Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (11 page)

     I handed the pipe over, but Seth wasn’t interested in the
pipe; he gripped my arm instead and helped me descend the ladder releasing me
once I was on the ground. It was a nice gesture; however my arm was left with
some kind of after-burn from his touch.

     Seth strode over to the stack of piping I’d discarded and
hefted the entire bundle before heading up the stairs. Not bothering to look to
see what kind of expression Jerry was sporting at Seth’s stimulating take
charge attitude I strode after him carrying the one pipe he’d left me with. Moving
through the house I saw a new guy walk through the foyer who I assume was the
Evan Seth was yelling to earlier. He stopped and his expression turned
pleasantly surprised at the sight of me.

     “You’re a plumber?” He asked looking me up in down. He
was an attractive male at a little over six foot with short brown hair and the
look he was throwing me wasn’t overly insulting, just curious with a dollop of
interest that was harmless.

     “That’s what it says on my credentials.” I responded
moving past him.

     “Well, hey, I’m Evan.” He said following me out through
the door.

     “Well, hey, Evan.” I responded moving toward the truck.
Seth was tossing his load into the back as I stepped up next to him to lob my
one item in. He scowled over my head at Evan.

     “Seth, did you have me get that guy’s ass moving so we
could get this little lady upstairs.” Evan gave me twinkling smile that offset
anything I might have found offensive.

     Seth’s scowled deepened. “Evan, shut it.”

     I faced Evan with a severe expression. “I don’t know
what it is today with the offensive remarks coming my way…” Evan’s twinkle
dimmed and turned uneasy. “But that’s the second time someone’s called me short
today.” The twinkle returned full force with a smidgeon of relief. “I’m
five-ten. That is not short. ” I spun toward the passenger seat of the truck
and grabbed my water bottle from my lunch cooler. Turning I pointed it at a
smiling Evan. “At least to you. You’re only a couple inches taller than me.” I
switched the bottle to a scowling Seth and couldn’t hold back my grin at his
disgruntled look. “Now if he had called me little than I might not get so bent
out of shape about it.”

     Seth’s eyes narrowed on my mouth…which I can’t believe
I let run like that. I should have just let it go because I needed to keep an aloofness
between us, but my mouth sometimes had a will of its own. Twisting off the top
of my bottle I shut myself up by drinking half of it.

     “I can only concede that point, Seth is a giant at
six-six.” Evan admitted laughing.

     My stomach growled in relief at finally having
something in it after hours of nothing. I snatched my sandwich out of the
cooler unwrapping it.

     “You haven’t even been able to eat your lunch yet?”
Seth moved forward aggressively to examine my lunch bin. “It’s three-fucking-thirty.”

     “I get busy and sometimes forget the time.” I explained
truthfully. I could have had my lunch anytime, but a lot of the time I do get
zoned in on things.

     Evan looked back and forth between the two of us
frowning. “Do you two know each other beyond water and heating?”

     “We’ve met.” I replied briefly. Seth’s frowned deepened
at my short answer and I took a bite of my sandwich to cover my smile. For some
reason I liked to goad him.

     Evan’s gaze narrowed on Seth as though he were trying
to figure something out and then transferred to me. His eyes caught on the
sandwich in my mouth and his face turned appalled. “Is that a jelly and meat
sandwich?”

     I raised my eyebrow at him. “Yeah, with sweet pickles.”
I answered taking another yummy bite.

     His face twisted in revulsion and he shuddered. “I need
to go throw up.” He turned and headed back into the house. I chuckled. That
about summed up everyone’s reaction to my favorite sandwich.

     Seth’s face wasn’t filled with abhorrence though; he
was looking at me curiously, and his frown was gone. Well, bummer. If he wasn’t
frowning he could at least be smiling showing me those dimples…but that would
not be good because it would move past the detachment I wanted.

     “Want a bite?” I asked holding it out thinking a closer
look might have him running for the hills.       

     He looked down at it and instead drew closer, really
close, and my eyes widened at his proximity. Tilting down he actually took a
bit, albeit small, and chewed thoughtfully. I watched mesmerized by the
movement of his lips. Heat radiated off of him in waves and I could smell him.
He smelled of soap and cologne, but also of the fresh outside and his own smell
that was dark…and dangerous. Dangerous to my life and my plans. Breaking my
stare from his mouth I looked up at his eyes; His stormy blue eyes. That wasn’t
much better.

     “So, how is it?” I asked, hating the husky note in my
voice. I cleared my throat nervously.

     “Revolting.” He replied straight-faced in the same, but
deeper, husky voice as mine.

