A Place to Call Home (2 page)

She held the makeshift bandage over her bloody skin. “I’m fine, really.”

He ignored her, bent down to study her leg. “This is pretty banged up. Needs to be treated. Let me see.”

Did the guy ever give up? Never had someone paid this much attention to her. If he would just leave her alone, she could handle it herself. But no. He wanted to play doctor. “I think it’s time you left.”

He pried her hand to survey her scrape.

“Why won’t you listen to me?” she demanded.

He grabbed her leg before she could pull away. “I promise I won’t hurt you. Let me help you before you get an infection.”

“So, now you’re a doctor?”

“Hardly. More like I have plenty of experience with scraped knees.”

With a sigh, she relented. He only wanted to help—no harm there—and her leg did throb something awful. After she’d traveled ten hours from Tennessee and drove through the night, utter exhaustion consumed her since her arrival in town two hours earlier. She’d been too excited to see her new house, so she hadn’t bothered to get a hotel room. Her real estate agent had assured her the small apartment attached to the house remained habitable, so she could stay on-site and monitor the renovations.

Hannah studied the man leaning over her to clean her injury. He stood tall, at least six feet four and a solid two-fifty. His gray t-shirt fit snug over a muscular frame that boasted long arms and a narrow waist. Jet-black hair, short and thick, created a striking contrast with his tanned skin. His eyes held the deepest blue, bright and serious.

His firm thigh brushed against her leg. The simple touch unnerved her, creating delicious visions in her mind of her legs entangled with his. Decadent chills prickled her warm flesh. With him this close, the angles of his face shone clearly. The high cheekbones, the stern jaw, the slightly crooked nose, the freshly shaven skin, the thin lips now set in a grim line.

“Are you done checking me out?” he asked.

Her cheeks warmed, and she turned her attention back to her leg. “Don’t be so full of yourself. I wasn’t checking you out. Just thought I should be able to give the police an accurate description of you, should I need to.”

“How about you just thank me for saving your pretty ass?”

Did he just compliment her ass? “I’ve said thank you.” Time to change the subject from her anatomy. “Can I see your bid now?”

Those gorgeous eyes snapped up to meet hers briefly. “When we’re done.” His voice didn’t hide his impatience. “Hold still, will you? I don’t have all day to play nursemaid.”

She wanted to slug him. “I can take care of it myself.”

He chuckled. “What with, your fancy tissues? All you managed to do was get paper bits in the wound.”

“Ow.” Pain caused her to pull away, but he held her calf in a vise grip and poured peroxide over her scrape. “You did that on purpose,” she accused.

“No, but I am going to keep doing it until it’s clean. Now hold still.”

Struggling proved useless with his strength. “I don’t need your help.”

“Too bad. You’re getting it. I’ve enough to worry about than a clumsy woman causing herself an infection.”

“Don’t call me names.”

“Sorry.” He recapped the peroxide bottle. “But you have to admit you’re pretty clumsy. Not to mention stubborn,” he added. Using a cotton ball drenched in peroxide, Mac brushed across the wound, clearing away small white bits of tissue. His firm grip kept her still.

When he released her to separate gauze, she tugged her leg away. He eyed her before his large hand clamped around her calf and hauled her back toward him. “Do I need to tie you down to finish?”

Something in his voice and his glare had her believing he’d do just that and take immense pleasure in it. The swine! “Listen, Mac. I appreciate your help. Really I do. But I happen to be a big baby when it comes to pain. And this hurts like hell. Please stop.”

He glanced up and smiled. His hand rubbed her leg with long, slow caresses. “I promise we’re almost done.”

Dear God! Forget the fire in her knee. If he didn’t stop rubbing her leg like that, he’d set her entire body aflame. He smudged on some kind of antibiotic cream and covered the red, swollen area with fresh gauze, taping it in place.

“Okay. So maybe it does feel better now,” she admitted when finally allowed to move her hostage leg.

“Told you. Big baby.” Mac grinned and replaced everything into the first aid kit.

