Shattered Dreams (23 page)

“Came with the house. Some needs work; some needs to be chucked. I had those dining room chairs recovered in ivory. Don’t think you would’ve like gold velveteen.”

“Gold velveteen?” Her eyes flashed amusement. “The place came furnished?”

“When I made some comment openly admiring a few pieces, the widow added them to the deal. At a great price, I might add, for the same reason I got the house so cheap.” He shrugged. “Her exact words were, ‘I’d rather my stuff go to someone who appreciates it than to heirs I rarely see and I don’t know, who are sitting around like vultures waiting for me to die.’ She’s quite a feisty lady.”

Unsure how long his restraint would last this close to his bed, he reached out for her. “Come on. If you want to stay, you have to work.”

“Okay. I’m game.” Claire took his outstretched hand.

Stepping over boxes of tiles, he led her into the large master bath. At the door, he critically eyed the mess and expelled a deep breath.

The toilet was torn out, and glass doors leaned against the wall, waiting to be installed once the newly tiled shower was grouted. He was halfway done with the floor, tiling his way toward the entrance from the large whirlpool tub he’d installed during the week with Jimbo’s help. Even though the new vanity with double sinks was also installed, the room was still a total mess.

“My, my! A jack of all trades.” She crossed her arms and took a look around. “I’m impressed.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Jason was doing this for himself, not praise. Still, her warm approval sent another surge of pleasure throughout his system.

“So modest.” Using her fingers, she counted. “Carpentry, wallpapering, painting, plumbing, and tiling.” She glanced at him with slanted eyebrows. “What? No electrical?”

“Just the lights. All the pipes and wiring were updated about fifteen years ago. The air-conditioner and compressor’s been replaced in the past two years. Mrs. McPherson didn’t like to be hot.” He went over to a big bucket, took off the lid, and stirred the mixture inside. “Are you going to work in those clothes?”

She glanced down and pursed her lips. “Hmm. I guess this blouse isn’t the best thing for laying tile.”

Jason set the trowel inside the bucket, then rummaged in the dresser in his walk-in closet and yanked out one of his old T-shirts.

“Here.” He held out the shirt. “This will work.”

“Thanks.” She slipped it over her head. The big shirt hung past her knees, covering her clothes.

“I’ve already set the line, so if you use these tile spacers”—he held up one of the rubber crosses—“you’ll stay true.”

He placed one in the corner of a tile he’d set earlier, explaining to Claire the fine art of laying tile correctly. “Make sure you lay the mortar evenly. Like this.”

Then he demonstrated, placing a glob of thinset on the floor with a trowel, taking the spreader with teeth, and smoothing it out. “That’ll add strength. Tiles can crack if air’s trapped underneath.”

She gave it a try.

Once satisfied with her efforts, he began grouting in the shower while Claire spent the time on her knees laying eighteen-inch squares.

An hour or so later, he heard her laugh and glanced in her direction.

“What?” By this point he was done with grouting and was in the middle of installing the glass doors.

“I can’t believe you really put me to work.”

“I distinctly remember warning you.”

“But this is
work
work.”

“Is there any other kind?” He studied her handiwork and grunted. “Besides, you’re handling that spreader easily enough. Tiles look straight. Nothing to it.”

“Yeah, right.” She stretched. “I don’t know why I stayed.”

He chuckled. “You know why.”

“Oh?” Claire shot him a look. “Care to tell me?”

“You’re here for the same reason I searched you out yesterday. You couldn’t stay away.”

“Maybe.”

“And . . . you’re here to finish what we started last night.”

“Maybe.” Digging into the bucket, she laughed again.

“No maybe about it.”

He grinned, observing her and shaking his head before refocusing on his task. When done, he set the glass in place and added the top part of the frame, holding it in place as he turned the screwdriver.

“Besides, saves me the time and effort of chasing you down once I got this room tiled.”

Claire stopped, holding the spreader in midair as she eyed him warily while chewing on her bottom lip.

She cleared her throat. “You were going to chase me down?”

