Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) (8 page)

I can picture your sweet green eyes turning dark with fire. Just like the fiery passion I saw in you when you lay in my arms. Deny it, but we both know it’s the truth. Just one problem, I can’t and won’t give you what you want. Sorry, baby, I know you’re hurting, but I hope it makes you feel better to know that you’re not suffering alone. And hopefully when I’m gone you’ll be stronger and able to move forward.

No amount of cold showers were going to lessen his desire for her. That didn’t change the facts though. He was not going to touch her. All he needed to do was keep enough distance between them and in a few weeks when this job was done, she could find someone who could fit into her sweet little home here.
Because a home is not a place I can afford to want. And someone there waiting for me to return would add a stress that’d affect my team.

I won’t let that happen.

They will always come first.

W
hat Hannah thought would be a bad day had turned around quickly. Everything at work went smoothly. She even had one of her biggest tip days yet. Which was good, since what she made was no longer just covering Mark, but Don as well. Feeding two burly men would stretch her more, but she could exist on salads since she still had a garden growing behind her house, Men working as hard as they were needed substantial meals.
Can’t let those muscles go to waste. God . . . his muscles.

If she hadn’t blushed thinking about the last time she went to check, she would be looking forward to seeing how much progress they had made. She knew it was a lot of work, but then again Mark spoke as though he had everything under control. Somehow, even though she didn’t want to, she took him at his word. Besides there were things she was trying to avoid.
Like seeing Mark shirtless.

As she pulled into the driveway, she could already hear the power tools. She was glad they were busy. She needed to get things ready for Bailey. She’d stopped at the market on the way home and picked up a few things. Not that she didn’t cook for the guys, but the last time she saw Bailey she was on a low-carb, all natural health kick. Granted that was a great way to live, but on such a fixed income, eating healthy wasn’t in the picture.
Well, it’s going to be for a few days though.

“You want a hand?”

Mark’s deep voice startled her as she was leaning into the door of her car and trying to lift the bags. When she spun around the fresh fruits in the bag she was holding started to tumble to the ground. Mark’s reflexes were impressive. He took the bag from her, and like a professional juggler, was able to catch the loose apples as they fell. His hands were moving so quickly her eyes were barely able to keep up. Then he placed them back in the bag before he reached in the back seat of her car and grabbed the rest.

“I’ll carry. You get the door.” Mark didn’t wait for a response and was already halfway up the steps before she even grabbed her purse.

Sure. Thanks. Oh, wait. It wasn’t a question, was it? You just take control and forget who the boss is here.
Hannah followed him, opened the door, and refused to say one word to him. He put her bags on the kitchen table and stood looking at her.
Look all you want, but I am not going to speak first. Not even to say thank you.

She started emptying the bags and putting away the items that needed to be refrigerated first. In the heat, it wouldn’t take long for groceries to perish. Hannah avoided eye contact with him, hoping he would get the hint and go away. Instead, she saw his feet planted on the same spot with his hands on his hips.
You don’t know me if you think I am going to give in.

There were a few bags on the other side of him. First she tried reaching around him, then decided to go the long way. There was no way she’d say “excuse me” to break the silence. He needed to learn some southern manners and ask, not assume. When you don’t ask, you get the cold shoulder.
No matter how handsome you are.

As she walked around the table and reached for the bag, she heard soft laughter coming from Mark.
You think this is funny? I don’t. I have work to do and so do you. Now leave because I’m not getting shit done with you here.

Hannah continued putting things in the refrigerator. Then the laughter got louder.
Damn you, Mark.
She was no longer looking where she put things, practically throwing them on the shelf.

When she turned to grab something else off the table, she slammed right into him. He’d moved closer to her once again without being heard.
Is he a ninja or something? No one as big as him should be this quiet.

Hannah didn’t step back. She didn’t look up. Her hands were by her side as she turned her head as far to the right as she could manage.
I am not budging, Mark. So what’s your next move?

He had one. One that she’d not expected. His hand came up and turned her face to look up at him.

“Is there something you want to say to me?” Mark asked in a serious tone.

A million things.
“Yes, there is. It appears you can’t afford a shirt. I am willing to purchase one for you if you need me to.” She didn’t smile, and her tone was dry. If that didn’t get him to let go, she wasn’t sure what else to try. Threatening him hadn’t worked the other day either.

“It’s hot.” His eyes never left hers as his thumb traced her jaw.

Yes, you’re hot. I mean it’s hot. Shit. You’ve got me freaking hot. This is not supposed to be happening. I wanted to make a point and you getting me all hot and wet for you wasn’t it.
“Mark, please.” Instead of the demanding tone she wanted, it was a soft, seductive plead.

He was eager to give her what she apparently was begging him for. His lips claimed hers so tenderly she couldn’t stop herself from melting against him. Pulling away and telling him to stop was the farthest thing from her mind. She was tired of fighting this fire that had been building from the moment she first laid eyes on him.
I want him. More than I ever thought I’d want anyone.

Slipping her arms around his neck, she pulled herself closer to meet his embrace. Hannah felt his body tense as she pressed her body against his. He sucked in a breath. “Hannah.” Mark reached down and cupped her bottom, careful to avoid her puncture wound, pulling her up into his arms. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. His lips hungrily took hers. Neither held back as they wildly explored each other.

This is the piece of heaven I’ve been yearning for. I want more, no, I need more.
She boldly ran her hands over his broad shoulders, down his biceps, and then back up.

His lips left hers, and she was disappointed until she felt them on her neck, nipping and sucking as he lifted her even higher into his arms.

