Lucky Break by Carly Phillips Page B

she’d become.
    He finally found her in a far room, one he knew she was putting off fixing until last. She was on her knees, her head half inserted into one of the holes in the wall, her delectable rear end sticking out for him to see.
    The woman had amazing curves and soft skin. He knew that firsthand, but seeing her in such a provocative position took him off guard and his mouth went dry at the sight. His groin hardened, throbbing against the zipper of his jeans. Visions of stripping off his clothes and taking her in that position, his entire body wrapped around hers as he thrust into her over and over again, filled his mind.
    He let out a groan, knowing no way in hell was he going to be able to wait for her to come to him.
    Â 
    T HE CAT HAD BEEN crying pitifully from somewhere inside the house. Lauren had done a systematic room-to-room check, listening for the sound to grow louder, but no luck. She’d worked her way from the bedroom, where the cat stayed with her at night, to the far end of the house when finally the meows had grown more distinct and she realized the cat had crawled into one of the many ridiculously large holes punched in the drywall and gotten stuck there.
    She’d lowered herself to her hands and knees, gingerly easing her head into the wide space, and peeked inside. Pitch-black, she couldn’t see a thing.
    â€œNow that’s a nice sight.” Jason followed up his words with an appreciative whistle.
    Startled, Lauren jumped up, banged her head and fell back onto her butt, her head aching from where she’d smacked it on the wall.
    She braced her hands on either side of her hips and glared up at him. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on a person?” she asked as she rubbed her sore head.
    â€œSorry.” She noticed he was trying not to laugh but the corners of his mouth kept tugging up. “You okay?”
    â€œNothing bruised but my head—and my ego,” she muttered.
    This time he allowed the grin. “Mind if I ask what you were looking for?”
    â€œThe cat’s stuck inside. He’s been crying on and off.”
    â€œAnd here I thought his favorite place was the hood of my truck.”
    â€œTry to control your jealousy,” Lauren said. “He’s there more often than not.” As long as the hood of Jason’s car was warm from use, the cat tended to sit on his throne and survey his kingdom.
    â€œI knew I shouldn’t have left those holes uncovered,” he muttered. “Well, I can’t possibly patch them all in one day, but I’ll cover them so he can’t get stuck again. Let’s get him out of here first.”
    â€œSounds like a plan.”
    â€œTell you what,” he said as he held his hand out for her. “You get a treat to help coax him out and I’ll go find a flashlight.”
    â€œThe one you paid for is in the drawer near the dishwasher. I’ll get it.” She placed her palm in his and he pulled her up. Electricity shot up her arm and settled in her chest.
    Light-headed from the sensation, she held on to his grasp and she couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. Suddenly aroused, she wanted those lips on hers, wanted him to pull her into his arms and not let her go until she agreed to let him make love to her here and now.
    Not that it would take any persuasion at all. And from the way he stared at her, his expression taut, his gaze hungry, she knew he felt the same way.
    How had this happened? She’d been telling herself she didn’t want to get involved with him any more than she already was, yet every evening she’d ordered enough dinner for two and invited him to stay. Each night, she’d shared just enough information about herself to keep conversation going, convincing herself she was maintaining a reasonable distance. Pretending the sexual deprivation and longing weren’t killing her.
    But now she knew there was no such thing as