After glimpsing several emotions sweep across her face, he chuckled and went back to twisting the screw into place. “That was my plan. I’m really tired of showering in the girls’ bathroom, so my goal for the weekend was to finish tiling this room and to install the shower door. As you’re finding out, it’s a big job, one made faster and easier with help. Since I knew all thoughts of work would go by the wayside once we got together, I’m doing this first.”

“What? I’m some kind of reward for finishing?”

“Something like that.”

“That’s sick.” She let out a disgusted snort and bent over the bucket of mortar. “I can’t believe you’d use me like that.”

“I told you, I use what works. Besides, you didn’t think I’d give it up so easily, did you?”

“Excuse me?” Her cheekbones pinked.

“You heard me.”

Going back to her task, she threw thinset on the floor and spread it out before taking another tile and setting it in place. “You’ve definitely got the wrong idea,” she finally said.

“So you’re not here to seduce me?”

Jason finished tightening the last screw and jumped off the stepladder. After folding and setting the ladder aside, he opened and shut the glass door several times, making sure it operated smoothly. It was a struggle to keep the smile off his face as he surreptitiously watched her put the last tile in place.

Claire fascinated him as no one else ever had, including Elise. The lady had so many hidden facets. Every new one he encountered only added to his attraction.

Silently, he moved to stand behind her and waited until she finished. When she tossed the tool in the bucket, Jason reached down and helped her stand.

“Thanks. You did a great job. I appreciate the help, but I know I coerced you.”

She straightened, and he let go. She wiped her hands on the T-shirt before taking it off.

“I guess that’s it,” she murmured, keeping her gaze on the floor. “Except for the edges.”

“I’ll do those during the week before I grout. Mortar’s quick drying. Grout doesn’t have to be in place to walk on the tiles.”

“Looks like you still have a lot of work ahead.”

“Won’t take much.” He shrugged. “Some cutting.”

He hid his smile when he put his hands on her shoulders, and she jumped.

“Relax, would you?” He slid his hands up and down her arms. Her back stiffened even more, if that was possible. “I don’t bite.”

“I’m fine,” she said as she tried to step out of his grasp.

“No, you’re not. You’re tight as a drum.” He let go of one arm, placing a finger under her chin to force her to meet his amused gaze. “What happened to the brazen lady I saw standing outside my door this morning?”

“I guess I’m still getting used to her.”

Her tongue made a nervous pass over soft lips, and she cleared her throat while her gaze darted furtively to the floor. A few seconds later, he felt the soft expel of her breath over his hand.

Jason chuckled and released her. “Have you eaten lunch?”

“No. I was in too big a hurry.”

“You should’ve said something earlier.”

“I wasn’t hungry. I filled up on brownies.”

“Brownies?” He rolled his eyes and clucked his tongue, shaking his head in disgust.

Claire’s chin went up. “They served their purpose.”

“Come on,” he said, grunting. “I’m sure we can scrounge up something to eat in my kitchen you hate so much.”

“Your kitchen’s not that bad.”

“Don’t lie. I saw the look on your face when you took in my green appliances.”

“Gut reaction. I didn’t know there were any left on the planet.”

“They still work. I consider them antiques.”

“I hate to break this to you, Jason, but only the best of the best makes it into that category. Avocado green appliances don’t cut it. Neither does shag carpeting, especially orange shag.”

“Picky, picky.”

Jason smiled, happy to note their banter helped the tension along her back to dissipate as her shoulders relaxed. A wide grin replaced the wariness he spotted earlier. The lady definitely had two sides.

“And since I now know how you really feel about my kitchen, we’ll eat in the dining room. Still, you can keep me company while I cook. That is, if you can stand being in the same room with my
antiques
.”

He held out a hand and clasped hers once she placed it inside his.

Chapter 29

With her legs crossed at the ankle, Claire leaned against the ugly countertop, drinking a tall glass of water as she watched Jason cook omelets. He performed the task with an ease of someone who knew his way around the kitchen.

“You’re quite an amazing guy.” Her courage returned as most of her earlier embarrassment faded. Eyeing him now, she had to admit that he had the uncanny ability to shock her one minute, while putting her totally at ease the next.

