Any Way You Build It: An Upper Crust Novel, Book 6 (Upper Crust Series)

by McDonell, Monique

  “Yeah, that too,” his brother said, grinning. “Lucky me. I nearly let my own pigheadedness stop me from letting it happen. Don’t be pigheaded.”

  He oinked at his brother’s retreating back before calling down the stairs after him. “Thanks for the sub.”

  There was a possibility Mike was right and that Sarah might be the one for him. That was if he believed there was a one for him and that he was going to end up with a life of endless happiness. He looked around the tree house. He already had a great house, an amazing job running his own company on his own terms, and good friends. He was already getting a lot more out of life than your average Joe. He didn’t think he was likely to get love as well. He was a gambling man, but he didn’t see the dice rolling that way for him.

  He still didn’t know what to do about the weekend. He felt like he was going to be damned if he did or damned if he didn’t. Then again if he did, he would get to see Sarah in a swimsuit. He just couldn’t decide if that was going to be a bonus or torture.

  His phone rang, and he pushed all that out of his mind and focused on the business matters he needed to deal with or he wouldn’t be going away for the weekend either. Business, that was what needed his focus. Not women in bikinis, not kids, not baseball practice, just software and business.

  “Hey, Brad, what do you need?”

  Sarah decided to take Livi with her and join the boys for baseball practice. The truth was she was kind of bored and she wanted to see how Zach had improved. Todd did a double take when he saw them all waiting, but he didn’t say anything. In fact, his phone rang twice and he told them to go ahead, he’d catch up.

  That kept conversation to a minimum on the walk.

  All she could hear were his exasperated mumblings from behind. She and Livi were settled under a shady tree when he came jogging up.

  “Sorry, troubleshooting.” He gave an apologetic smile.

  “It is three on a workday. No need to apologize.”

  Zach was heading out onto the field and he followed him, grabbing him from behind, flipping him upside down, and dangling the boy from his ankles. The child’s peals of laughter floated back to Sarah across the stadium. He might have been distracted, but he was a good guy.

  “I like Todd.” Livi’s voice took her attention. “Was Daddy like Todd?”

  It was a hard thing to be a child who didn’t remember her own father, but Livi had never even met hers. “A little bit. Your dad was a different kind of good guy to Todd, but they have that in common.”

  “Did he like baseball?” Livi had her coloring book out on the wheelchair’s tray and was coloring while she asked. Sarah had no idea. She remembered him watching it on television from time to time.

  “He did.” When answering her children’s questions about their father, Sarah often didn’t have the answers and she did her best to keep the answers short in the name of accuracy in those moments. “He went for the White Sox.”

  Her eyes drifted back to where the boys were pitching and hitting out on the field. She saw Kevin and Oliver arrive and the boys jumped up and down with excitement. It seemed like the two were natural friends. She looked at Livi. She needed friends. Sarah supposed she would need to find her a kindergarten for next year. It made her sick with nerves the idea of her going off like that. What if something else happened? What if the kids didn’t accept her? One day at a time. She had no reason to think that. Livi was a sweet and friendly kid. Before the accident, she’d been outgoing and confident, a natural leader in the way second children often were.

  Kevin gave her a wave and she returned it. Todd turned and gave her a smile. She had an excellent view of his fine butt from here. She couldn’t touch, but she could look.

  He seemed adamant he wasn’t having a family, and yet he was so good with kids. It seemed a waste. And he was cute; he’d probably have cute kids. She shook her head. She didn’t need to be imagining what the man’s children would look like. Seriously? What was wrong with her?

  Zach came racing over, Oliver on his heels. “Did you see me, Mom?”

  “I sure did. You’re doing so well.”

  “Thanks. I’m really trying. I think Todd is a good teacher, too.”

  “I think you’re right, Zach. Make sure you thank him. Hey, Oliver, you’re looking good out there, too.”

  “Thanks. Can Zach come over to my place? Kevin says it’s okay if you say it’s okay.”

