Hunks Too Hot To Touch (7 page)

It wasn’t a feeling he was used to experiencing. Nash was more than determined to find out what it was about the good-looking doctor that had made his body and mind so restless last night and kept her in his head when other women hadn’t possessed the talent to do it.

Like any red-blooded man, Nash loved the chase. He wanted to be the hunter and not the hunted. Shauntie’s lack of interest in him only fueled him even more to find out what was going on with her. Whatever it was he wouldn’t allow it to keep him at a safe distance.

The best thing about a chase in his opinion was claiming the prize at the end.

Shauntie may not know it yet, but she was going to be his ultimate prize. However, first he had to check the roof one last time to make sure there weren’t additional surprises waiting for him.

Nash wanted everything he could find written down, so he would be ready for anything that might come his way. No matter how much he wanted Shauntie, his job always came first with him. He couldn’t afford to make any mistakes if he was trying to get his business to grow in this economy.

Twenty minutes later, Nash wrote down the last of his findings on his pad and sadly, he had to let Shauntie know that his initial report was correct. She was going to need an entire new roof. The last time he told her about this situation Shauntie hadn’t taken the news very well. All Shauntie had to understand was that he was damn good at his job and everything would end up perfect if she only would have enough trust in him.

Making his way back across the roof, Nash grabbed the ladder and descended. When both of his feet were firmly planted on the ground, he glanced over his notes one final time to make sure he hadn’t forgotten to write anything down. He hoped he would be able to catch Shauntie before she left.

He had been really looking forward to his lunch date with her, but Shauntie had called him late yesterday evening and cancelled on him. Which didn’t surprise him in the least, he knew Shauntie wouldn’t be able to go through with it.

Shauntie told him she didn’t think it was right for them to have lunch together. So, she took another personal day off work and he could tell her what he found on Friday morning since she would be at home anyway. Nash didn’t believe the story Shauntie had given him, but he allowed her to get away with it for now.

All of her body language yesterday showed him how scared she was about having lunch with him. Didn’t Shauntie know he wouldn’t let her get away with avoiding him? He was a man on a mission now.

Nash wanted a date with her even more since Shauntie decided to run in the other direction from him and he was going to get one sooner rather than later. Nevertheless, he really did need to speak with her today because he needed her to sign off on the work order.

Removing the shingles shouldn’t take him too long but he wouldn’t be able to do anything if he didn’t get Shauntie’s permission first. Once that huge hurdle was out of the way, Nash would be free to do anything he wanted to fix the issue. Since the problem was so big for the first couple of days, he was going to bring in some of his other workers to help him.

Sliding the pen behind his ear, Nash spun around on his heel and headed for Shauntie’s front door. Yesterday, she might have been polite enough but as soon as their meeting was over she’d tossed him out so fast that he was surprised the door didn’t hit where the sun didn’t shine.

However, he wasn’t the kind of guy who lived in the past. Why bother doing that when he had a whole new day ahead of him?

As much as Nash resented being pursued and chased by women at bars with everything he had in him, he wasn’t bothered in the slightest bit or ashamed he was doing the same thing to Shauntie. About ninety percent of his time would be spent on his job, but any free time he had left over, Nash already decided he would direct toward wearing down Shauntie’s defenses.

Nash pushed the doorbell and waited patiently for Shauntie to answer it. He couldn’t get one certain thought of his head. Today was going to be the start of their working relationship and he wanted it to get off to a good start. Only when both people had their best feet forward did good things happened.

Where was Shauntie? She’d told him that she would be at home today. Her BMW was still in the driveway, so Nash was positive that he hadn’t missed her. Nash raised his hand to knock again, but the door swung open. Shauntie stood on the other side looking beautiful as usual. Nash couldn’t shake the thought that he was meant to be with this woman.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Wentworth,” Shauntie apologized as she took a step back. “Come on in. I was getting rid of the water in my leak bucket. I can’t wait until my roof is fixed because I’m tired of emptying that stupid thing out.”

