Man at Work (5 page)

“
Toye says I didn’t use
the mallet or those little peg thinga-ma-jigs between the
tiles.”

“
They’re called tile
spacers,” Gabe supplied.

“
Yeah, those.”

“
Well, I’d be happy to
take a look and get you back on track.”

Her heart flip-flopped at the thought of
having Gabe here in her personal space. Would he brush up against
her backside again? A thrill of sinful excitement rushed through
her. She couldn’t have that man here making her panties wet every
time he made a move. “No, no,” she protested. “That’s not
necessary. Besides, I’m sure you have a lot going on.”

“
Nothing that’s more
important than making sure one of my customers is one-hundred
percent satisfied.”

The way he said the
word
satisfied
hung in the air like an open invitation. Candace could feel
three pairs of eyes boring into her back as she spoke. She looked
over her shoulder to see a trio of hopeful faces staring back. When
Toye mouthed the word
please
, guilt flooded through
Candace. No matter what her feelings about Gabe, she owed it to her
cousin and her sisters to get some professional help. It was
obvious they could not do this alone. They were all frustrated. If
she was going to take a chance on someone, it may as well be Gabe.
He wasn’t some
fly-by-night contractor. He
owned Sampson’s for chrissakes. If nothing else, at least the name
implied a warranty. If she couldn’t trust a major chain like
Sampson’s, who could she trust? Plus, she had a deadline looming
like an
albatross.

“
U
m. Okay,” she gave in. “I
really could use some advice.”

She gave him the address and he told her, “I
know that area. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

Candace hung up before she could change her
mind.

I can’t believe he’s coming over here!

She placed her palm on her stomach to calm
the butterflies. She should probably comb her hair and put on some
lipstick. She shook her head. This was ridiculous. Why was she
trippin’ over a guy she barely knew? Why was she nervous and
excited and aroused all at the same time?

“
Well,” Toye prompted,
“are you gonna tell us what happened or do we have to get the
pliers and pry it from your uptight lips?”

Candace smiled. “That was Gabe.”

“
I figured that
much.”

“
So, what’s up?” Ronnie
asked. “What did he say?”

“
He’ll be here in thirty
minutes,” Candace said, hardly believing she’d agreed to let him
come over.

“
Omigod! We finally get to
meet the notorious Gabriel Hunt.”

Candace smiled. “Yep. He’s coming. He’s
actually coming.”

Marlowe burst out laughing. “And by the
looks of things, soon, you might be too.”

# # #

Gabe parked his truck along the curb of a
fixer-upper in a modest neighborhood. The house needed some curb
appeal. If this were his home, he’d add some colorful perennials,
paint the porch railings, and place some patio stones leading from
the sidewalk to the front door. This area was sprawling years ago,
but it had suffered a decline when the bottom fell out of the
mortgage industry. He wondered what had prompted Candace to buy a
home in this neighborhood. He would reserve judgment. Right now, it
sounded like Candace needed his help, and he wasn’t about to let
her down.

He’d barely had time to shower before
rushing from the gym to meet her. He rang the doorbell and then
stepped back when he heard the loud barking of vicious dogs. At
least Candace was protected. Still, he wasn’t a dog lover, or any
other pet lover for that matter. He hoped she didn’t have a gang of
killer pit bulls around!

Candace’s cousin answered the door. She
didn’t bother to hide the look of admiration as she raked him from
head to toe with a pair of blue-grey eyes. Gabe didn’t take
offense. He was used to women taking in his full measure.

“
Gabe, how nice to see you
again,” she purred.

His mind searched for her name.
“Thanks…Tina.”

“
Toye,” she corrected,
“Like the kind you play with. Rhymes with joy.”

“
Sorry. I’m not good with
names.”

“
No kidding. You weren’t
even close. But no worries. I’ve been called worse.”

Gabe chuckled. At least she took it like a
good sport.

“
C’mon,” she told him.
“Candace is up to her elbows in tile.”

