“It’s tempting.” A cocky grin tugs at the corner of his lips as he places the hedge trimmer on the grass and grabs the shears.
“What are you doing?” I shuffle on my feet, the grass soft underfoot.
“What’s it look like I’m doing? I’m trimming your bush.” He clips the brambles intertwined with the azalea bush, his shoulders shaking with silent amusement.
“I don’t need a gardener.” I huff, digging my fists into my hips. “Next you’ll want to fertilise my flower bed.”
“Well, your neighbour thinks that’s what I am now, so I’m just keeping up appearances while I keep an eye on you.” He steps away from me as he continues to trim the hedge.
“What are you, a cop now? I don’t need surveillance, and I certainly don’t need you here helping me.” I stomp forward,my annoyance outweighing my better judgement—until I stand on something sharp. “Ow.” My hand rests on his biceps as I jerk my foot up.
Dan rolls his eyes, but is fast to react, his firm hands sliding around my waist to steady me. “Don’t need my help, huh?” His voice is smug, but his eyes soften as he holds me upright.
“It’s your fault I stood on that stupid thing, just like it was your fault I cut my hand open yesterday.” I wave my hand in his face, with the sticky plaster covering my cut.
“Well, if you’d stop being so damn stubborn and fighting me all the time, maybe you wouldn’t keep hurting yourself.” There’s a dominant undertone in his voice that makes my pulse race.
He drops to his knees and cups my ankle. The rough pad of his thumb sliding along the sole of my foot sends tingles rushing through me like a ripple that grows stronger as it reaches my spine and I shudder.
My stomach flips. My grip tightens on his broad shoulders for support, and his muscles flex beneath my palms. “Is it bleeding?”
His gaze lifts, locking onto mine. “No. You’re good.” Without breaking eye contact, he brings my foot to his lips, pressing slow, deliberate kisses against my toes.
A rush of heat slams through me, my lungs forgetting how to work, my heart threatening to beat its way out of my chest. I should pull away. I should slap him again, but every cell in my body aches for him to kiss his way up my leg—to the apex of my thighs.
A dog barks, jolting me back to reality as fur brushes against my leg. Dexter, my neighbour’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel, jumps between us, his fluffy tail wagging as he licks Dan’s face.
Dan lets go of my ankle and fusses the dog. “Hey, where’dyou come from?” His smile widens as he ruffles the dog behind his ears.
“He likes you.” I place my foot down on the soft grass, my knees wobbly. Somehow, this man has the power to infuriate me and make me melt all in the space of ten minutes.
“At least someone does.”
“Dexter, there you are.” My neighbour stands on my driveway with the dog’s lead in hand. “Morning, Grace.”
“Morning, Andy.”
Dan rises, straightening his spine, his palm settling on the small of my back.
“Oh. Didn’t see you there.” Andy steps onto my lawn, extending a hand to Dan. “You must be…”
Dan shakes his hand. “I’m Grace’s boyfriend. Nice to meet you.”
I side-eye him, my jaw clenching with a fake smile. Lying twat.
“Funny, she’s never mentioned you before.” Andy clips the lead onto Dexter’s collar.
“You know Grace, she’s a private person.” Dan casually slings an arm around my shoulders. “How long’s it been now, little bird? We met on one of her flights. Funny story, actually. She spilt hot tea all over me and to make it up to me, she offered to take me on a date.”
Andy straightens, giving Dan a once-over, then glances at me. “Tea, huh?” His lips twitch like he’s trying not to laugh. “Didn’t peg you for the clumsy type, Grace.”
I stare at Dan, my jaw practically unhinged. Tea? A spill? A date? He’s lost his damn mind.
Dan squeezes my shoulder, his thumb casually stroking the bare skin there, like he has any right. “Oh, it was a disaster, mate. Full pot. Piping hot. Right in my lap. Thought I’d never father children.”
I’ll make sure he can never father children after this.
Andy winces in sympathy. “Oof. Bet that hurt.”
