Page 16

"Girl, you need an education."

A laugh escapes my lips.

"And you're going to get one while you're here."

My body freezes, but he's already back to his measuring and cutting. Did he hear how that sounded? Or am I making something out of nothing?

A couple hours go by, and I finally get comfortable working on the sketch. With the grid laid out on the paper, I can transfer the design and start laying out the lines on the wall. Alexander has a couch in the pool house, but it's covered by thin plastic. So, I sit on it while I draw, my legs sticking to the plastic and rustling every time I move. He continues playing his music, and he almost has the backsplash done when he walks over and lands on the couch next to me.

"Almost done?" He glances at the sketch in my hands.

"Almost."

"You want a drink?"

"No, thanks," I mutter without looking up.

"I mean a drink drink. You like those spiked seltzers your sister always has?"

My hand freezes. Is he trying to get me drunk? A chill runs down my spine. Maybe my sister and mother were right about him. As much as I find myself pining for him, I don’t like the idea of him trying to get me drunk to get into my pants.

"I’m…nineteen."

"Oh shit. I forgot about that. I’m used to having older people around. Well, you want me to make you something nonalcoholic?"

Leveling my stare at him, I shrug. "Sure."

He gets up and goes to the bar, pulling out a heavy bottle and two-liter of seltzer water.

When he comes back, he has two bubbly clear glasses with lime wedges in them.

"It’s just a club soda with cherry and lime."

"Thanks," I mumble as I take a drink, feeling like a child.

"You like it?" He's sitting back on the couch next to me with his feet planted on the wicker coffee table. Fuck, even his feet are perfect, tanned, and not covered in callouses. I catch myself staring at everything from his shorts down.

“It’s not disgusting.”

He huffs with a smirk. "A glowing review from the little rain cloud." Then, as he takes a sip of his drink, his measuring gaze roams my face. "You're nothing like your sister and mother, are you?"

"I hope not," I mumble.

"What does that mean?"

I let out a heavy sigh. "Nothing."

"I'm glad you're not like them. I mean, I like your mom and sister. They’re great, but you’re just…pure. Smart. Innocent. You should stay that way. Before the world chews you up and spits you out and makes you into someone you don’t want to be.”

It’s silent for a moment while I try to let those words sink in. Finally, he adds in quietly, “Did you listen to me last weekend? Did you stay in your room?"

I nod, pulling my gaze up to his face.

"Good girl."

Those two words make my skin tingle with warmth.

Burning under his stare, I finish my drink, and the room gets quiet with tension. Setting the glass down on the table, I look at his hands not too far from me. I wonder what it would be like to feel them on my back. My eyes shut just imagining the pleasure of it.