She smiled. “Hey, in my defense, you weren’t very gentle.”

“I can be very gentle when needed, Hannah.” That slow, Southern drawl sang to her like a lullaby, the blue of his eyes twinkling with mischief.

When he stood, he offered a hand to help her stand, totally interrupting her thoughts of how gentle he could be. She couldn’t miss Mac’s long perusal of her body. This certainly had ended up being a better day.

“If you think you’ll be okay now, I do have to get going. I’m falling behind on my very busy schedule.”

She cleared her throat and wished she had some water. “Of course. Thank you again.”

After picking up his clipboard and scribbling on the top page, Mac handed her his prepared bid. “Here you go, Ms. O’Leary.”

 She accepted the papers. “I’ll be in touch, Mac.”

He leaned down to talk softly into her ear. “I do hope so. It’s not every day I get to rescue pretty ladies hanging from holes in the floor. Stay out of the attic, Hannah. And please listen.”

She laughed. “Promise.”

With one last flash of that killer smile, Mac left her to admire his retreating back as he stepped out into the blazing sun. She considered it a treat to watch his hips sway in that rugged fashion of a man on a mission, his long legs eating up the ground to the driveway.

While getting into his truck, he looked back at her, his inviting smile holding promise. Now she would have to decide whether or not to accept the invite to what would definitely be a very interesting encounter.

But first, she needed to check his references. And while she did that, she’d have her head examined for considering anything more than business with the smooth talking, sexy Southern contractor.

Chapter Two

Three hours later, with the humidity rising and her silk blouse clinging to her sweaty body, Hannah stared at the bid in her hand. The two other contractors she’d scheduled had failed to show for their appointments. Hannah had bought the property, thinking it would be fun to restore an old Civil War era house to its original luster. But boy, had she been mistaken. After calling one of the no-show contractors and being told outright that it required too much work and wasn’t worth it, disappointment filled her.

Mac’s bid was all she had to go on. She admired the neat penmanship and professional appearance of the document. Compared to previous bids, which had taken her forever to decipher the writing and understand the construction lingo, Mac’s was a dream. Precise, legible, everything broken down into concise detail for each part of the job—electric, plumbing, and carpentry. She had no trouble understanding his proposal.

She sat on the stairs, the same place where Mac had thoughtfully cleaned her wound. When memories of his large, strong hands on her slender legs surfaced, she quickly banished them. She would not, absolutely would
not
, be distracted by his outstanding physical appearance and sexiness when there remained business at hand. Although, the wetness between her legs said differently.

With each of her new business adventures, Hannah had gained measurable knowledge of the construction and renovation industry—except obviously how to walk in attics, her throbbing knee reminded her. The layman terms Mac had used were easy to follow, so his proposal helped her understand what kind of massive project she actually faced. When she looked at his total price, pleasant surprise jolted through her. Mac’s proved more than reasonable, and he could start in two weeks.

Hannah looked around, trying to envision her new restaurant, but the house was in too bad shape. Holes covered the walls, the scratches marred the floors, the paint peeled from the ceilings. When she’d bought it, the realtor had advised her that the house hadn’t been looked after for years, but she never imagined this. No wonder it had been a steal.

Her belly growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten lunch. She’d go into town, find coffee and food. Then with her full stomach and caffeine-energized brain, she’d get back to work.

Hannah retrieved her luggage from her car and hauled it upstairs to the small apartment above the main house. The real estate agent had explained the apartment served as servant’s quarters years ago. At least it stood in better condition than the main house. While the apartment needed serious renovations, updates, and redecorating, it wasn’t falling down around her.

Hannah changed into denim shorts and a white cotton tee and enjoyed instant coolness. Opening the front door, the afternoon heat and humidity asphyxiated her once again. The air hung thick while heat rose from the ground. She trudged to her car and turned the AC on full blast, reveling in the icy air stream before she drove away.

