Ghostly Liaison (6 page)

“Why would you say such a thing? Business is great. You’re doing a great job. Your father would be proud.”

Proud or rolling in his grave?

Rob stood and paced the small office. “Maybe I should stop working in the field and spend more time in the office. Take some night classes and get a business degree. Then maybe I’ll feel more comfortable once I understand it better.”

College. The thought made his stomach churn. He’d barely passed high school.

“If that’s what you want, then go for it. But I know how much you love to work out there. Better yet, why don’t you take a few days off? Go fishing or camping or something. While you’re away, I can get a crew into Charlie’s house and fix it up for you. Then maybe you can sell the place.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Rob waved a dismissive hand and returned to his seat. “I’m taking care of the house. I got a sitter and I plan on fixing it up myself.”

“A sitter?”

An image of Bridget and her fine ass made him smile. “Yeah, a sitter. She needed a place to stay and I needed someone there during the night.”

Carl leaned back and raised his eyebrows. “She? Is this
she
pretty?”

She was pretty and sexy and…oh yeah, off-limits. At least until she gave him the green light, and he would certainly do everything he could to get it. “It’s not like that. She’s Kate’s cousin.”

“Which one? The pretty one you hung out with at the wedding?”

“No. The one in the accident.”

“Really? Is she disabled? Unable to work?”

“No, nothing like that. She’s just getting back on her feet and Kate asked if I could help. You know, now that I think of it, I
will
take the afternoon off. I promised her I’d fix the hole in the bathroom first. No reason why I couldn’t start now.” And then maybe later he could talk her into dinner.

* * * *

Bridget’s bike riding stint had come back to bite her twofold. Not only did every muscle protest the abuse, her knee had swollen causing her to walk with a slight limp. But she was smiling. And why? Any day living on her own was a good day in her book.

Bridget approached her house—though not technically hers, it seemed like it all the same—and found the garage door open with Rob’s truck backed in the driveway. Just thinking about seeing him again made her heart skip a few beats.

Any thought of Rob got her motor running, which would only lead to heartache later on. The man would probably stop by frequently to fix the place. She needed to get herself together. Better to think of him as being a slob or an ungrateful pig, not the hunky and sweet specimen he projected.

The door was unlocked, of course, and she let herself in. Slopping and scraping noises came from the bathroom. Bridget stepped around the small workbench and peeked into the bathroom.

A chalky, dusty smell mixed in with the scent of her shampoo and soap. Rob crouched in the small room holding a trowel in one hand and wearing a blue chambray shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. He hummed a tune she didn’t recognize, but his jeans caught her attention. Or at least the ass that filled those jeans.
Oh crap!
She shouldn’t be looking at his ass. He and his ass were off-limits. But damn. His ass looked finer than fine. Her heart palpitated and her body clenched in need for something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. She tore her gaze away and paid attention to what he was doing. He’d applied spackle around the new section of drywall. The hole was gone.

“Wow! You work fast!” she said.

He jerked and looked her way, pulling the earbuds free. His shocked expression morphed into a growing smile. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Well, now that you ask, I was growing attached to the passageway. I didn’t have to walk around to toss my towel back in the bathroom.”

He scanned the area. “I don’t recall seeing a towel lying around.”

“Oh. Well, I had to go back in and pick it up.” She laughed. “Can’t stand a messy room.”

He laughed with her. “Me either.”

So much for him being a slob. Sexy and clean. She was doomed. Oh wait, he could still be an ungrateful pig. There was hope yet.

“I’m finished for today,” he said. “Care to join me for dinner?”

She would have declined except for Charlie. Or would that be the hallucination who called herself Charlie? Better to have dinner with Rob, find out his sister had red hair and green eyes, and then enjoy her last good meal, because her next one would be at the loony bin when her hallucination reappeared.

“Sure, as long as I pay my way. What did you have in mind?”

The grin lasted a moment, but the sparkle in his eyes remained. Rob picked up the bucket of spackle and his tools and carried them into the hallway. “Well, I’m not exactly dressed for anything fancy. How about a fast-food joint?” He placed his items on the workbench. “By the way, did you know you left the television on?”