As Gabe followed Toye to the kitchen, he
glanced at his surroundings. The house was practically gutted.
“What the hell happened?” he asked.

Toye laughed. “Candace doesn’t live here.
She flips houses.”

Relief flooded through him. “That explains
everything.”

“
She’s working on a very
important flip right now. She’s got three weeks to get it
done.”

He ducked under a low-hanging plastic sheet.
“Why the short deadline?”

“
It was originally a
four-month project, but…” Toye shrugged. “It’s a long story, and
not mine to tell. Maybe Candace will give you all the details—if
you’re nice to her.”

Gabe smiled. “I’m sure I can manage
that.”

As he rounded the corner, he had eyes only
for the blonde bombshell in front of him. Candace’s curves were
encased in a pair of denim shorts. Her long legs sported a pair of
old-school Converse sneakers. Her checkered camp shirt was knotted
at the waist. Gabe sucked in a deep breath. If Candace were a
contractor, no work would ever get done!

She turned her megawatt smile on him. “Gabe,
look at this. Have you ever seen such a mess?”

“
From where I stand, I
like what I see.”

Her smirk couldn’t hide the spark of
enjoyment in her dark eyes. “Can you be serious?”

“
Oh, I’m dead
serious.”

His voice was thick with desire, and he
didn’t care who noticed it. He licked his lips, wishing he could be
feasting on her lovely skin. It was midday and he was hungry for
more than just lunch. He wanted Candace Jones—and he wanted her to
know it.

“
The man is good
looking
and
smooth talking.”

Gabe turned to see where the voice had come
from. It was only then that he realized two other women who looked
suspiciously similar to Candace were in the kitchen.

Candace made the introductions. “Ladies,
this is Gabe Hunt. Gabe, these are my sisters, Ronnie and Marlowe.
You already know Toye.”

He shook their hands. “Pleased to meet you
ladies.”

“
The pleasure is ours,”
Marlowe chirped.

Gabe chuckled as Candace rolled her eyes
playfully. “Ignore them,” she ordered.

“
Yes,” Ronnie interrupted.
“Ignore us. Candace does all the time.”

Candace stepped forward, freeing herself
from the rubble of tile. She placed delicate fingers on his
forearm, sending a jolt of excitement through him. “We need help,
Gabe. I have to get this kitchen renovated soon.”

He nodded. “Toye told me you flip houses.
Impressive.”

“
What would be more
impressive is if I can turn this kitchen from tragic to
terrific.”

“
That’s why I’m here.” He
surveyed the damage, nudging a few loose tiles with the tip of his
steel-toed boot. “You’re off to a good start. You do need the
spacers, however. Luckily, I have some outside in my
truck.”

All four ladies burst into laughter.

He cocked his head to the side. “Why do I
get the feeling I’m the butt of an inside joke?”

Toye spoke up. “We heard about your
truck.”

“
Hey, it’s a great work
truck. It hauls everything. Be right back.” He flashed the group a
grin before heading in the direction of his truck. A bunch of
clucking hens didn’t scare him off.

Three hours later, Gabe had the quartet
working like a well-oiled machine. The cabinets were constructed.
The countertops were complete. The walls had a fresh coat of paint.
And best of all, the tile floor was sheer perfection. It was
amazing what you could do with the right tools and the right
expertise. Whatever previous notions Candace had about Gabe were
soon extinguished. He was a born leader. He’d organized the women
into separate work groups and assigned tasks to each person. He
joked as he worked, and he took the time to carefully demonstrate
proper techniques. His constant encouragement and easy-going manner
endeared him to all the ladies. Even Marlowe, who was normally
jaded and cynical, developed a rapport with him.

Watching Gabe work was a turn-on. His
movements were self-assured. His voice was deep and penetrating.
And oh, Lord, his muscles. Where to start? They were everywhere.
She was transfixed by the corded muscles that flexed in his
forearms every time he moved. His entire demeanor was like an
aphrodisiac she wanted to bottle up and savor later. His masculine
smell mingled with the fresh scent of lumber succumbing to the
circular saw. Candace worked as instructed, but she kept stealing
glances at his muscular physique draped in faded jeans and a worn
t-shirt. That seemed to be his wardrobe of choice. Each time she
saw him, he’d been dressed in similar garb. She didn’t give a damn
what he wore. Gabe was taking care of business, and that was all
that mattered.

