Allie laughed. “So you’re a fan of Slade McCoy, huh?” She remembered having quite the crush on Jess fromGilmore Girlswhen she was that age. Ah, the leather jacket and the hair!
“She has three posters of him without his shirt on,” snarked Owen with a smirk.
“Whatever. Only one of them is shirtless, and shut up, because he’s coming up here.” Olivia focused on the wall, working to fill in every inch of her assigned area.
Allie stifled her laughter. “Play it cool,” she admonished the two of them.
Mark’s head appeared, followed by those broad shoulders, his chiseled chest … Allie snapped her attention back to the wall, rivaling her younger counterpart in concentration.
“How’s the high crew?” he asked.
“Great,” squeaked Allie and Olivia at the same time. Owen rolled his eyes. The kid had twice as much done as Allie and his sister, but then he hadn’t been taking in the view.
Mark paused with his hands on his hips, checking over their work. The scaffolding was already crowded and Mark took up so much room that Allie scooted closer to the wall.
“Looks good, guys.”
“Quit your yacking, Mark, and get to work.” The organizer tossed a paintbrush up, and Mark snatched it out of the air.
“Yes, sir.” Mark made an I’m-in-trouble-now face at Olivia. Allie scooted over to make room for him. He placed his hand on her hip and reached around to dip his brush in the paint bucket. She let out a squeak and Mark gave her a little squeeze.
“Real cool,” whispered Olivia, mocking her. She gave Allie ayou’re hopelesseye roll.
Yeah—pretty much.
Mark straightened up at the same time Allie dropped her arm, and she managed to paint his elbow. She laughed at his astonished face. “Sorry.” Mark flicked his brush at her, splattering her shirt.
“Hey!”
“Oops,” he said, with an innocent lift of his shoulders.
Allie lifted an eyebrow in challenge and her gaze dropped to his belly. She swiped at him. Mark spun out of the way and in a blur of ninja-like moves knocked her brush to the planks and left a brown stripe down her arm and across her chin. Allie could hardly believe what had just happened.
Mark folded his arms, making his muscles look all that much bigger. “Not bad.”
Allie sputtered, “How’d you do that?”
“Slade McCoy.” He pointed to his chest. “Remember?”
Just to his side, Olivia brandished her paintbrush and a wicked gleam in her eye.
Allie bit back her smile. “I surrender.” She put up her hands just as Olivia made a large Z on Mark’s back.
Whipping around, he painted her cheeks and one arm while she giggled uncontrollably—pleased as punch to have Mark’s attention. He spun and got Allie’s hip too.
“What was that for?” Allie asked in mock astonishment.
“Conspiring against me.”
Still laughing, Olivia put out her fist. “Totally worth it.”
Allie fist-bumped her. “Agreed.”
Mark lifted the paint can and one half of his mouth in a crooked grin that had Allie gripping Olivia’s arm.
“Truce. Truce.” Olivia caved on the spot.
Mark’s focus turned to Allie.