  “Sure.” She smiled at the boys. “Except I need to ask Kevin for directions to come pick Zach up because I haven’t been to your place.”

  “Oh yeah,” the boy said with a wide smile. He was a sweet kid. She knew his father was also dead and his mother was gone. That probably made him a good match for Zach if they ever decided to do more than ride bikes and jump in mud puddles. “I forgot.”

  Kevin and Todd came ambling over, chatting and smiling like the old friends they obviously were.

  “Hey, Sarah, is it okay if he comes over?”

  “Of course.” She pulled out her phone and plugged their address into her phone. “Thanks.”

  “Does Livi want to come?” Kevin asked. “The girls are home.”

  Her eyes went wide with the wonder of opportunity.

  “Are you sure?”

  He gave her a nod. “If you want to come, honey?”

  She gave a shy nod.

  “I guess that’s settled.”

  And in a matter of minutes, it was just her and Todd sitting under a tree in a park. And Sarah realized not since the day of Livi’s accident six months earlier had she truly been alone, without her kids or a commitment.

  Todd was sitting on the grass beside her, and he gave her sideways glance.

  “You want to go home?”

  She really didn’t. “I haven’t been alone without my kids in at least six months . . .”

  He stood up and reached out his hand for her to take it. “Right then, you need to have some fun.”

  “Fun? What is this fun you speak of?” She took his hand and warmth spread through her body.

  Touching Todd felt like it could be a whole lot of fun. Especially if she could touch more of him so when he pulled her up, she overbalanced and slammed against him. “Oops.”

  He didn’t push her off. Instead, he let his free arm weave around her back so she was pushed against him.

  “I don’t mean that kind of fun, Sarah.”

  “Pity, it’s been even longer since I’ve had that kind of fun.” She made sure she didn’t break eye contact.

  “You know that would be a very bad idea, right?”

  She let her voice drop to a husky whisper. “I know, but sometimes it feels so good to be bad.”

  #

  Todd felt his heart stop. It was decision time. This was the moment. He was pretty sure this offer would not be on the table again any time soon. His head said say no but the rest of him wasn’t listening because he dropped Sarah’s hand from his, which found the back of her neck to pull her mouth up closer to his.

  “Is that so?”

  She licked her lips. “Uh huh.”

  He could feel the soft curves of her body pressed against his as he lowered his mouth to hers in a firm kiss that tasted sweeter than he’d even anticipated. When she ran her tongue along the seam of his mouth, he met the challenge and opened up for her, their tongues twining together. Somewhere in the distance, he heard a car horn and it reminded him they were in the middle of town in broad daylight and he lifted his mouth from hers. He held her firm, their chests rising and falling against each other.

  “Thanks,” was all she said.

  “You’re welcome. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.” He put his arm around her shoulder and led her down the incline toward the baseball field and toward Main Street.

  “You ever make out under those bleachers?” she asked, cocking her head toward them.

  “Once.”

  “Want to do it again?”

  “I want to, but it’s a bad idea.”

  “Be
cause of me?”

  “No,” he gave her a grin, “because they’ve built dressing rooms under there now, there’s no space.”

  “Oh. Who’d you make out with? Anyone I know?”

  “Tori Stephanovik. She just had twins. Back then I was in love with her younger sister, but she wanted me to take her to prom. She used her powers of persuasion.”

  “Oh. Did you ever get the sister?”

  “Do we really need to discuss this now?”

  “Just curious.” She shrugged into his armpit.

  “Yeah, actually, I did. She was two years younger. When I came back between sophomore and junior years, she was heading off to college and my mom was selling up the house. I didn’t think I’d ever come back here, and so we made out up at the lake.” Emma had been a bright spot in a very dark summer. They were still in touch.

  “So you got the girl?”

  “Kind of. She’s down in Connecticut. She’s a music teacher.”

  “Do you keep track of all your exes?”

  “It’s a pretty exclusive club.” He looked down and gave her a smile. “I like women, and I’ve certainly liked the ones I’ve spent time with. Why wouldn’t I keep in touch?”

