by Amy Gamet
He wanted to. More than he had any right to want anything, he wanted to stay here and rub elbows with Lisa.
"Then I’ll do it," he said.
Chapter 8
Greg swung the sledgehammer into the side of a kitchen cabinet, pulling the wood from the wall with a satisfying crack. His hands might be demolishing a hundred year-old kitchen, but his mind was very firmly with Lisa.
When he rounded the corner at the top of the steps and saw her bare legs, the underwear barely covering her backside, he about fell to the floor. It had been all he could do not to yank her down from there and show her what a sight like that could do to a man.
"You’re stupid," he mumbled to himself, leveling the sledgehammer onto a piece of counter, which broke in half. All the women in the world and he’d just committed to spending the next month with that one. "Dumb as the day is long." He shook his head. "What were you thinking taking this job?"
I was thinking of Mrs. Addario.
She made him strudel when he came back to town. She welcomed him with open arms when she could just as easily have turned him away, and for that he would be forever grateful.
Grateful enough to put up with her daughter for a few weeks.
You’re kidding yourself, and you know it.
You were thinking of Lisa, and now you’re in trouble.
He had to set the tone, let Lisa know without a shadow of a doubt that nothing more was going to happen between them, no matter how much he was drawn to her physically. Hell, he was drawn to a lot of women physically, and he made a mental note to head on up to Syracuse sometime soon, where he knew a few who wouldn’t mind assuaging that kind of hunger.
It’s not just sex you want. It’s her.
He couldn’t get her out of his mind.
He took a swipe at a base cupboard and it barely moved, the sledgehammer vibrating back at him like a baseball bat, and he cursed. Determined now, he went after the cupboard with a vengeance until nothing remained but a scattering of splintered wood.
That was it, wasn’t it?
He didn’t need just any woman. He needed that one.
"What the hell are you doing?"
He turned around to find Lisa in the doorway carrying several shopping bags.
"I figured you were peeling wallpaper, so I could do a little remodeling down here."
She raised one hand. "You can’t just demolish an entire kitchen without talking to somebody first…"
"I’m kidding. Your mother asked me to do it."
She put her bags down on the floor. "Why?"
"To get more money when it sells."
She smiled, surprising him.
He put his hands on his hips. "There’s more. She wants you to design it."
"The kitchen?"
He nodded.
"Why me?"
"She seemed to think you’d be a natural."
"I can’t even decide where to put my toaster oven."
For a moment, he considered sharing his suspicions about her mother’s real reason for wanting Lisa to help, but thought better of it. It would only be fuel to the fire when Lisa got too close, which was bound to happen time and again while they worked on this project together.
I sure as hell can’t stay away from her.
She just walked in the room and already he was getting excited.
Lisa raised one eyebrow. "Do I get to do whatever I want?"
"I don’t think you should pave the countertops with diamonds, if that’s what you mean. But within reason, why not?"
She smiled. "This might be fun." She looked around the room intently, moving to the doorway to get a different perspective. "We can put in an island."
"Sure."
She crossed the room and her foot caught on one of her bags, knocking it over and spilling its contents.
Greg moved to pick things up.
"No, no, thanks. I’ve got it," she said.
He picked up a can of butane. "Doing a little welding?"
She snatched it out of his hand. "None of your business."
He chuckled. "Did you have lunch with a plumber or something?"
"I said it’s none of your business." She stood up, gathering her shopping bags in her arms. "I have a few things to take care of."
"We need to plan a kitchen, you and me. I don’t have a lot of time, either. I have to start work on the Wojtyna place on the first of the month."
"All right, I’ll just go put this stuff away." She moved to the garage door. "I sure hope you know what you’re doing, or this could go horribly, horribly wrong."
"I’ve got you covered, sweetheart. You’ve just got to pick everything out, and leave the hard stuff to me." He winked. "I have to smash things now."
"Go for it."
* * *
Lisa carried her bags into the garage, stashing them behind some old tools on the workbench.
She’d thought he was going to be gone now that the bathroom was finished, and while she was nothing less than thrilled to see him standing in the kitchen, it threw a wrench into her own construction plans.
She looked around the garage. Yes, if Greg was going to be working here, she’d need to work on her sculpture somewhere else. She’d met with Mayor Tucker and offered her services to fix up the Veterans Memorial, suggesting the addition of a new sculpture and that the whole thing be moved to the waterfront park right in town. The mayor was more than happy to oblige, now that the project could be completed for just a fraction of the cost she’d expected.
Lisa was itching to get started on it, and now she needed to find another space to work in. Maybe Melanie’s husband had some room at the winery she could use, but until she found somewhere, she didn’t want Greg finding any of her drawings or materials.
She walked back inside. "If you’re going to be working here, you have to stay in the kitchen. No wandering the hallways unannounced."
"If you’d wear clothes like a normal person, and lock the door when you take a shower, we wouldn’t have a problem."
"That wasn’t what I meant."
"No?"
"No. I just need my privacy."
He walked toward her slowly. "Privacy."
