Last thing he needed was a woman in his life, messing with his head again.
“I’m not looking for a relationship, Ben.” He hadn’t gone down that road since Jinan.
His buddy chuckled. “Never said you were. And it’s not what I was suggesting.”
It wasn’t? He frowned. “Then why are you pushing me toward Sophia?”
“Because, once-upon-a-time, you had fun with her. She made you laugh. Made you forget to be miserable.”
True. The woman had certainly done that. A smile tugged his lips. “She’s easy to be around.”
“Then do it. Be around her. Enjoy her.”
He scratched his temple. “She’s only here for the summer.”
“All the more reason to let go and enjoy the moment.” Ben grinned.
Let go and enjoy the moment…
Something Ryder hadn’t done in a long time. In fact, the last woman he’d ever let his guard down for was Sophia. And Ben was right, the no-strings woman had put a smile on his face long after she’d gone back to her life in the city.
But she’d also caused a few other thoughts to trickle into his brain. Like catching a train to visit her. Which—thank God—he’d never followed through on. Lord knew he hadn’t been ready for anything like that back then.
Hell, he wasn’t ready for that right now.
“No.” He shook his head. “There’s no reason to start anything. It’s better that way.”
And safer.
“Yeah. Heaven forbid you should have wild, no-strings-attached sex for a few months. That would be dumb.” Ben nodded and slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Way to dodge that bullet, buddy.” Then he walked to the parking lot laughing.
Asshole.
Ryder entered the building, shaking his head. His buddy was an idiot.
He also had a point.
What was to stop him and Sophia from picking up where they’d left off? Nothing but his survival instinct.
Too bad it was strong. And yelling at him to back away from the sexy New Yorker.
But as he walked into the design room, backing away from the woman was the last thing on his mind. He found her up on a ladder wearing cutoffs, boots, and a tank top that lifted up, exposing a strip of creamy skin.
Ah, hell. He was in big fucking trouble.
She wore a tool belt on her hips, emphasizing her curves, and he didn’t think he’d seen anything so damn hot in his life. But it was the way she handled the drill in her hand that made him harder than the cinder block wall she was drilling into.
Son-of-a-bitch…he was so screwed.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he should say something, or at the very least, get his mind out of the gutter—his sister and baby niece were in the building. Without realizing it, he’d moved closer, and damn…seeing those mile-long legs, and from that angle, reminded him of Sophia’s flexibility, and one hell of an interesting position they’d explored in his former cabin.
He had several more he’d like to explore with her. Now.
As if sensing his presence, she stopped drilling and glanced down, rocking backward a little with a startled gasp. “Ryder. Sorry. Didn’t know you were here.”
Heart dropping into his stomach, he immediately grabbed the ladder. “Where’s your spotter?”
“Excuse me?” She frowned down at him.
