Running Wilde (The Winnie Wilde Series Book 1) by Sue Ann Jaffarian, Meg Chambers Page A

very small. It’s not much more than a patch of grass, but there is a very large partially covered patio that is accessed from here and the kitchen. It’s perfect for entertaining. There’s also a two car detached garage. The house had gone into foreclosure when I bought it. Shame, too, because obviously the owner loved it and cared for it. The other houses I’ve tackled were in much worse shape.”
    Winnie went across the room and out the doors to the patio. Ben followed. “This is a great patio,” she said, turning to him. “So you think this house would be perfect for me?”
    “I think it’s sort of what you had in mind,” he told her. “It’s compact and should be easy and low cost to maintain.” He stepped closer to her. “But don’t let the fact that I’m the owner sway you. If it’s not what you want, then we’ll keep looking for you. The perfect place is out there, Winnie. It’s still a buyer’s market.”
    “When will it be ready?” she asked as she came back inside, passed through the bedroom and into the hallway for another look.
    Ben took a deep breath while he calculated. “The walls still need paint and the kitchen needs new appliances. The outside will also need painting and the landscaping freshened up.”
    “But the outside can be done after, correct?” she asked. “I mean, after I move in.”
    “Sure,” he said, catching up to her in the living room. “You could move in even while it’s being painted. But it’s faster to paint without furniture in the way.”
    “Thirty days enough?”
    “Sure, more than enough. I could have the inside finished in two weeks. It doesn’t take long to paint walls. Even if I’m working alone.” He eyed her, one brow raised. “Are you going to sell to Edward after all?”
    “I don’t know, but if I do, it certainly won’t be at the price he offered, especially if he wants all the furniture with it.”
    Ben winked at her. “Good girl. And if you decide on this place, I’ll give you a price that’s fair to both of us.”
    She placed a hand on his chest. “Funny. I’ve known you two weeks and Edward over thirty years, and it’s you I trust.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “You’ve had a very rough day, Winnie. Don’t decide anything right now. This house isn’t going anywhere. Make sure it’s what you want.”
    She looked up into his intelligent and kind face. “I will.” She kissed him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need the use the bathroom.”
    Ten minutes later Ben thought he heard his name being called. He walked toward the kitchen and stopped, not completely sure. He heard it again, definitely his name. “Win?”
    “In here,” she called.
    He went through the hallway, following her voice to the master bedroom. The door was closed. He opened it. “Everything okay?”
    She’d placed the sleeping bag under the high window and was lying on top of it on her side naked. The patio doors were open, letting in a nice breeze. “What do you think?”
    “I think you’re trying to seduce me.” He laughed.
    She turned onto her back, bent her knees, and opened her legs to him. “Is it working?”
    It didn’t take Ben longer than fifteen seconds to strip off his clothes and join her on the sleeping bag. He stretched out next to her and traced her body with the fingers of one hand while his mouth found her breasts. Winnie sighed with contentment as she reached for him with one of her hands. He was already hard. She turned to face him and kissed him hard, her tongue pushing into his mouth with need while her body rubbed against him. When their lips unlatched, she reached into her purse, which she’d dropped onto the floor next to the sleeping bag and her clothes. After fishing around in a side pocket, she pulled out a strip of condoms.
    Ben laughed. “You came prepared.”
    “I grabbed them at the last minute,” she said with a grin. “Good thing.”
    They kissed again. Ben crushed her to him, his hands