Taking Shauntie up on her invitation Nash brushed past her body deliberately making sure his arm touched her bare smooth skin. The light contact with her body made his cock throb with need. If he got this turned on from a little touch what would it be like if he got the chance to make love to her? Without a doubt, the two of them would burn up the sheets. Nothing that was as hot as what they shared would ever cool off in the bedroom. Hell, he wouldn’t allow it to happen anyway.

Nash wasn’t sure if he could handle the reality of it, but he sure in the hell would give it his best try. One thing was for sure, he knew how to please a woman in the bed. Even one as beautiful and strong willed as Shauntie Kane. All she had to do was give him a little opening and he would kick the door down to get the rest of the way inside.

Spinning around, Nash watched Shauntie as she closed the front door admiring how the Indigo fabric of her dress hugged all of her curves. He couldn’t help but think about what she would look like stripped out of it. Each and every time he saw her, the pull was stronger than before.

“Did you find something different up there this time?” Shauntie asked, coming to stand in front of him. “I was up all night concerned about what other mistakes you might uncover.”

Hell, Nash wanted Shauntie restless at night thinking about him, but not in that way. He would have to find a way to change her nightly thoughts of him. If he was waking up in the middle of the night aroused and in the need of something, Shauntie should be the same way over here. This wasn’t a one-sided attraction. Not at all.

“Yes, I did find something different,” Nash said, confirming Shauntie’s suspicions. “But you aren’t going to like it. I actually found more damage along the edges of the roof. So, it might take me longer to fix since I’m going to need help to get your roof back in order.”

For a long moment, Shauntie stared back at him like she didn’t quite know what to say. He couldn’t tell if she was upset or just in shock. Either way, it wasn’t looking good for him. Nash didn’t like the uneasy feeling forming in the pit of his stomach.

“How can there be more damage?” she demanded. “I thought you told me that you had found everything the other day. I can’t believe what you’re telling me now. Are you trying to pull a fast one on me or something? Sapphire told me I could trust you, but I’m not so sure now.”

Nash couldn’t deny what she was complaining about, but she had to understand he was the best person for the job. He wasn’t going to tell her anything wrong or lie to her just to get more money in his pockets. He’d never run his business like that in the past and he wasn’t going to start now.

Shauntie had every right to be apprehensive of him now. He did tell her one story and now was telling her a completely different one today, but he wasn’t trying to cheat her into paying him more money. Money wasn’t what he wanted from her. She had to know that...
didn’t
she
?

“You remember that I told you I wanted to take a second look at your roof before I quoted you a price,” Nash said. “Well, I got here early this morning and found another problem on the other side of your chimney. I don’t know how I missed it, but I did and I apologize for not seeing it yesterday. I think I caught it this time since the sun was brighter causing them to stand out more. If you sign the work order, I can have some men here later this afternoon to start taking care of the first part.” Nash handed Shauntie the work order.

Her brown eyes scanned over the paper. “How much will this cost me?”

Stepping closer, Nash placed his hand on Shauntie’s arm because he couldn’t fight down the urge to touch her. God, she felt so good beneath his fingers.

The fringe of Shauntie’s lashes brushed her cheeks as she glanced at his hand on her arm. “Why are you touching me?” she questioned in a low voice. “I don’t think I gave you permission to touch any part of my body Mr. Wentworth.”

His intense gaze came to rest on her questioning eyes like he was trying to figure out the correct answer to give her. “I couldn’t help it. Don’t you just get the burning urge to touch someone sometimes? I just had to touch you,” Nash answered as he dropped his hand. “But I apologize if I offended you. And I assure you that everything will be well taken care of with the remodel of your roof. All you need to do is trust me.”

“You still didn’t tell me how much it will cost,” she pointed out, waving the paper under his nose.

Nash could tell he wasn’t going to get anywhere with Shauntie until he gave her a price. He would rather be doing so many other things with her, but it wasn’t going to happen right at this second.

“I usually charge about seven thousand dollars for work like this, but since you came from a referral and since I didn’t find all of the problems with my first run-through, I’m going to give you a discount. So, I’m only going to charge you five thousand.”