     I shrugged nonchalantly and moved back a step to put
distance between us and could immediately breathe easier. “It’s an acquired
taste, and I started young.” I took another bite.

     He focused on
my
mouth this time. I brought the
water bottle up to block his view.

     “It’s good to see the splint off your hand.” Seth said.

     I huffed out a sigh of agreement. “It’s beyond good to
have it off. I was sick of wearing it. It wasn’t in the way that much except
when I needed to wash my hands or shower, then it was a pain.”

     Seth blue eyes darkened further. “I bet.” He replied
throatily.

     I belatedly realized I’d put thoughts of me in the shower
in his head, and while any other guy would have made some comment about wishing
he could have helped me, or something equally sexual, Seth just stared at me
with those dark heat filled eyes. They were like lasers that set my veins on
fire.

     This was getting too intense. “I’d better get
downstairs and help Jerry. We want you guys to be able to have water by the end
of tomorrow.” Spinning abruptly I nearly sprinted away.

     Jerry gave me a nasty look as I tromped down the
stairs. “Complaining to the customers about how hard you had to work, were
you?”

     I rolled my eyes and set up the other ladder so we
could finish dismantling the last of the old plumbing. “Jerry, I didn’t say
shit. These guys want their water turned back on as soon as possible. You
sitting on your ass outside probably didn’t make them very happy.”

     Stepping up the ladder I went to work and Jerry wisely
kept any further remarks to himself. Now that I had some help we finished ripping
out the old piping and were able to get new wire hangers up for the new piping
we would lay tomorrow. Jerry called a halt at exactly five o’clock. Jerry was
all about union hours.

     Leaving our tools downstairs since we’d be back
tomorrow we headed upstairs together. Seth, Landon, Evan and another guy were
upstairs in the living room with the television on. A couple of them had
paperwork in front of them, probably school work. Seth stood up at the sight of
us, and my heartbeat quickened at the sight of him.

     Jerry took the lead. “We’re headed out right now but
we’ll be back at nine tomorrow. Hopefully we can have your water on by the end
of the day.” Offering them a half-assed smile he walked toward front door.

     I followed Jerry without a backwards glance.

Chapter Eight

SETH

     My idea of getting to know Nadia better wasn’t working
like I’d planned.

     After Nadia had raced away and I’d soaked in some sun
chewing over all my mistakes concerning her, I’d called the landlord. I’d
enlightened him about the substandard plumbing informing him that he’d been ripped
off by whoever had done it previously if he’d in fact paid for it, and hinted
that he should have it checked out.

     He’d taken my advice and it had turned out just as I intended.
They told him exactly what I had, and the guy made plans to have it all redone.
I’d dropped so many suggestions about how impressed I was with the person who
came out and the company in general that I was ninety percent certain Nadia
would be assigned the job putting us in the same environs so I could get to
know her.

     Only part of my plan was working however.

     The first day I’d been able to talk to her for that
short amount of time after forcing that asshat Jerry to do his job allowing her
to take a break. Seeing that guy hanging out in his truck and then finding her
downstairs working alone had made me mad as hell. I hated employee’s who didn’t
do their share of work leaving others to do it, but my mad had been a great
deal hotter because it had been Nadia.

     However, she’d seemed unfazed by the whole thing,
taking it in stride, not showing any inclination to complain…even when I’d
given her ample chance to. My respect for her had sky rocketed at that aspect
of her character. 

     I’d put a call into
Anderson
’s
to inform
them of what I’d seen and my concerns. Not in regards to Nadia, because that
would have appeared too personal. I’d just told the owner that I wasn’t
impressed by someone who sat in their vehicle while one person did a job that
required two.

     The next day Nadia had shown up to work with someone
new. I’d placed that Jerry dude in his mid-forties while the new guy was in his
early thirties, and it seemed this guy, John, was on better terms with Nadia
than Jerry had been. When I’d arrived at the house after classes and found them
downstairs laughing I’d almost wished I’d never complained about asshat Jerry.

     I did not like her laughing with other men; whether it
was at the gaming table, with my roommates, or alongside her co-workers. It
rubbed me raw every single time.

     But as I’d stood at the top of the stairs listening to
them joke around in the basement I noted that she hadn’t been flirting like she
did when playing poker. She’d exchanged words with him like she was one of the
guys, and he’d treated her like one. It was another element I’d filed away
about her that contradicted what I thought I knew.

     She was an enigma I couldn’t solve. And she wasn’t
allowing me the chance.

     For the last three days she had been working hard to
stay clear of me. Whenever I caught her alone and tried to have a conversation
with her she would make some excuse to walk away, and most of them had been
half-assed.