When the kitchen was finally complete, Gabe
brought in a cooler filled with bottles of beer from his truck.
“Break time!” he announced. “I usually work with a crew of men. Had
I known ladies would be present, I’d have filled this with wine
coolers instead.”

“
At least you brought
refreshments,” Candace complimented. “Thank you.”

He pulled a bottle opener from his keychain
and popped the tops on their Heinekens.

“
You think of everything,”
Candace observed.

“
I always take care of my
partner’s needs first.” He winked, and her heart flip-flopped at
the familiar gesture. She picked up on the double-meaning of his
words. His fingertips brushed hers as he handed her a bottle. An
image of him caressing her skin flashed like lightning in her
brain. How did he manage to be so sexy all the time?

Toye interrupted the byplay. “Gabe, you are
such a better boss than Candace.”

“
Yes,” Marlowe agreed.
“She’s been working us non-stop, never letting us quit for a
break.”

“
Um hmm,” Ronnie joined
in. “Sometimes, she withholds food and water too.”

Candace pursed her lips. “Y’all stop
lying.”

Gabe chuckled. “I can tell you are all
related. You have such good camaraderie.”

“
Plus, she’s the middle
kid,” Toye quipped. “So, we have to make sure she doesn’t feel left
out.”

“
Fine,” Candace taunted.
“Since you hags don’t like my leadership style, you guys can leave
now.”

“
Thank the Lord!” Marlowe
said. “My elbow is out of grease.”

Ronnie grabbed her car keys. “You don’t have
to tell me twice!”

“
I’ll see you guys later,”
Candace said, slowly sipping her beer.

“
You’re not leaving?”
Ronnie asked.

“
I have a few things to
clean up first.”

“
I’ll help,” Gabe offered.
“You ladies can split.”

“
Whoa!” Marlowe
interjected. “We like you, Gabe. But we don’t know you. We can’t
simply leave you alone with our sister. You could be a serial
killer.”

He crossed his arms over his muscular chest.
“You could call Sampson’s. The front office will vouch for my
integrity.”

Candace cut a glance at Marlowe. “Gabe will
help me pack up. You ladies had better be back tomorrow bright and
early so we can finish the bathrooms.”

“
Great. Another Saturday
wasted in renovation hell.”

“
You won’t be complaining
when the money comes in.”

Toye elbowed Marlowe. “Let’s go before she
changes her mind.”

Gabe chuckled as the women said their
goodbyes. Alone in the kitchen with Candace, he teased, “You’re
pretty tough, Boss Lady. Don’t you know the best way to manage
workers is to kill ‘em with kindness?”

“
Are you speaking from
experience?”

“
I might have bossed a few
folks around.”

“
I imagine all the ladies
must melt at your feet.”

“
There’s only one woman
I’m interested in melting.”

She locked eyes with him and willed her
careening heartbeat to slow down. She prayed he had no clue of the
effect he had on her. She bluffed. “I don’t melt easily, Mr.
Hunt.”

He stepped closer and stroked her cheek with
his thumb. “I’m hoping to change that, Miss Jones.”

Candace slipped away and laughed. “You are
so full of yourself.”

He grinned. “I have a comeback for that, but
it’s kind of X-rated, so I’ll keep it to myself. In the meantime, I
have a question. Your cousin Toye told me that you only have three
weeks to flip this house. Why the short deadline?”

“
I see Toye has given you
the play-by-play.”

“
She didn’t tell me
anything other than that. She said if I was nice to you, I might be
able to coax the rest from your lips.”

An image of him coaxing her lips open with
his mouth burned itself in her brain. She shook it off and forced
herself to refocus. “I had some issues with a shady contractor. He
took off before completing the job.”