Vivian Arend - Turn It On

He leaned forward in his chair. “Kids playing pranks?”

She shook her head. “They got in through a locked door. No broken glass, no open windows. I had changed the exterior locks so it wasn’t a loose key Gramma gave out and forgot. I’m supposed to move back in a couple of weeks but something isn’t sitting right with me. Also, I don’t want to mess up the character of the home while adding the system.”

Max watched him closely as she spoke. His face was hard to read, his expression now guarded. Her family hated the idea she would be living on her own. They hated that she would be out in the country and not sharing an apartment with one of her cousins. Heck, even her aunts and uncles had weighed in with their opinions. The universal agreement amongst the clan was to put the place up for sale.

Maxine couldn’t bear the thought. Not only was the homestead the most beautiful house she’d ever seen, it was full of memories. She needed to keep the home in the family, only there was no way she could live there if she didn’t feel safe.

The fear he would turn her down motivated the whole truth to come blurting out. “I’m nervous about being where I’m not sure I’m safe. This is the first place I’ll live that I’ve been all alone and the idea of a home invasion terrifies me.” She forced herself to speak around the knot in her throat. “I needed to see you in person to decide if I trusted you to arrange this.”

“And you’ve decided already I can be trusted?”

Oh yeah. Everything about him eased her concerns. Made her excited too, although she’d just have to ignore that part if they were going to be business associates. “There are things I… Well, can we just call it woman’s intuition and leave it at that?”

He held out his hands palm up as he winked at her. “I would never presume to argue with woman’s intuition. Let’s check our calendars and arrange a meeting. I’m booked for most of this week, and I’ll need time to drive to Frazer—”

“My house is in Thompson,” she interjected.

The confusion on his face made her smile again. “Why did we meet at the Sugar Shack if you live in Thompson?”

“I’m staying temporarily with my brother and he lives in Frazer. Whenever you’re free I’ll make sure the house is open for your inspection.”

Maxine relaxed back in her chair, her heartbeat slowing to a regular tempo. A good contract for the business and a successful start to making her new home secure. Ryan’s dark eyes stayed on her and she felt a blush rise again. She certainly wasn’t going to object about getting to spend more time in his presence, either. Her gaze caught on the cookies on the table and her stomach grumbled.

Ryan smiled at her, the twinkle in his eyes sending a shiver down her spine as he offered her one of the giant treats. He tapped the edges together in a toast.

“To new beginnings.”

As the spicy flavor filled her mouth, she wondered just exactly what they were starting, because it felt very right.

Three days later Maxine smiled in admiration as she watched his long strides eat up the distance between his car and her front door. Ryan wore beige cargo pants and a dark brown T-shirt instead of a business suit. His chest and biceps muscles stretched the shirt fabric, and she enjoyed the view as she rose from her deck chair to greet him. “Thanks for coming so soon.”

“You’re not far from where I need to be by three p.m.” Ryan’s gaze swung around and he gave a low whistle. “It’s a beautiful house, and the neighborhood is fantastic. Your grandmother must have been sad to leave.”

“Yes and no.” Maxine led him inside. “Gramma said the work was too much for her to keep up with alone. She’s got a lot of friends in the seniors home and she’ll come to visit often, especially since most of the family gatherings will still be held here.”

Max stepped back and tried to see the house through new eyes but all she saw was the damage. While the hardwood floors had been refinished, the baseboards were still missing and the carpets had yet to be replaced. The usual welcoming first impression was marred by the sight of workers’ tools and piles of rubbish in bins. A gentle touch landed on her arm and she looked up into his sympathetic gaze. “Again, it’s a beautiful home and the repairs will make it as good as new,” Ryan said kindly.

She nodded. “It’s the indignity of it. Old treasures of a house like this should be treated with respect, not deliberately damaged.” She forced a faint smile. “I’m also a tad ticked I didn’t even get to hold a proper housewarming party before having to do fall cleaning. Again.”

His laughter fell soft and smooth on her ears, and a trickle of warmth raced over her body. She had to turn away to avoid staring at him. Memorizing his features.