Bridget still couldn’t believe she had done that, and for what? A ghost? She really was losing her mind. “I heard if you leave a TV on, you’re less likely to get robbed.”

He tilted his head as if contemplating what she said. “So you’re saying I should just leave the TV on and forget about having a house sitter?”

What the hell had she done? Talked her way out of a free place to stay? “No! I’m not saying—”

Rob covered his mouth, but his eyes crinkled in mirth and a chuckle escaped. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. You have valuables. I understand.”

She shook her head. “No valuables. Just clothes. Which are valuable. To me.” God, could she babble any more? Maybe dinner was a bad idea. She’d most likely make a fool of herself. Of course, if she said no now, he’d probably think horrible things about her, and she couldn’t have that. Or could she? Oh great. Now she was babbling in her mind. She had to face it: Rob Gentry was trouble.

* * * *

Rob smiled. Bridget sure was cute.

First, the panicked look on her face when he’d hinted at reneging on their agreement. As if he’d do that. What other way could he see her every day without actually dating her? Second, her string of little sentences, each said as an afterthought. He nearly laughed aloud, but squelched it, thinking she might take it the wrong way.

She also exuded sex appeal, and it had nothing to do with her wardrobe.

The weather had turned warmer, yet Bridget wore a long-sleeve T-shirt underneath hospital scrubs. Covered from neck to toes. Maybe no one else would find her irresistible, but all he could think about was uncovering her layers.

The lower half of his body awoke with a jolt. Why had he told Kate he’d stay away?

“Let me clean up here and we can go.” He turned toward the workbench and affixed the lid on the bucket, taking his time for the bulge in his jeans to disappear.

Bridget walked to the sliding glass door and gazed outside. “Where’s Barnaby?”

“I took him home. He was driving me nuts. First he wanted out. Then he wanted in. Then he wanted out again. I’d have left him outside, but he wouldn’t stop barking. Maybe I should take him to Kate’s. He’s never acted this bizarre before.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. Maybe he needs to get used to my scent.”

Rob doubted that. If anything, Barnaby liked Bridget. No, something was wrong with the dog, hopefully nothing serious.

He walked to the door to the garage and she held it open while he carried his gear to the truck. Pieces of drywall littered the ground and a white film of dust covered the table saw and truck bed. He shoved the saw toward the cab and picked up the debris, tossing it nonchalantly as he went. Turning back toward the house, he nearly collided with her carrying his workbench.

“You didn’t have to get this,” he said as he took it from her.

“I don’t mind helping. Besides, I’m hungry.”

He’d thought for sure he’d have to bribe her one way or another; instead, he thanked his lucky stars she’d accepted so quickly. How many other ways would she surprise him? He couldn’t wait to find out.

He placed the bench beside the saw and closed the gate. “Do you need to change? I can wait.”

She shook her head. “If you’re good enough, then so am I.”

Wow. Had he ever gone out with a woman who hadn’t felt the need to dress up and wear makeup? And if Bridget wore makeup, it was minimal, not that she needed it. Even with her hair in a simple ponytail, she aroused him.

They washed up, locked the house, and climbed into the truck. Since she voiced no preference where they ate, he drove to the closest joint and parked. While walking to the entrance, she favored her left leg.

“You hurt yourself yesterday, didn’t you?” he asked as he opened the restaurant door for her.

The scent of burgers caused his stomach to rumble, but the sounds of screaming teenage girls invaded his ears. So much for a quiet dinner. The high school softball team took over more than half the dining room.

Bridget either ignored his question or didn’t hear and stepped up to the order line.

He stood behind her. “If it’s too noisy, we can go someplace else.”

“This is fine.” She glanced behind him and frowned.

“Are you sure? You don’t look fine.”

She assured him she was, breathed deep, and turned her attention to the front of the line. Something had upset her, but what? He searched the dining area.

The screams and giggles had turned to whispers.

Teenage girls. He hadn’t understood them as a teenage boy; he certainly didn’t understand them now. Could they be the reason Bridget had become upset?

She ordered a plain grilled chicken sandwich, a salad with low-fat ranch dressing, and a cup of water. He went with a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a Coke. After acquiring napkins and straws for both of them, she sat at a table as far away from the girls as she could get, yet she faced them. He grabbed several ketchup packets before sitting across from her.

