Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

Either way, she’s one person I need to keep at a distance.
    “Well, sorry to inform you, but you’re twenty-eight years too late.” He arched a brow, and she continued. “My mother died shortly after giving birth to me.”
    Oh hell. “What about your father?”
    “He passed away last year.”
    Oh double hell. Foot in the mouth issue, Collins? That’s not usually a problem you suffer from. Fucking snap out of it.
    Although she was trying to cover up the pain and extend her southern warm welcome, it was shining through her eyes. Mark watched her closely. Reading people was part of his job. What was it she wasn’t saying? The hurt seemed to include more than just losing both her parents, although that must have been hard enough. Something she didn’t want anyone to see. That only made him more curious. When things seemed odd, he made it his mission to find the answer. Nothing was as simple as it seemed to be, and that’s exactly what he thought looking at her.
    Mark reminded himself he was here for one reason only: to handle household repairs. Anything beyond that was off limits. And with how she looked at him, he knew it was already going to be difficult.
    “I’m working for you? You’re Hannah?” he asked even though he knew the answer. He just didn’t like it.
    “In the flesh and blood,” she replied sweetly, with a teasing roll of her shoulders.
    Damn. I should’ve left when I had the chance. As soon as she was late, that Jeep should’ve headed back to Buffalo. She would only be one thing—a complication. And I never have and never will allow any of those in my life. Don’t need them. The day Sissie told him about her cousin she’d played it off that Hannah was frail and older. It’d been a long time since anyone had been able to pull one on him. He had to give it to her. She was good. Mark had two options: ignore the lovely in front of him and do the job, or walk away and let her find someone more suitable.
    He reached out a hand and said, “I’m Mark Collins, your contractor for the next month or so.”
    She placed her delicate hand in his. It was cool and soft against his rough one. “Welcome, I’m Hannah Entwistle, the lucky person who has inherited this monstrosity of a home, and it looks like you’re the lucky man who’ll make it shine again.”
    Shine? How about we strive for sturdy? “Let’s see what we’re working with before you get your hopes up.” Mark already knew he wasn’t the right person for this job. If the exterior was any indication of what the interior looked like, this was going to need a crew, not one handyman, to whip it back into shape. He couldn’t even guarantee how long he was going to be on the job.
    “Why don’t you come on in, and I’ll show you where you can put your things while you’re here.”
    Mark thought she’d apologize for keeping him waiting so long out in the heat, but not one word. Could she really be that clueless? He’d been waiting almost two hours for her. He was so punctual that it drove people crazy. He didn’t expect everyone to feel the same as him, but this was ridiculous. “Do you know what time it is?”
    He stood there amazed at how carefree she was as she answered. “Nope, but I know it’s Saturday. A stress-free day.”
    Glad one of us isn’t stressed.
    “You know I lost an entire day’s work already.”
    “And you’re going to lose another one tomorrow. We don’t work on weekends. Things around here are much more relaxed.”
    And there is the answer why the house looks like it does. He wasn’t looking forward to sitting around for a second day. All he needed was to see what had to be fixed, and he’d make his own schedule, weekends included.
    Hannah turned and headed to the house.
    “Where are we going?” Mark asked, still standing by his Jeep.
    She turned back and said, “My apartment. I have a guest room ready for you.”
    There is no way she’s inviting a perfect stranger into her house. She should check my