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

ID, confirm that I am who I say I am. If this was Casey, I’d have— Who was he fooling? Casey had become stubborn. When she was young, she’d listen to his voice of reason. Not any longer. Maybe Derrick will have better luck.
    He didn’t know why his temper was soaring, but he couldn’t hold his tongue any longer.
    “How naïve are you?” His tone was harsh. “You met me less than five minutes ago, and you’re inviting me into your home? Not only that, you’re actually considering letting me stay in your apartment?” She knew nothing about him except that her cousin Sissie sent him. “I could be anyone with less-than-honorable intentions just waiting for the opportunity to get you alone so I could—”
    “Are you?” Her voice was calm and soft.
    “Am I what?” Mark snapped at her.
    “A creep or a pervert waiting to hurt me?” she asked with her hands on her hips. There was no hint she was joking, but he was tempted to laugh. What person would actually admit it? You are that naïve.
    “No.”
    “Well, then what is the problem?”
    There was no making her see any differently at this point. Oh, you sweet girl. You truly have no clue, do you? Looks like there is a lot more work to be done here than just repairing an old rundown house. “None I guess.”
    He reached in the Jeep, grabbed his duffle bag, and went to stand by her on the porch. You’re lucky I took an oath to serve and protect.
    Hannah’s heart was pounding even though she refused to let it show. Sissie hadn’t said what Mark looked like. If anything she played it off like he was an older retired gentleman who did this work for fun. Not even close, Sissie. Unless she’s recently become blind, which I don’t think happened, then she’s up to something.
    Mark seemed to want to hide his good looks under a mass of unruly hair and a beard that needed a trim. But when she pulled up and found him shirtless, she almost melted. Every muscle was cut and defined, begging her to trace them with her fingers.
    Slow down, girl. This man is not here to get ogled. He’s here for work. Hannah needed to stay focused. There was so much work to be done, and she had limited funds. If it wasn’t for the fact that Mark was willing to work for peanuts, she knew it was only a matter of time before this old house began falling down around her. Here to work, no distracting him. That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to enjoy the view as he worked.
    She was smiling as she held the front door open and went into the main hallway. “There are four apartments as I mentioned before. Each apartment is set up similar to mine with two bedrooms, living room, full bath, but their kitchens are smaller than mine. Since I have the side with the original kitchen, we left it large. I guess my father thought I would want to cook for an army one day because it is way too big for just me. I don’t think I mentioned that my father did all the renovations himself. The original house had eight large bedrooms upstairs with two full bathrooms. You’ll see that he moved two bedrooms downstairs and added kitchens in each apartment, but he wasn’t able to complete all the work, so you’ll have your work cut out for you.” She looked him over. He looks like he could handle just about anything thrown at him. “I have one rented upstairs on the left to the perfect tenant. I never see or hear him. He even slips the cash under my door each month on time.”
    “That doesn’t strike you as odd?” Mark asked as he stared up the staircase.
    Not when he pays me. “He minds his business, and I do the same.” She was already struggling financially and couldn’t afford to question every little thing. If she had her way, she’d fill the place with people just like him. “The top right is vacant, but I have someone looking at it the end of next week. I’ve let people look before, but there is still work to be done in there before anyone will want to move in. If there’s anything you can do