Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) Read Free

wood hadn’t rotted away, and he was able to bang in the loose nails and reinforce the railing that was about to topple over. As he looked over his handy work, he knew it was only a start to what looked like a major renovation. Maybe I should call for reinforcements on this assignment.
    The first couple times he went on the road he’d traveled light, sometimes only with a change of clothes. He honestly hadn’t been looking for work back then, just a diversion. But over the last few years, he’d sought out people who needed a helping hand. He never had to look far, as times were tough and many had their hands out. That’s when he learned to travel prepared for almost anything. Not only did he have most tools to handle basic repairs, but also his duffle bag packed and ready in case he got the call. Usually, he made it back to the base first, but over the past year that hadn’t always been possible. Most assignments had been overseas, but trouble was now hitting closer to home than anyone wanted to admit. He and his team needed to be ready at a moment’s notice. On more than one occasion he’d had no choice but to leave a homeowner high and dry in the middle of a remodel without any explanation. He’d received many irate text messages from them without being able to defend his actions. All par for the course.
    He wasn’t worried about Hannah being pissed at him. Hell, she can’t even remember how to tell time, never mind noticing if I disappear.
    As he put his tools back in the Jeep, a yellow Volkswagen convertible pulled up beside him with a country love song blaring. He didn’t need to look to know the driver was young. There was no way this was Hannah. She was Sissie’s cousin and probably around her age.
    A woman wearing a light blue and white polka-dotted vintage dress got out of the car and walked over to him. The dress hugged her torso— and perfect full breasts —like a glove. It wasn’t the heat of the day getting him hot at the moment. He normally had more couth than to stare, but damn, he couldn’t bring himself to look away. Even the flared skirt, leaving her hips to his imagination, enticed him. It hadn’t been that long since he’d had a woman, but his body was reacting like it had been years.
    His eyes finally made their way back to her face. Stunning . Golden-blonde long, loose curls hung sweetly, enhancing her already young, innocent look. As his eyes met her deep green eyes, he was drawn to her even more. Beautiful, but dangerous as hell.
    “Excuse me, sir, can I help you with something?”
    She even had the voice of an angel. Whoever this woman was, she needed to go before he forgot he was a gentleman, never mind here to do a job.
    “Nope. I’m here to work, and you’re definitely not dressed to assist.” Hinder? Yes. Help? No. With her close by, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to hit a nail on the head. His eyes roamed her body from head to toe. Maybe his last few deployments were longer than most, but there was nothing he didn’t find appealing about her.
    If he thought he was making her uncomfortable, he was mistaken. Those inquisitive eyes of hers roamed up and down his body as though he was a prized bull. Keep looking at me like that, young lady, and we’re going to have an issue. A sweet, delicious issue.
    “Laaawdy. Sissie just became my favorite cousin.” Until then he hadn’t noticed her southern accent.
    Mark had been referred to this job by Sissie. But she was much older than this young thing. She looked to be in her early twenties, which freaked him out with the thoughts running through his mind. It had to be her mother he was here to meet, not her. Please, not her.
    “I think I’m here to meet your mother,” Mark said as he pulled a clean T-shirt out of his bag and pulled it over his head. She never took her eyes off him. Don’t tempt me to pull you into my arms and test how sweet and innocent you really are. Damn. I don’t know if I want her sweet or hot and wild.