“May I?” he asked, and when she gestured him forward, he paced carefully through the main-floor rooms, taking notes in a small leather-bound notepad. Maxine wandered behind him, attempting to not stare at his butt, nor admire the ease with which his body moved. The strength in his arms as he cranked open one of the old casement windows, muscles stretching the fabric of his T-shirt, drew her attention.

Eventually she gave up and enjoyed the view. He couldn’t see her ogle him and it was too good an opportunity to miss. Leaning on a wall, her feet resting in a pile of carpet liner, she observed him as he worked. Damn, he was fine. She wasn’t the kind to jump someone’s bones right after meeting them, but in Ryan’s case she’d think about making an exception.

It wasn’t just his good looks. Her conniving ex-boyfriend had been easy on the eyes as well, but his lack of direction had recently made her call their relationship off. She had more trouble convincing Jamie Daultry they were through as a couple than she’d expected from someone her twin had nicknamed Twinkle Toes. Jamie never had a firm answer, always made his decisions at the eleventh hour and expected her to fall in line with his panic-stricken requests. He’d been shocked to hear she was calling it quits.

Ryan didn’t seem to have any trouble making decisions. He approached his job in a straightforward manner, with no wasted movements, as he examined her home. The contrast between the men was very attractive, in Ryan’s favor.

The sun shone through the stained glass window above the front door and hit the wall she leaned against, the heat and color lulling her eyes closed. She was in the midst of a lovely fantasy involving Ryan and her checking out the springs on her bed when a gentle cough startled her. She jolted upright, stumbled on the tangle beneath her and fell.

Ryan caught her, lifted her away from the rubble and carefully placed her feet on the floor. Every inch of her body burned where they touched. Solid chest muscles teased her palms, the beat of his heart under her hands. He felt even better in real life than in her fantasies, and she clung to him for a moment while the blood settled in her brain.

Searing heat covered her face. Daydreams were one thing, molesting the man was another. She jerked her hands back and would have stumbled again if he hadn’t continued to support her.

“You’ve been burning the candle at both ends, haven’t you?” His voice soothed her taut nerves and Maxine fought the urge to nestle closer into his embrace. “I shouldn’t have startled you like that.” Slowly, as if making sure she would remain standing, he released her, one hand accidentally stroking the side of her body. A tingle shot straight to her core. Oh my goodness, he was a dangerous man.

She straightened and shook her head like she was waking. His eyes shone at her and his smile rocked her. Think, Max, you do know how to speak. “It’s been tough between getting repairs done here and the job and there’s the new baby at my brother’s so…” She smiled ruefully. “Sorry for sleeping on the job. What do you need to look at next?”

Ryan’s gaze trickled over her and her body reacted like she’d been hit with an electric shock. She sent up a prayer of thanks for her lined bra that hid how much a simple glance from him affected her. Fortunately, he turned away to stand at the bottom of the stairs.

“Upper floor and attic. I’ll have a crew come do the detailed measurements we need, I just want to see what kind of access we’re looking at for the higher levels. Then I’d like to walk the perimeter of the building.”

She led the way up the wide, curved stairwell, pausing at the upper landing to open the doors to the side rooms. “There’s way more space in this house than one person needs. In its heyday there were twelve family members and a passel of servants under this roof.”

“There are servant quarters in the residence?”

She nodded. “The attic level has a few. There used to be a caretaker’s home on the land as well. It was rented out until someone got careless with the gas stove and burned it down a few years ago.”

He entered the first room and left her alone on the landing. Max sagged against the nearest wall and let out the breath she’d held. Holy crap, her libido was in overdrive or something because being near the man made her wet. She needed to cool off. She scooted down the hall to the bathroom to take a long drink of water and splash her face.

Lifting her gaze to the mirror, she realized it was no use. The attraction she felt and the effect on her body would be damn hard to hide from his perceptive gaze. Her pale skin was flushed red with desire.

She blew an exasperated puff of air that lifted her bangs from her forehead. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t a bad thing at all. He was a grown-up. She was a grown-up. Maybe he would be interested in getting to know her a little better. That is, if he felt anything like she did.