He opened his burger and, near starving, tore into the ketchup packet. Red stuff squirted everywhere, including all over his shirt.
Way to impress the lady, Rob!

Laughter bubbled out of her and set his heart alight. He needed to make sure she laughed more often, but not at the expense of his shirts.

“Guess you can’t take me anywhere, huh?” He grabbed a napkin and proceeded to wipe up the mess, leaving orange spots in his wake.

She cleared her throat. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed.” She opened her sandwich and cut the meat into tiny pieces. Then a snicker escaped. “But your expression was priceless.”

He spread his arms wide. “I aim to entertain.”

After popping off the lid to her salad, she dumped the chicken on top, leaving the bun alone.

“Why didn’t you just order a grilled chicken salad?”

She tore open a packet—managing to keep the dressing off her clothes—and drizzled the mixture on her salad. “I didn’t want all that other crap on it. Lettuce and tomatoes are enough. I don’t need cheese, nuts, and fruit, too.”

He took a bite of his burger, the more stuff on it the better. He probably should watch what he ate, he wasn’t getting any younger, but as long as he worked it off, he should be fine.

She eyed his french fries. Maybe she wasn’t actually a health-food nut. Using his finger, he turned the opening her way. “You’re allowed.”

“I shouldn’t,” she said as she reached for one. “But it has been a while. I guess one won’t kill me. Thanks.”

“You didn’t answer me earlier. Did you hurt yourself yesterday?”

“I overdid it on the bike, yes. I think every muscle I own has screamed at me at least once today. So much for thinking I was in shape.”

Her shape looked fine to him. In fact, he wouldn’t mind seeing more of it, which he shouldn’t even be thinking since his boner already strained for release. Better to eat and not think.

“Hey, Rob!”

The high-pitched voice triggered an involuntary groan from Rob’s mouth. And the hard-on he had sported? Gone. Unfortunately, he hadn’t escaped seeing Tori Masters again.

* * * *

Bridget stared at the one cousin she could never be friends with. How did Tori know Rob? Was he why Tori had pulled that U-turn outside?

Rob stood and smiled. “Hi. What brings you here?”

Bridget could have sworn he groaned earlier, but he seemed pleased to see her. Was he only being nice, or was there something between the two of them?

“Sit, sit.” Tori ran her hand across the back of Rob’s shoulders as he sat before sliding into the seat beside him. “I saw your truck out there, so I had to come in and say hi.”

Where Bridget favored her mother’s side of the family, Tori favored the Quigley side. The daughter of Dad’s younger sister, she’d inherited the trademark auburn hair and green eyes. And she possessed a killer body to go with them—big boobs, small waist. Her skintight dress only accentuated her assets. Bridget was sure men didn’t run screaming after undressing Tori. But was Rob one of them?

A twinge of envy tugged at Bridget’s heart.

“Hello, Tori,” she said. “You meeting someone for a hot date? I don’t recall you wearing that to work today.”

Tori flipped her hair and flashed one of her fake smiles—all lips, no eyes. “Well, hello, Bridget. I didn’t even see you sitting there. But no, I don’t have a date. I just take pride in my appearance. How come you’re not at home taking care of that knee like you promised Kate?” She shook her head and frowned. “Won’t she be disappointed.”

First a dig, which Bridget may have earned, then a statement from a private conversation. What did Tori hope to accomplish?

Rob sat straighter and put his burger down. Lines of concern crossed his face. “You
did
hurt yourself.”

“I’m fine,” Bridget said. “Really. I was waiting to eat before I took some ibuprofen.” And why was she explaining herself to him?

“Yes, Bridget is made of some tough stuff, aren’t you?” Tori placed a hand on his shoulder, getting his attention. “How’s that beautiful dog of yours doing?”

“He’s doing fine. Although, I’m sure he’s due for his shots.” Rob’s cell phone played “Working for a Living” and he pulled it from his jeans. “Dammit,” he muttered. “Sorry, ladies. I need to take this. I’ll be right back.”

Bridget stabbed her salad while Rob stepped outside. God, she hoped he didn’t have to leave early. She still hadn’t had a chance to ask about his sister.