"Yes."
"I’m not sure what that means. Are you saying you don’t mind if I walk in on you in the shower?"
She felt her cheeks flood with color. She was pretty sure he was kidding, but now that he said it, she didn’t look away from the challenge in his eyes. "No."
His eyes darkened. "Or see you in your underwear?"
Her stomach did a somersault. "No."
"Then what’s this privacy you’re talking about?"
"Never mind. It doesn’t matter."
He dropped his head for a moment, then brought it back up. "Your mother asked me to do the kitchen, and you know what my first thought was?"
"Hmm?"
"That I’d have to kiss you again. I can’t control myself."
She lifted her chin and his mouth teased hers. She was on fire from his words, her body eagerly pressing against his, little moans of pleasure in her throat as her hands skated across his body.
"I like it when you kiss me," she whispered against his lips. "When you press your body into mine."
He turned her around and pushed her against the last remaining kitchen counter, fisting his hands in her hair and holding her against him as he’d dreamed. "Like this?"
"Yes."
A voice behind them and they broke apart.
"Whoa, my gosh…I’m sorry…" Melanie stood in the doorway, holding up her hand. "I should have knocked."
Lisa looked at Greg, who was wiping his bottom lip and staring back at her.
She turned to her sister. "What’s up, Melanie?"
"You know, I can come back another time."
"What is it?"
"I was just in the neighborhood and I thought maybe you’d start going through the attic with me." She waved her hand. "I should have called."
Greg spoke up. "I have a lot to do her
e to finish up the demo today. I mean, if you guys want to…"
"Sure," said Lisa. "Sure, yeah. Let’s do that."
"You don’t have to," said Melanie.
Lisa shrugged. "It’s fine, really. Great." Her sister was finally asking for help, and there was no way Lisa was going to send her away, even if it meant postponing her make-out session with Greg and the wallpaper project for a while.
Melanie turned and left the room. Lisa turned to Greg, wondering if he might be willing to pick up where they’d left off later, and he grabbed her face with both hands, planting another kiss on her lips before releasing her.
She could feel herself glowing.
Looks like a yes to me.
"Have fun in the attic," he said.
* * *
Lisa sat in an old rocking chair, pulling things out of boxes. In the half an hour they’d been in the attic, neither of them had said two words about Lisa’s kiss with Greg.
She eyed Melanie out of the corner of her eye and saw her sister’s cheeks were still stained crimson. Lisa frowned. "Are you still in love with him, Mel?"
Melanie put down the Christmas decorations she’d been fussing with and met Lisa’s stare. "No."
"Then why do I feel like there’s a five-hundred pound elephant in the room? Is it just because we’re sisters?"
"Greg is vulnerable right now. He’s been through a lot, Lisa. Things you don’t understand."
"I know more than you might think."
Melanie bit her lip. "But I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on inside his head. That’s what worries me. He’s not the same man he used to be."
"Of course, he is."
"No." She shook her head. "He does a fairly good impression sometimes, especially when he laughs or smiles at just the right moment. But Greg today is nothing like the Greg I remember."
Lisa reached into a box and pulled out a strand of garland. "How is he different?"
"Did he tell you what happened?"
"I know he left town for two years. I know about the memorials."
Melanie nodded. "I’ve had a long time to think about this, and I think the best way to explain it is that every reason he had for doing everything in his life completely turned on its head."
"Like medical school."
"Exactly. He went from wanting to save the world to being terrified of being responsible for a single life." Melanie met Lisa’s eyes. "I know you don’t understand, and you’ll think I’m asking this for all the wrong reasons, but I want you to stop seeing him, Lisa."
Lisa’s eyes went wide. "What?"
"You haven’t been back long enough for it to be too serious. End it now, before somebody gets hurt."
"But I like him."
"And I’m sure he likes you, but he isn’t capable of any kind of real relationship right now."
"Just because things didn’t work out between the two of you doesn’t mean he can’t be with anyone."
"I’m still his friend. I know he’s still struggling."
Lisa wrapped the garland into a tight circle, the plastic berries scraping the inside of her palm. "Maybe you were too good for him."
Melanie rolled her eyes. "Don’t do this again."
"No, Mel, I mean it. You’ve always been so together, you don’t know what to do when things fall apart. But me? I’ve always been a little broken. It doesn’t scare me that he has scars. The only thing that scares me is that he might think I’m too messed up for him."
"Will you think about it, at least?" Melanie pleaded. "Just consider it, for me? There are a lot of good men in this world. You don’t have to go after that one."
"But that’s just it." Lisa shook her head. "I’m starting to think that I do."
* * *
Greg was sweaty and dirty and tired with the feeling of an honest day’s labor behind him. Now he leaned against the kitchen wall and wondered what the women were doing. Melanie finding them kissing had been awkward, but she hadn’t seemed as upset as he would have expected considering their conversation the other night.
Sure, it was difficult that they were sisters, but he didn’t find the situation insurmountable, and he hoped like hell Melanie would change her mind.