“You smell sweet,” he mumbled against her throat. “Like a meadow of honeysuckle.”

Flames of desire shot through her like bolts of lightning. He was all man, rough and tough, yet his touch and words were tender, loving.

“Mark . . .”

He continued kissing her neck and moving downward. “I know.” He took one hand from her bottom and cupped her breast through her blouse. He licked from her collarbone to her breast, unbuttoning her shirt as his tongue trailed down her cleavage.

Her nipples were waiting impatiently for him to rip her clothes off and give them the attention they needed. His fingers unfastened the last button, and she arched her back offering herself to him. “I want—”

“Hey Hannah, I’m h—” came Bailey’s voice from behind Hannah. “Oh, shit. Sorry.”

Shit. Bailey. How did I forget?
She tried to pull herself away from Mark. He loosened his grip, so her feet touched the floor, but she was still pressed up against him. She knew why. He was hard and needing her just as much as she needed him.

This is not the time to think about how much either of us wants or doesn’t want each other. My best friend is right behind me, and I want to crawl under the kitchen table and hide.

There was no use. She was going to have to face her. From the look on Mark’s face she wasn’t leaving.

Stepping back slightly, she turned, forcing a smile. She knew her cheeks were burning and not only from embarrassment, but from the passion waiting to be released.
Holy shit that man can kiss. I want more. . . Deep breath, Hannah. Your company has arrived.

“How about some introductions?” Bailey asked.

Hannah pointed to Mark and said, “He’s um . . .”

“Mark,” he stated.

She looked up at him.
If you only knew how many times I call your name out in my sleep.
She shook her head as though the memory of his kisses could be erased so easily.

Then Hannah turned to her friend. “This is . . .” She was so flustered that she became tongue-tied.

“I’m Bailey Tasca. Hannah’s best friend; the same friend she asked to come and stay here because she was lonely.” Bailey laughed. “Maybe autocorrect changed your text from horny to lonely? Because lonely is not how I’d describe you right now.”

I’m so going to kill you when we’re alone, Bailey.

“I should probably get back to work,” Mark said as he released her.

Instantly she was lonely for his arms on her again. Yet she also wanted to see Bailey so much.
Timing really sucked.

“Work?” Bailey looked at Mark then back to Hannah.

“Yes, he’s here working on the place.”

“Oh. Work. Yeah. I could so tell.” Bailey laughed softly again.

Hannah gave her a warning look before turning to Mark. “Sorry, but it looks like you’ll need to bunk with Don for a few days while Bailey is here.”

“Don?” Bailey asked.

“A friend working here as well,” Mark answered her.

“Does he look anything like you?” Bailey winked at Mark.

“They are here to
work
,” Hannah said firmly.

“Thanks for the invite, Hannah. I think I’m going to enjoy this visit even more than I first thought.”

Hannah was still rolling her eyes as Mark headed toward the guest room.

“Will you stop it already? You’re embarrassing him,” Hannah said to Bailey in the sternest voice she could muster.

“Mark doesn’t seem fazed at all. Or should I say not embarrassed at all.” She was grinning and looking in the direction Mark had walked.

Oh, please save me from all this. Why couldn’t it have been Don who caught us? Or better yet, why did we have to get caught at all? Is one night of sweet hot passionate sex too much to ask for?
Looking at her friend, she knew the answer.
At least I know we’ll have a good laugh over this once we are alone.

Mark came back down the hall a minute later, carrying his bag. “I had actually come by to let you know you can’t enter the vacant apartments until we give you the go ahead. It’s full of mold and asbestos. Both are hazardous, and I don’t want you getting sick.” Then he turned back to Bailey. “That goes for you as well. You both are confined to this apartment or the grounds outside.”

“Excuse me? Are you telling me where I can go in my own house?” Hannah seemed indignant at his outrageous request and faced him with her hands on her hips.

He looked her squarely in the eyes and said, “Absolutely.”

She was still huffing at the audacity of him speaking to her like that. When he was gone she turned to Bailey and said, “I can’t believe that, can you?”

“I know, right? That man is hotter than hell, and he likes you too. How did you get so lucky?”

Lucky? I don’t feel lucky. I feel as if too many things are against me.
But thinking about who had just been pressed against her, she could admit Bailey was also right
. That. Man. Is. Hot.

Mark carried his duffle back into the apartment across from Hannah’s. Don came down from the apartment he was working on upstairs at the same time.

“Where the hell have you been? I thought you were supposed to get us something cold to drink and get back to work?”

He turned and looked at Don. “Something came up.”
And damn it, I need a cold shower more than I need work. I also need to scrub from my mind how amazing Hannah felt in my arms. How she pressed herself into my arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And then she forget her best friend’s name. That was priceless. And that’s just with a kiss. Imagine if we weren’t interrupted. Fuck. It would’ve been mined blowing.

As Mark put his bag on the floor, Don laughed. “I can’t believe you’re actually going to give me the guest room and you take my cot.”

“Don’t believe it because it’s not happening.”

He looked at Mark then said, “You and Hannah have a fight, and she kicked you out?”

“Let me say this again. There is nothing between Hannah and me. And no she didn’t kick me out. She has company, and they need privacy. That’s all.”
If she knew she had a friend coming, why did she put me in her spare room for the first few nights? Did she want me close? Was she hoping for more than just a renovation on the house? Because if that was the case . . .
He shook off that thought. It didn’t matter what she wanted, because the way she looked at him was only going to come with entanglements he wasn’t interested in.