Debra Webb - In His Touch Box Set (Here To Stay, Up Close, Tempting Trace, Basic Instincts) Read Free Page B

How tough can a couple of home improvement contractors be?”
    Robert shifted the conversation to a brief overview of the honeymoon thus far as she made her way down the upstairs hall. Just when she thought her dear, sweet uncle would finally say goodbye, he set in about the redecorating again.
    “Everything is fine here. Yes, I read your note and reviewed the paint chips, wallpaper, and carpet swatches you left.” She sighed. “Yes, I’ll keep you up to date. I’m—”
    She came to an abrupt stop at the top of the stairs and did a double-take. A man wearing white overalls walked across the downstairs hall and out the front door. She shook her head, blinked and looked again. She had to be seeing things. As if to prove her wrong, the front door opened, the man came back inside and disappeared into the parlor.
    “I have to go, Robert. You and Ginny have a good time.” Paige pressed the off button and bounded down the stairs.
    When she reached the parlor her mouth dropped open. Three men in white overalls were painting. All the furniture had been moved to the center of the room and covered with large white drop cloths. The windows were bare of curtains. Clear plastic had been spread around the perimeter of the room to protect the floor.
    How did these guys get in? How long had they been here? A good while from the looks of things, she decided in answer to her own question.
    “Excuse me,” Paige announced. All three men stopped painting and turned to look at her. “How did you get in this house?”
    “We’re the painters,” the shortest of the three told her.
    Duh . “How did you get in?” she repeated.
    “We have a key,” the man she had instantly dubbed Shortie replied and patted his pocket. “We were scheduled to start at seven sharp this morning,” he added, as if she should know this information without asking.
    Paige just nodded. Who else had Robert given a key to? Another small town custom, she presumed. She suppressed a yawn and considered that, discounting the houseful of strangers, waking up without legal work hanging over her head was very nice. She had even slept a little late this morning for the first time in a long time. It felt good to pamper herself for a change.
    Coffee flitted through her mind, but she banished the temptation. No stress and no caffeine. “I’ll be at the barn if you need me for anything,” she called as she headed for the front door.
    She bounded off the porch into the bright morning. She lifted her face to the sun’s kiss and reveled in the sensation of warmth. An unexpected shiver that rattled her inside and out shook Paige as her thoughts wandered to her midnight visitor. Dawn had been creeping through the windows before she had managed to fall back to sleep. She’d had good reason for sleeping so late this morning. Nathan Blackrope had ruined what should have been a restful night. Of course, worries about the talk with him that she could no longer put off had wreaked havoc well before he had made his personal appearance.
    Heat flowed through her, warming her against the morning’s cool breeze, when she recalled Nathan’s ruthless kiss. There would not be a repeat performance of last night’s fiasco. Getting involved with him again wasn’t on her agenda. In fact, it held the number one spot on her list of things she never wanted to do again. No matter how her involuntary reflexes tried to prove otherwise, she wanted no part of his body touching hers. Even if just looking at him did make her burn, she wouldn’t allow it. No way, no how.
    The bond she and Nathan had shared still held a little too firmly to suit her. But she had learned her lesson with him the hard way. He didn’t care about her, probably never had. Not really anyway. And when all her cards were on the table, any lingering feelings he might harbor for her would vanish. He wouldn’t take it well. Of that she felt certain. That was the very reason she had no intention of telling him anything until