"Hey," said Melanie, appearing in the doorway. "We’re all done up there for today."
"How’d it go?"
"Good. I was just finishing up the last of the high school yearbooks, and Lisa went back to her wallpaper project." She crossed her arms. "I’m sorry I interrupted earlier."
"It’s okay."
She crossed her arms. "Greg, I really think you should…"
He held up his hand to stop her. "Don’t say it."
"What?"
"Don’t say I shouldn’t be with her. I know I have no business trying to be somebody she can rely on. I’m know I’m damaged goods. But I can’t seem to stop it, Mel. I’ve tried, and I can’t, and truth be told I don’t want to stop. Maybe I can do it this time. Maybe I can do better."
Melanie smiled. "I was going to say you should put in an island."
He hung his head and she laughed.
"And Greg? About Lisa… Maybe you can."
He nodded. "Thanks."
"You’re welcome. Goodnight."
He headed for the stairs, anticipation brewing as he pushed open the bedroom door. There was a white lamp on the dresser and a cool breeze blew in through the windows. The wallpaper was gone, and she was sitting on the floor, washing the walls with a sponge, a bucket of water beside her.
She was beautiful, and his mouth went dry.
"Hi," she said. "How’s the kitchen?"
"Good. I’m done with demo."
"Nice. So am I." She smiled. "Well, almost. It’s a real pain in the neck to get the glue off these walls."
"I know. I’ve done it." He looked around. "How’d it go in the attic?"
She wobbled her head. "We made it through half of it."
"I meant between you two."
"I think we’re going to be okay. We’ve connected more since I’ve been back here than we have in my entire adult life." She smiled. "Sit with me?"
He moved to sit beside her on the floor. "What are you thinking?" he asked.
Her eyes flicked to his. "I’m wondering how long it’s going to take you to kiss me."
"Oh, yeah?"
"So far, I’m the one who’s done all the kissing," she teased.
"That’s not true. I laid one on you in the kitchen earlier."
"It’s still your turn."
He leaned forward and tilted her chin up for his kiss as a warm breeze blew through the room. He pushed the bucket of water out of the way and came to her, his body desperate for hers.
Dipping his head, he trailed kisses down the side of her neck. "I was so worried you wouldn’t want me," he ground out against her flesh.
"I can’t stop wanting you."
Her fingernails lightly scraped the back of his neck, his shoulders through his shirt, and he pulled his shirt over his head and onto the floor. He stood up, pulling her with him. "Shower with me."
"Okay."
His body leapt to life. "I’ve wanted to shower with you since I first saw you in there, all naked and soapy."
"Saw me?"
"I could see your reflection in the faucet."
Lisa’s stare was intense as she lifted her shirt over her head, completely naked underneath.
Greg growled and pulled her against him, touching her first with his hands and following with his lips. "That’s what I remember."
She tugged him toward the bathroom. "I’ve left the door unlocked when I showered, just in case you came back."
He smiled devilishly. "Now you tell me." She wanted him, and he wasn’t going to fight his own desire any longer.
Chapter 9
It was dark, the breeze that blew in through the window now chilly and crisp, but Lisa was warm, snuggled against Greg’s side. She felt sated and decadent, the past few hours more physically satisfying than any she’d ever know
n.
His breathing was slow and rhythmic, and she thought he was asleep.
I’m so not sorry.
She hadn’t slept with Greg to spite Melanie’s wishes, but rather in spite of them, though she worried a continued relationship with Greg would affect her relationship with Melanie.
She closed her eyes.
Please, don’t make me choose.
Now that she had both of these people in her life, she didn’t want to lose either of them.
That was if Greg wanted to take this further. Her eyes popped open, worry creasing her brow. She thought she’d read the signals right and he was interested in more than one night together, but it was such unfamiliar territory. She felt like a teenager brand new to the dating scene.
"What’s the matter?" he asked.
"I thought you were sleeping."
"I’m not."
"What makes you think anything’s the matter?" she asked.
"I can feel your eyelashes on my chest. You keep opening and closing your eyes like you’re worried."
She raised herself up on one elbow. "Are you kidding?"
"About the eyelashes? No." He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "About the worrying thing? That was just a guess."
She frowned and settled back into the crook of his arm. "I was feeling like the bull in the china shop." He stroked her back and she closed her eyes again. "I’m not on the steadiest footing with my family."
"And you’re worried being with me might topple you over."
"Yes. It’s not really you, though. I’ve always been on shaky ground with them. The reason why just depends on when you ask."
"Why do you think it is?"
"I’m difficult. I’ve always been the black sheep in the family, and Melanie’s a people-pleaser. She helps people and makes them happy, and I come around and ruin everything. My dad was the only one who knew I was trying my best, that it was just harder for me that way. Why am I telling you this?"
"Because I want to know."
Lisa wondered again if this was a casual thing for him or if he wanted more. She bit her lip, not knowing what to say.
"Thank you, Lisa."
She furrowed her brow. "For what?"
"For choosing me when it would have been easier to walk away. It may not always be easy, and it may not even work out."