My Best Friend's Ex Read Free Page B

isn’t that why you enjoy doing it?”
    His eyes met hers, and an electric current zipped
through the center of her body. She gripped her hands into knots to keep from
brushing a smear of paint from his cheek.
    A wicked grin bloomed on his face, and her insides
melted. He set down the tray and stood. “So do you want to get messy?”
    Tempted, she raised an eyebrow. “How messy are we
talking?”
    He stepped closer. “Depends on the task, some jobs
only require you get your hands dirty. Others...” His gaze fell to her breasts,
and he rubbed his hands along his thighs. “Involve a shower.”
    Need sizzled through her body. What was he suggesting?
    She pointed to the paint on his shirt and ran a finger
over the smudge on his cheek. Should she take him up on his offer?
    Thunder boomed outside and warned her of impending
danger. Could she weather the changes a relationship with him would cause?
    His dark brown gaze captured her heart, and she swayed
closer to the strong haven of his arms. “And do you take this shower alone or
with your helper?”
    He caught her around the waist and tugged her close.
“A partner is always welcomed.”
    The steady beat of his heart greeted her hands, and
she marveled at his warmth. Why did being in his arms feel so right?
    “I want you to be completely satisfied with whatever...”
He lowered his head and his mouth hovered inches from hers. “Project we’re
trying to accomplish.”
    Energy shot through her body when his lips met hers.
Messy or not, she refused to deny herself the thrill of being in his arms,
enjoying his kisses, or simply spending time with him.
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled
deeper into his embrace. The erotic stroke of his tongue against her lips
invited her to let him inside her mouth. Unable to deny him, she sighed with pleasure
at his invasion.
    His hold tightened, and their bodies lay plastered
together from their shoulders to their knees. Only their clothes separated
them, but his heat seared her, melting through her resistance and filling her
with a need to have so much more. She wanted to remain in his arms for the rest
of the evening.
    All too soon, he pulled back and stared down into her
face. “So what’s it going to be? Do we finish this project and head upstairs
for a shower? Or do I put all this away and go upstairs alone?”

Chapter Six
     
    An eternity passed before Brooke smiled.
    She stepped back and worked her way out of his arms.
    Reluctantly, he released his grip and watched as she
surveyed the surrounding walls.  Deciding her silence meant she intended to
take the second option, he moved to where he’d left the paint roller. “It
shouldn’t take me long to clean this up. Let me use the last of the paint in
this roller, and then I’ll take care of this mess.”
    “Can I use your shirt?” She worked her jacket off her
shoulders and slipped it off her arms.
    Confused by her question, he glanced at her dark blue
jeans and off-white, cotton sweater. She wasn’t exactly dressed to paint. 
Making the connection, he fingered the buttons of his shirt, releasing them
quickly from their mooring. “Sure, but you should probably take off your jeans
too. You don’t want to get paint on them.”
    “Is this an exchange? My pants for your shirt?” She
grinned and continued, “Because if it is, I’m getting the better part of the
bargain.”
    “Then we have a deal?” He slipped his shirt off and
handed it to her before she had time to change her mind. If she enjoyed the
view of him running around without his shirt, he saw no reason to complain.
Especially if it’d help get her out of her clothes.
    “Gosh, you must spend hours in the gym. You are
ripped.” She slipped her arms into the sleeve of his shirt and stared at his
chest.
    “Probably no more than you do. From what I remember
you were fast becoming a gym rat, too.” He turned his back to her and bent to
retrieve the roller. He had to get back to work or he might