Fighting Lust: A Deadly Sins Novel by Jennifer Miller

help to the carpenters.
    “Tessa, I’d like for you to meet Jax and his girl, Rowan. Jax is my trainer and owner of the gym where all of us train for our fights.” Jax has his hand on the small of Rowan’s back, the two are always touching each other some how.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Tessa,” Rowan says first. “We’re happy to help out today.”
    Jax nods, “Yes, it’s nice to meet you. You’ll have to stop by the gym some time to see this guy fight,” he invites, making Tessa smile.
    “Maybe I’ll do that some time. Thanks for coming.” She points out the mountain of paintbrushes and cans of paint on the lawn and off they go to get some supplies. Some stay outside; others head inside as well.
    Levi stands next to me with a huge grin on his face as he stares at Tessa, “Hi again, gorgeous. I’m sure you want me to help wherever you’ll be working, right?” Tessa giggles and Zane pushes him out of the way. “Hi, Tessa. I’m Zane. I’m sure you’re pleased to meet me,” he teases. “How can we help you and your beautiful friend today,” he asks while totally checking out Tessa’s friend that’s standing just behind her taking all of this in.
    Before Tessa can answer, her friend steps forward. “Hi, I’m Gina. How about the two of you follow me? I would love to watch you lift and unload furniture off the truck,” she points to a large furniture truck pulling up alongside the curb, “that would be a huge turn on.” She clears her throat and Zane laughs, “I mean help.”
    “You got it,” Levi says with a laugh. Tessa rolls her eyes at her friend and Zane looks like he will be taking Gina home tonight. They all walk toward the truck, greeting people along the way.
    Tyson and Sydney approach Tessa without my prompting, “So this is the girl you keep trying to purposefully hurt yourself for, huh?” Sydney smacks Tyson in the stomach and I look away willing myself to not punch him in the nose right in front of her. “Thank you for taking such good care of Ryder and Levi when they needed stitches,” Sydney says kindly.
    “Oh, it’s no problem,” Tessa says somewhat shyly after Tyson’s words. “It’s nice to meet you both. If you wouldn’t mind helping the landscaping company, I know they could use help planting flowers today.”
    Tyson rolls his eyes, “Flowers? Do you have anything more…I don’t know…manly?”
    Sydney laughs, “Come on tough guy. Let’s go get in touch with your feminine side today.”
    With a laugh they head off, Tyson following Sydney like a lost puppy. Tessa then gives a few guys from the fire station instructions as well until it’s just her and I again. Looking at me, she instructs, “Umm, they could probably use some help on the roof. They’re just making sure there aren’t any loose shingles.”
    “What are you helping with?” I ask, plucking the paintbrush she stuck in the back pocket of her jeans, completely uncaring about the paint that has brushed her t-shirt.
    “I’m painting the outside.”
    “Then I will too.”
    She hesitates for a moment and then nods. “Okay, follow me.” She leads me to the other rollers and brushes and the numerous cans of paint. I take what I need and then follow her to the house. Standing a few feet down from her position, I open the can, dip my brush in and get started painting the stucco. Before I can say anything to her though, her friend Gina appears next to me with a smile on her face.
    “So, you must be Ryder?”
    Looking from Gina, to Tessa, and back again, I hold out my hand, “Yes, I am. It’s nice to meet you.”
    “Yes it is,” she states making me laugh. She makes no secret of the fact she’s checking me out. “I’ve gotta say, smart move showing up here today. Get to the girl through the charity she loves. Clearly, you gave this some thought.”
    Shrugging, I confess, “Guilty.”
    “I like it,” she says. “I like him,” she states looking at Tessa. “You have the best friend stamp