     I’d even had Landon find out where she had been
scheduled to play Thursday and we’d both gotten ourselves invited as well. I’m
sure we’d bumped two guys out in the process but I didn’t give a shit. What I
did care about was that Nadia had reverted to her previous standard behavior of
flirting with every guy at the table while essentially ignoring me. Even Landon
was in her flirting trajectory, but she’d barely looked at me.

     I thought maybe her anger had resurfaced about the
attempted attack and my ignorance of it…not that I would blame her because I
still blamed myself…only she didn’t seem angry, she just seemed like she was
doing her best to look disinterested.

     A little too disinterested.

     She’d departed earlier than normal making some excuse about
a late night appointment and jammed out of there quickly.  

     It was now Friday and she and her co-worker had moved to
the kitchen. I sat at the counter eating my second lunch staring at her in
frustration as she wedged herself under the sink speaking with John through a
hole in the floor.

     Once more I was being ignored albeit she was still in
the room. It was impossible for me to do the same thing though. It was like she
was a virus in my blood that I couldn’t shake. She was just as hot laying
piping and disheveled as she was all decked out at the gaming tables. I couldn’t
believe the fuck’in cockstand I was sporting sitting here watching her…and
feeling like a complete perv as I did.  

     “A little to the left…I see it, you’re so close.” Nadia
called down the hole. “Oh, shit, my phones ringing, John. Hold up one second.”

     Pulling herself out from under the sink Nadia dug into
her front pocket and pulled out her cell phone. A small sliver of smooth skin
flashed before disappearing and the sight went straight to my already aching cock.
Pulling my gaze up I watched as Nadia frowned at the screen before bringing it
to her ear. “Hello.”

     I watched her vigilantly as she listened to whoever was
on the other end and observed her expression morph from one emotion to the
next: confusion to worry to distress to panic. She jumped up from the floor and
before I knew it I had moved around the counter unconsciously to her side.

     “What hospital is he at?” Nadia demanded. Her gaze
connected with mine and I could read the distress in her eyes. The look hit me
directly in the gut. “Zank you.” She hung up. “John!” She yelled down the hole.
“Luka’s been taken to zee hospital for a possible broken arm, I need to go.”

     Who the hell was Luka? Whoever he was she cared enough
that her accent was thickening considerably. I frowned violently at the thought.

     Nadia rushed toward the front door. I followed and heard
footsteps stomping up the basement stairs just before John appeared. “What’s
this with Luka?”

     Nadia’s look was harried. “Zat was the school calling; zey
said Luka might have broken his arm. I need to get to zee hospital now.”

     John stared at her in concern. “Do you want me to take
you, or do you want to take the truck? I could get one of the guys to come pick
me up later. What do you need?” I found it significant the guy was trying his
best to follow her lead even though she was younger.

     “I’ll take her.” I spoke up taking control. I wanted to
help, but I also needed to find out more about her life, and this sounded like
something central. “She’s looking a little too on edge to drive.” Without
waiting for confirmation, from either of them, I took her arm and moved her out
the door. “Do you have a purse you need to get from your work truck?” I asked
her.

    She looked fearfully dazed, but then seemed to shake
herself out of it. “Uhm, yes, yes, I need zat. My insurance card is in it.”

    
She needed her insurance card?

     Nadia hurried forward and snatched it out from under
the front passenger seat. Taking her arm again I guided her to my white Yukon
Denali and helped her in before moving around to the driver’s seat.

     “What hospital are we going to?” I asked starting the
engine.

     “St. Marie’s. Do you know where it is?” She asked.

     “Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll get you there.” I said.

     She nodded pulling her phone out. Punching in a number
she brought it to her ear. “Tom, zis is Nadia. I just got a call from Luka’s
school telling me zat he broke his arm and has been taken to the hospital. I’m
on my way now.” She went silent, listening. “I’m getting a ride with one of zee
guys who rents the house.” She looked my way. “He’s okay, don’t worry.”

     I was only ‘
okay’
. I guess I could accept that
if she was verifying that she was safe with me to her boss.

     “Okay, zank you, Tom.” Nadia hung up and immediately punched
in another number and began speaking entirely in Russian looking stressed but
sounding comforting.

     I drove silently shooting her glances wondering who in
the hell she was talking to, and who Luka was. I could see that she cared about
this person she was talking to on the phone just as much as the Luka individual
and it just added more intrigue to the mystery already surrounding her.

     Nadia ended her call just as I was pulling into the
road leading to the hospital. I found the closest parking spot and then we both
jogged into the building together. Rushing up to the front desk she asked after
a Luka Cherkesov.