“Oh?” He quirked an eyebrow and waited.

“Provider, jack of all trades. And then I learn he cooks.”

“Necessity. I get tired of restaurants, and when the girls stay, it’s something we can do together.”

“Add to that perfection Father of the Year. You’re a walking fantasy.” And after all those hot kisses, she could probably add perfect lover as well.

“I have my faults. I wasn’t always a great father, but I’m working on it. When I think of all I missed out on by being absent, I cringe. I always had an excuse, usually work related.”

“Well, from my vantage point, all I can say is your ex is a fool.” How could any woman let such a good-looking, sexy specimen like him go?

He ignored her comment and concentrated on cooking, seeming uncomfortable with her praise, so she didn’t add any more to the conversation.

Finally, he turned the burner down and reached to take out plates from the cupboard before heading to the fridge. He bent and removed several items.

“Would you like anything else besides water? I have soft drinks, orange juice, milk.”

“I’m fine.”

“This is almost ready. You want to set the table?” When she nodded, he pulled out a drawer and pointed to a cabinet. “Silverware’s in here and everything else is in there. There’s fancy if you want or casual. I’m fine either way.”

She jumped to do as he asked. Decided on fancy because the idea sounded fun. She rooted through the drawers, retrieving items that would help achieve her goal.

“Table’s set,” she announced, coming back into the room as he filled two plates. “Looks delicious.” Smelled delicious too.

With plates in hand, he glanced at her and indicated the butter and jam on the counter with the tilt of his head. “Will you grab those?”

Claire nodded and quickly followed, wanting to see his reaction to her efforts. “Like it?”

Flickering candles in the center of the dining table added ambience to the delicate gold-rimmed china and sterling silverware. Though the backdrop was a little rough, the setting definitely had a romantic flair. Lace place settings and linen napkins aided her attempt.

Jason nodded. “Seems I’m not the only one who has a taste for luxury.”

“Luxuries should be used. Not stuck in drawers.”

Claire shrugged and sat in the chair he pulled out. She purposefully ignored his heady male scent that still lingered when he moved to sit next to her.

Like all the other times she’d been this close to him, a sudden sense of awareness rushed through her bloodstream. That current of electricity was back as the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Every cell in her body recognized him, all emphasizing one truth. She found him attractive on every level.

She picked up a fork and began eating, not quite tasting what went into her mouth, and praying her face didn’t show any of her inner turmoil.

Except utensils hitting the plate, there were no other sounds.

“You have some beautiful things.” She eyed the silver salt and pepper shakers while running a finger over the etched crystal of her Waterford water goblet, feeling much more relaxed.

“Without someone to share them with, that’s all they are. Things.”

“Then I’m glad you’re sharing them with me.”

“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather share them with.”

She offered him a genuine smile as another flush of warmth spread through her. The food seemed to go down easier after that as companionable silence surrounded them.

Jason cleared his throat sometime later. “You do know you’re not leaving here for the rest of the weekend, don’t you?” he asked in a nonchalant manner before taking a sip of coffee.

“What?” Claire almost choked on the bite she was chewing. Her gaze flew to his face. She swallowed hard at his unreadable expression.

“I said—”

“I heard what you said.”

“Perhaps you didn’t understand?”

“I understand perfectly.”

“Then I don’t see a problem.”

He pushed his empty plate to the side and shoved his chair back, folding his arms as he stretched out extra-long bare legs. Deck shoes covered his sock-less feet.

Sexy as all get-out, Claire thought, zeroing in on his muscular strength.

Oh yeah
. The man definitely had a knack for rocketing her pulse rate, shocking her, and acting completely unfazed at the same time. She smiled inwardly. If Jason thought he could unsettle her, he’d soon find out she could do some shocking of her own. She’d watched Crystal for too long not to have learned a few tricks.

“What if I don’t agree?”

“You do.”

His arrogance sent a surge of irritation through her. Jason’s manner seemed just a little too confident. That she’d been entertaining similar ideas of finishing what they’d started last night had no bearing on her thoughts right now. Carl had always been so sure of her actions, and she’d never be such an easy mark again.