Large, old houses lined the narrow streets. Beautiful gardens beautified many front yards. Seeing a gas station, Hannah stopped for fuel and directions to a decent place to eat. A few minutes later, Hannah entered the Daylight Café, which was crowded with lunch patrons.

The charming restaurant boasted large windows, allowing the sunlight to shower the inside with bright rays. The large u-shaped countertop situated in the middle of the single room filled the space, and smaller tables sat scattered around the remaining area. Tantalizing aromas of grilled meats and veggies clung to the air. The noise level astonished her with everyone talking, laughing, shouting. For something that appeared chaotic at first, the café turned out to be a well-run establishment with lively customers and an ambience that screamed Southern hospitality.

A plump waitress approached her. “Honey, just take a seat. There’s room around the end of the counter.”

Trudging to where the woman had indicated, Hannah realized how exhausted she’d become, her legs feeling more like tree stumps. The only available seat sat between an elderly man and another guy with his back turned to her while he spoke with the person next to him.

A young waitress set down a menu in front of her along with a white ceramic cup and saucer, which she sloshed coffee into. Taking tiny cream containers from her apron, she dropped them next to the cup and walked away.

The man next to Hannah swung around. “Well, my day just got a hell of a lot better.”

Hannah immediately recognized the voice. Turning toward the husky sound, she confirmed she’d parked herself right next to Mac. Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh, really? Why’s that?”

He leaned closer and whispered, “Because I didn’t expect to see you here.”

The way his warm breath tickled her ear sent a delicious chill down her spine. “Well, it’s nice to be recognized. You’re the only one in town I know so far.”

When the waitress reappeared, Hannah turned her attention. “Could I have a chef salad, please? And keep the coffee coming.”

The waitress scribbled in her notepad, took the menu, refilled the coffee, and disappeared.

Hannah couldn’t help but squirm from the heat emanating from Mac’s body. With him practically on top of her, she wanted to push him aside, like that would even be physically possible. She wasn’t used to such closeness, and when his hard thigh brushed against her leg and his elbow bumped her arm, she spoke up. “Could you please move over? You’re squishing me.”

He raised an eyebrow and moved a millimeter away. A millimeter! The man was an ape! Couldn’t he see her distress at being overcrowded?

 “It’s no wonder you’re so skinny,” Mac said. “You can’t live on salads.”

“Just how do you know what I live on? And by the way, it’s rude to comment on what a lady chooses to eat.” Why was his cologne so noticeable and sexy?

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. You don’t know what you’re missing with the chicken salad club. Should have had that.”

“I’ll take my chances, thank you. Has anyone ever told you how pushy you are?”

He laughed. “Yeah, quite often. It comes natural to me. Like your stubbornness does to you.”

“You know, for a contractor you sure have a lot of time on your hands right now or else you wouldn’t be sitting there leisurely. Thought you were a busy man.”

He frowned. “I am. But I do like to eat. Unlike some people, I eat well to keep up my strength. I never skimp on my lunch time, my breakfast time, my dinner time.” He grinned wickedly, leaning closer to her ear. “Or my bed time. A man needs to feast.”

She bit her tongue, refusing to be sucked into his sexually suggestive conversation. But she also didn’t miss the twinkle in those deep blue eyes when he sat back. His eyes fascinated her too much, so she worked on her PDA, a perfect distraction to his hot body. Ogling the man in public wouldn’t be wise.

To her relief, Mac said nothing else but greeted everyone who passed by, obviously a very popular man. At least two young women smacked his cheek loudly with kisses, which for some reason unnerved Hannah. She wouldn’t call it jealousy, precisely, but more a sense of missing out on something amazing. After all, she couldn’t help but remember his strength, being pinned under him briefly after their unfortunate tumble down the stairs, and how those hands had roamed over her body. It had been so many years since she’d been intimate with a man, she couldn’t remember how long. Too long. But her sex life had never been amazing, so how could she miss something she’d never had?