  “It seems logical . . . and yet.”

  “Did you know that’s the oldest hardware store in the state?” he said, pointing out Donaldson’s and continuing his tour to the new bar that had opened up in a small side street off Main.

  The bar was owned by a former Olympic kayaker who had been injured and was looking for a new start. He was into gaming, and Todd had met him at a couple of conventions before he decided to settle in town. Mitch Roberts wasn’t a household name, but in certain sporting circles, he was a legend.

  The bar was in an old warehouse building and opened up onto a covered deck in the back. It had only been open a couple of weeks and it had been a soft opening. The official opening was next week. Todd knew it would be quiet at this time of day so that made it a great place to have a drink with Sarah without the whole town talking, and he could check on Mitch, too. Todd had been so preoccupied with Sarah and the kids he hadn’t checked in much lately.

  The door swung open and they were met by the smell of fried food and beer.

  “How did I not know about this place?’ Sarah asked.

  “Just opened. I’ll introduce you to Mitch, the owner.”

  Mitch was standing behind the bar talking to a couple of college-aged women when he saw Todd and gave him a warm greeting.

  “Hey, man, I wondered where you got to.” Todd watched Mitch give Sarah the once-over. His eyes traveling up and down her body. When his eyes met Todd’s, the stare he got back was back off. “And who do we have here?”

  “I’m Sarah,” she said. “New to town.”

  “Me, too. What can I get you guys? We do cocktails . . .”

  “Oh, yummy.” A smile lit her face. “It’s been a while between drinks.”

  “We’re going to the deck,” Todd said, and they headed out. He held her seat out for her.

  “A gentleman. Who knew?”

  “The least I can do after ravishing you in broad daylight,” he said, handing her a cocktail menu. “What’s your poison?”

  She settled on a daiquiri and he chose a beer and some onion rings and went and ordered.

  “New girlfriend?” Mitch asked as he took his order.

  “Friend, who is a girl . . . I really don’t know.”

  “Okay then. If you’re not interested . . .”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Sarah was taking in the joint when he walked back toward her.

  “So, this is nice . . .”

  “The bar or being a grown-up for a few minutes?”

  “Both to be honest.” She gave him a sweet smile. “I did like that bit in the park a lot, too.”

  “Yeah, about that . . .”

  She lifted a finger to his lips. “I get it. Complicated. How about we keep it uncomplicated and enjoy our drinks?”

  “Sure,” he said, kissing the finger before she removed it. It was weird to be on the other end of that conversation. Todd was usually giving the let’s keep this casual chat to women, not the other way around. And she had just said she’d enjoyed the kissing and he certainly had so that wasn’t it.

  Mitch brought the drinks, and she proposed a toast. “To stolen moments.”

  Their glasses clinked, and then she took a sip of her drink and the sheer ecstasy of her sipping the drink through the straw nearly had him leaning across the table kissing her then and there. Especially when she let out a sexy little sigh. He wanted to hear that sigh again and not because of a cocktail.

  “Good, huh?”

  “Delicious. Have a sip.” He obliged and it was good he agreed. He took a moment to take her in. Her sweet face and her joy at being footloose and fancy free even for a few minutes. She was a good mother, there was no doubt about that, but she’d been struggling for so long alone. It made his heart clench to think of all the joys she’d been denied. Small things and large had been put aside for those kids, especially lately.

  “Did you think about the studio idea since we talked?”

  She took another sexy sip and nodded. “Oh yeah, I’ve thought of nothing else. Depending on the price I get for Big Blue, I was thinking of maybe selling a couple of antiques that I need to move anyway for Livi’s chair to squeeze around the house more easily. I think that will cover the flooring and the mirrors and ballet barres, etc. I thought I’d aim to be ready when school starts. Start the classes then.”

  “That’s great.” And it was. She grabbed a napkin and pulled a pen from her bag and sketched out her design plans. They were simple and really achievable. It was infectious to see her pumped up about it.

