Everything You Need Read Free

a success. A road she didn’t want
her thoughts to go down, not so soon after being cut off at the
knees.
    Hazel blew out a breath and quelled the memories at
the same time. Glancing to the left, her eyes zeroed in on the
high-stepped porch. Not bothering to brush off the sand, she limped
up the walkway.
    Closer to the house now, she could see its poor
condition. From experience the wear of the salt sea air would only
affect the exterior. At one time the house might have been white.
The now yellowed paint curled back and patches of the wooden frame
showed through.
    By the time her feet hit the planks she had
identified the damaged wood. The house still had good bones. And
maybe the owners liked the house to look lived in and forgotten.
She let out a breath as the pain in her left calf subsided.
    “This isn’t a squatters’ convention,” a voice
bellowed above her.
    Hazel gaze flicked upward and then her mouth dropped
open. A man, an Adonis stood on the edge of the roof. The morning
sun kissed golden, taut muscles. A tool belt was slung over narrow
hips and, because of it, the denim jeans rode dangerously low. She
followed the line of hair leading down to the edge of the jeans.
The sight of him wiped out any depressing thoughts.
    She wet her lips, imagining what lurked beneath those
denims. Her eyes made it past his chest to his face. Eyes the color
of emeralds stared down, and all she could do was stare.
    Work had also taken up her love life, which was the
only explanation she had for not biting this man’s head off in
reply. She closed her mouth, cleared her throat. Why hadn’t he said
anything else to break the moment?
    “I was just resting.” She cleared her throat again,
putting more authority in her voice. “Didn’t think anyone lived
here.”
    “I do, and I would kindly ask you to get off my
property.”
    Her head jerked back at his tone. “Well, sorry. It’s
not my fault the house looks like it should have been re-painted a
century ago.”
    He didn’t speak, but snarled unintelligibly. He might
as well have had one eyebrow, a hunch in his back, and talked in
monosyllables, from the way he acted. Thank God she listened to her
head more often than her hormones.
    “Excuse me,” she said, but hoped it sounded like up
yours. A rotted shingle could soon be the end of him anyway.
    The snarl turned to confusion and he squinted at her.
The reaction made her wonder if he had split personalities. Kind of
like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, rude one moment and nice the next.
She wasn’t sticking around to find out.
    She started to walk off, but whirled back around at
the loud thud behind her. The man had climbed down and then dropped
to the porch; he had to be insane. She was more surprised, though,
that the planks hadn’t gave under the unexpected weight.
    “What?” She still had to tilt her head to meet his
gaze. “You forget to say something rude?”
    “What’s your name?”
    Hazel snorted and marched down the walkway. His
footfalls sounded behind her and then a warm, rough hand brushed
her elbow. She sucked in a breath. “What?”
    Close up he had those smoldering eyes people talked
about. A strong jaw line, two eyebrows, and lips that made her toes
curl in her shoes, picturing what he could do with them.
    “I’m sorry,” His voice held a small accent Hazel
couldn’t place. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
    His pocket started to play a Frank Sinatra tune.
Following the line of hair again, she glanced down. His stomach
muscles looked cut from stone. The man closed his eyes for a
moment. “I’ve been on the edge.”
    “So, I looked like a good candidate to yell at?”
    The tune continued to play. “Let me make it up to
you. Drinks at the local bar. It’s kind of an upscale place, not a
dive. On me. I think they even serve fresh lobster.”
    She pursed her lips. Borderline personality. Had to
be. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.” She started to turn.
    “Wait.”
    He slid his fingers across her