Her chef salad arrived, and the waitress topped off her coffee. She hardly realized how hungry she felt, but the first bite tasted heavenly. Mac continued greeting people and making small talk with everyone. The café started to empty when people finished their lunches and went about their business. When Mac turned his attention back to her, she’d just taken the last bite of her salad and sipped her coffee.

Oh, how those gorgeous eyes studied her the moment they landed on her face.

“So, what did the other bidders have to say?” he asked.

“They were no-shows.” Not to mention they’d wasted her time.

“So, does that mean I get the job?”

She shrugged. “Not until I check your references.”

“Fair enough. You can ask anyone here if you’d like.”

She looked around the small café. “You provided some I plan to call this afternoon. I really do appreciate you placing a bid. Looks like you’re the only contractor around not afraid of a little hard work.”

“It’s one of the biggest projects I’ve worked on, but I do enjoy a good challenge.” His words drawled slow and sexy, and his lips curved slightly at one corner.

Damn, how would she ever work with him if she couldn’t even manage to sit on a lunch stool next to him without getting spikes in hormone levels?

“I can give you a call tonight if that’s okay.” She watched him closely, hoping that her tone didn’t give away her desire for him.

“Sure. Call me any time, Hannah.”

Now, why did it sound like those words held more promise than she wanted to admit?

Clearing her dry throat didn’t help her voice, so she sipped some water then spoke. “Would you mind telling me where I could find some industrial appliances to check out? I’m used to big cities with access to every kind of store.”

“You’ll get the same around here, but just got to travel a bit is all.” He wrote out some quick directions on a napkin and handed it to her. “This is where I suggest you order any appliances and fixtures. It’s only about a twenty-minute drive out of town. Tell them Mac sent you, and they’ll take good care of you.”

Hannah could think of some ways for Mac to take good care of her. They all involved their naked bodies, sweat, and lots of tongue action. Oh God, why did she want to fuck the one man able to help her with her restaurant? No way could she screw this up. Then she’d just be horny
and
stuck without a contractor.

“Thank you, Mac. You’ve been very kind to me. I think I’m going to like my stay in Charleston,” she said and smiled.

When he stood, the loss of heat from where his thigh had touched her leg was immediate. Looking down at her, his baby blues melted her on the spot. “You will enjoy your stay, Hannah. I promise.”

When his hand squeezed her elbow, she jumped. What was it about his touch that electrified her skin?

Mac bellowed goodbye to the remaining café customers before he walked to the door. “If any of y’all would like to do me a favor, I’d be mighty appreciative. It seems the lovely lady,” he said, letting his Southern drawl drag out the words, “right over there is looking for some confirmation on my references as a contractor. Maybe y’all could enlighten her on my work ethics and save her some time. Have a good day.”

After that speech, he whispered to the waitress and then winked at Hannah. He left the café without another word.

All the customers stared at Hannah. She quickly busied herself with preparing to pay the bill, but when the waitress returned, she only cleared the dishes.

“May I please have my check?”

“It’s paid for.”

“Paid for? By whom?”

“By Mac.”

“Of course,” she sighed, shoving her money back into her wallet. He’d already done too much for her. That act of kindness had been totally unnecessary.

The old man sitting next to Hannah spoke. “Mac’s the best contractor in this part of the world.”

“You can say that again,” another man said from down the counter. “Ain’t nothing that boy can’t fix, and when he fixes it, it stays fixed.”

Suddenly, Hannah grew interested in the conversations surrounding her.

Another man spoke up. “They don’t make boys like Mac anymore. His mama beams when she speaks of him doing so good for himself and all by himself too. Nope. Boy was never one to take a hand out, not even when God knows he deserved one.”

Hannah sensed a tight-knit group. “You mean he’s legit?”

“Legit? What’s that?” the old guy next to her asked.

“Well, I, um, mean is he trustworthy? Is he a legitimate businessman?”

The crowd around her laughed and made inaudible comments.

The old man next to her responded. “Mac is too honest to be a businessman, but he is one hell of a contractor. He’s got the best prices in the state and works so hard and so quickly he makes the rest of us look like bums.”