  “I’m pretty sure Kevin can do all the labor for you. He’s really good,” Todd said, before swiping an onion ring from the basket.

  “I noticed that when you guys were working on the ramp. He said he helped with the tree house, too.”

  “He built the tree house. He lets me think I did it, but I know he did all the hard stuff and any fancy craftsmanship is him.”

  “Did he think that was kind of odd when you booked him for the job?”

  “Probably, but he was the only one in town who didn’t let on. My tree house is just outside the town limits. It’s why I bought that house. It’s rural land technically, so I could build what I wanted because most townies thought I was a lunatic.”

  “Are you?” Her eyebrows rose quizzically.

  “Sure. Then again, my tree house is my place of business and it isn’t hurting a soul.”

  “That’s true.” She licked some salt from the onion rings off her fingers and Todd wished he was doing it.

  “Sometimes the negative of small-town life is that everyone is supposed to fit a mold. I don’t always want to.”

  “Yeah, but then you’re such a nice guy everyone forgives you, is that how it goes?”

  “Something like that.”

  “So you don’t think I should start my dance studio with burlesque classes then?”

  He let out a laugh. “I, for one, would love it if you did. It’d shake the place up a bit. I think you’d get people coming down from the college, too, but I’m not sure it would be your best business strategy.”

  “Softly, softly . . .”

  “Exactly.”

  “So why did you come back here then after college? Your mom had moved, you had no family here . . .”

  “That’s a long story.”

  “I have time.”

  “Sure, but I don’t think you want to spend it with me rabbiting on about my childhood.”

  She gave him a very wicked grin. “That’s true. I know exactly how I want to spend it, and it’s not talking.”

  Todd stood up so fast his chair fell over. He righted it, threw a large bill down on the table, and practically dragged her out of the bar.

  Yeah, he didn’t much feel like talking either.

  When
they made it back to the street, a twinge of nerves finally hit Sarah. Was Todd right, was this going to make things weird between them from here on out? She didn’t want that but she did want him. It was a dilemma. He looked over at her as if he knew what she was thinking and stopped.

  “So, I’m thinking that this is, as I’ve said before, probably a bad idea.”

  “I know.” She bit her lip.

  “And I don’t want there to be anything strained between us.”

  “Yeah, me either.” She knew it was up to her. She’d started this, and he would let her off the hook if she’d changed her mind. She really didn’t have the energy to have to avoid Todd wherever she went in town if things went wrong here. And yet a huge part of her really wanted this. He walked her to her door.

  “So . . . maybe we should just nip this in the bud, before we get in too deep.”

  She swung the door open. Was that what she wanted? That’s what she should do. She turned back to face him, and he shut the door behind them.

  “Or?”

  There was an or? Excellent. “Or?”

  His mouth came down on hers as he backed her up against the door. His hands were woven into her hair as their tongues met, and she felt her bones melt inside her body limb by limb. First, her scalp became liquid, and then everything between there and her toes as he kissed her like she couldn’t remember being kissed ever. He kept his hand in place, but his body was pressed hard against hers. He was hard and holding her in place, and she was molten.

  He pulled back. “We could just do that from time to time.”

  “Just that?” Her breathing was ragged and slow.

  “Yeah, just that. Nothing more.”

  That was very appealing, just that alone was great but . . . “What if I want more?”

  “Well, we can renegotiate down the track, I suppose, but maybe for now, that’s enough.”

  “I feel like I’m sixteen again.”

  “Sixteen was good,” he said. “Full of promise and adventure. Stolen kisses, hidden corners . . .”

  “The promise of things to come . . .”

  “Exactly.”

  She took his mouth in hers. If this was all they were going to do, then she might as well get to it. She gripped the front of his T-shirt and pulled him even closer, if that were possible. His lips left hers and he kissed the soft spot below her ear that made her head go back and down her neck to her collarbone. And then he kissed his way back up her neck to her mouth again. Hot damn, no one kissed her like that at sixteen.