Shauntie stared at him in utter astonishment. “It’s going to cost me five thousand dollars to have my roof fixed just for that little leak,” she asked, pointing to it over his shoulder. “Are you serious?”

“If it was just to fix the leak, it would a lot cheaper, but there is more wrong with your roof. I wouldn’t lie to you about this. You’re more than welcome to get a second opinion, but you won’t get a better deal than the one I’ve offered you.”

Nash waited while Shauntie stood there and he watched as the wheels worked inside her head. His mind was a crazy mixture of hope and fear as he wondered what her answer would be. He hoped Shauntie would accept his offer, so he could have that time to work on getting her into his life.

He feared that he might have ruined his only chance at getting to know Shauntie better. Today, money wasn’t the important motive pushing him, getting closer to Shauntie was. He couldn’t blow this a second time with her.

“Mr. Wentworth, I’ll hire you as my roofer since my best friend recommended you. Sapphire told me that you were the best roofer in town and I believe her. But let me tell you one thing, I’m not going to write you a huge check beforehand. You’ll get half now and the other half when the job is completely finished. Can you agree to my terms?”

Here was his chance and he wasn’t about to mess it up, Nash thought to himself.

“I can agree to those terms, but on one condition,” Nash said, watching as Shauntie placed her hands on her hips. “I think you might like this offer even better.”

“What is the condition?”

“Go out on a date with me and I’ll do your roof for free,” he answered without missing a beat.

A second hadn’t passed after the words left his mouth before Shauntie’s laughter filled the room. Why was she laughing at him? What was so hilarious? Nash knew he hadn’t said a damn thing amusing.

“May I ask what is so funny?” he demanded.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Shauntie got her laughter under control as her hands brushed the tears away from her eyes. “How many women have fallen for that horrible pick-up line? Has it actually gotten you anywhere with any of your female clients?”

Shauntie actually thought he was trying to play a game on her? He was dead serious about going out on a date with her. This was the first time in a very long time that he had to ask a woman out on a date.

“I’ve never given that offer to any other client,” Nash replied. “Why would I?”

Shit!

What did he need to do to make Shauntie see what he was trying to do? He couldn’t be any clearer about his intentions. He wanted a date with her. Why was she acting like it was so surprising? Was Shauntie being difficult on purpose?

Shauntie shook her head as her beautiful smile pulled at the corners of her full mouth. “Sure you haven’t. My answer is no. All I need you to do if fix my problem and that is it. Now, can you accept my answer? If not, I can hire someone else. I need to go because I’m going to be late for another appointment.”

Did Shauntie actually just turn down his mind blowing offer? Nash was so thrown that he didn’t know what to think. Shauntie was like a puzzle he couldn’t figure out from first glance.

He wouldn’t consider himself an arrogant man by nature, but Nash knew that he was a good-looking guy. Ever since he’d turned sixteen the opposite sex had taken notice of him and he hadn’t looked back when it came to dating beautiful women.

“Care to tell me why you won’t go out on a date with me?” His curiosity was piqued. He needed to know where he was going wrong with Shauntie.

“I don’t have to give you any kind of explanation,” Shauntie told him. “No should be good enough.”

“Well, it isn’t. Are you telling me that you aren’t attracted to me?” Nash took a step closer. Shauntie took a retreating step back.

“Don’t you feel this thing between us?” he asked, watching the rise and fall of her breasts, a telltale sign Shauntie was attracted to him, but denying it.

“I feel nothing,” she denied a little too quickly. “How can I? This is only our second time talking to each other. I know nothing about you. We’re practically strangers.”

Shauntie sounded so logical and he hated it. Of course, she would consider him like a stranger to her, but he had remembered her. Hell, he had never forgotten her. Shauntie somehow had always held a place in the back of his mind even when he was dating other women.

Nash wasn’t logical and he wouldn’t stay now trying to be. He liked dealing with attraction and need. Since he wasn’t a patient man, which was one of his biggest faults, he never waited for anything to come to him.