     Wait? Wasn’t that Nadia’s last name? Did she have a son!?
He would have to be at least four or five years old to be in school and that’s
where she said he was at when he broke his arm, and she would have had to been around
fifteen or sixteen when she had him. Fifteen was definitely old enough to have a
child. Shit! Why else would she need her insurance card though?

     The receptionist directed us to a numbered emergency
room which had Nadia running down the hall, through a door, and up to a bed
where a teenage boy lay.

     Acute relief filled me. That was absolutely not her
son. I wouldn’t have thought less of her for having a child at fifteen, but
that didn’t mean I wasn’t relieved that she hadn’t.  

     Nadia and the male communicated back and forth with
each other in Russian as she had on the phone. Had she been talking to him? He
was holding his right arm and looked to be in a moderate level of pain. I took
a seat in the corner and waited patiently to find out what this would all
unfold.

     The boy was definitely a relative, probably a brother.
His hair was all blonde without the red highlights that Nadia sported, and his
eyes were more green than aquamarine, his features were entirely masculine, but
the resemblance was obvious. While Nadia was stunningly feminine, he was
strikingly handsome. The way she fussed over him also gave the connection away.
You only did that to your child…or someone you’d raised as your child; like a
younger sibling.

     It was fascinating to watch and another out of the
ordinary facet about her.

     The young man lay immobile on the bed accepting Nadia’s
maternal ministrations, but I could tell that if he’d been at his best he would
have been grimacing at her coddling. The kid was big, at least six-three and
possibly seventeen years old.

     A young nurse walked in the room and Nadia turned on
her instantly. “Is it broken?”  

     The nurse, mid-twenties, dark blonde, attractive, and nice
enough figure under those shapeless scrubs, smiled calmly, most likely
accustomed to anxious and demanding people. “The doctor is coming soon with the
x-rays.” She walked over to the bed straightening the blanket and gave the kid
a coy smile. “Can I get you anything, Luka?”

     Even through his pain the kid took the time to give the
attractive nurse a player’s smile. “No, but thank you, Nicole.” His accent
wasn’t as heavy as Nadia’s, but it was still noticeable.

     I grinned at his effort while Nadia rolled her eyes. It
wasn’t difficult to see that the flirting gene ran in the family, and while I
found it entertaining on the kid it still made my skin itch when I saw Nadia
employ it on others.

     The nurse bustled around aimlessly for about a minute
before leaving with one last demure smile. Nadia said something to the kid in
Russian that had him returning the eye roll. He also finally acknowledged my
presence in the room by looking at me point-blank and speaking in Russian.
Nadia followed his gaze her expression turning embarrassed.

     That was a new look on her.

     “I’m sorry, Seth. I didn’t forget about you. I was just
distracted with everything…and here we’ve been speaking Russian.” Her
embarrassment increased.

     “Nadia, I understand.” And I did, she’d been worried
and stressed. I could see that her focus had been split in several different directions.
She’d told me her parent’s were dead so it wasn’t difficult to come to the
conclusion that Nadia must be the guardian of her brother, that’s why she
needed her insurance card.

     How many damn layers did this girl have?    

     “Seth, this is my bother, Luka. Luka…Seth.” I noticed a
slight pause as Nadia introduced me. It was like she didn’t know quite how to
label me. I thought that was rather interesting.

     Luka said something else in Russian.

     “Speak English.” Nadia commanded firmly.

     “Is this a new guy you’re working with?” Luka asked
curiously, but I noted there was a level of attentiveness to his gaze that said
he was measuring me. I stared back at him impassively.

     Discomfiture rolled over her face. “No, he lives in the
house I’ve been working on for the last few days.”

     That’s all I was going to get? Did she not want to tell
her brother that I was someone she played poker with? Did he know she gambled?
Well, I wasn’t going to spill it incase he didn’t. It was her business, and
mine, and I was fine holding that tidbit of information.

     Luka eyed me critically, but then switched it to his
sister. “That’s it, just a customer?”

     She scowled. “Yes.” She answered irritably, blushing
slightly.

     Again, her tone and expression was interesting. For the
last three days I’d wanted her to show some reaction to me and now I felt like
I was finally getting something. I don’t think I’d ever seen her blush unless
it was with anger. Her brother also appeared surprised by her manner if his dubious
expression was any indication.   

     “I need to make a quick call.” Nadia said abruptly stepping
into the corner. A moment later she was speaking in Russian again. Who was she
talking to this time? I’d thought she had been talking to her brother before
but now I wasn’t so sure.

     Feeling the kids gaze on me I switched my attention to
him. Yep…he was giving me a probing stare. “So, Luka, how did you injure
yourself?”