weed, or—”
She smiled.“I didn’t, Dad, so stop fretting.”
Oh, hell no.“Wrong category, honey.I’m feeling far from parental here, believe me.”
Her brows lifted.“Do tell.”
“Maybe later.For now, the beasts want out of this heat and so do I.”He kept one of her hands clasped in his and whistled for the dogs.
“I promised them treats,” she whispered.“Right before I found out the door wouldn’t open.”
“They’re understanding pooches.I’m sure they’ve forgiven you.”Together, with the dogs dancing around them, they walked to the gate.He realized they didn’t have leashes handy because Laylee hadn’t planned to get stuck outside.And now that both dogs were waiting, he’d feel like a jerk if he left them in the backyard while he ran around front to unlock that door.“I need to get a key to the back door, too.”
“Okay.”
She’d spoken without a moment’s hesitation.Itwasa good idea—in case something like this ever came up again.Did she know he didn’t have the key to any other woman’s home?That he’d never wanted one?Probably not, because she didn’t see their relationship the same way he did.“Maybelline will follow.She’s well-mannered.”He paused to scoop up Tank.“But you, you little miscreant, will get a lift.”
Naturally, Tank didn’t mind.
