Rescuing the Bad Boy (Second Chance #2)(53)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ruby came into Make It an Event at her scheduled time, and Sofie and Faith ironed out the last of the details for the charity dinner. Ruby was pleased Sofie handled planning for the kids to be involved both at the campout the night before the dinner, as well as having them involved in serving and preparing the food.
Sofie contacted the caterer and arranged to have her make a trip out to Open Arms to meet the kids before the charity dinner. All volunteered of course. Thanks to Faith, who was a silver-tongued devil on the telephone. And Sofie had taken on the task of convincing Abundance Market to donate quite a bit of food for the dinner. Faith’s wounds were a little fresh for her to be contacting her former workplace.
Faith stayed at the shop to finalize the plans with the decorator and get an updated headcount for the dinner. Sofie, though it was likely the last place she should be, climbed into her car and drove to Pate Mansion.
Her best friend had made a good point about Sofie embracing her inner harlot and sleeping with Donovan while he was here. Sofie was still making up her mind about whether or not she could be that girl when she pulled into the driveway.
She got out of her car and counted two… wait, no, three incredibly attractive men in the backyard.
The temperature was hovering in the mid-eighties and the humidity was a million percent, making for a very hot spring. Which might explain why the three guys in the yard, their arms bare, one of them shirtless, were glistening with sweat.
It was a most beautiful sight. Shame Faith wasn’t here to enjoy it with her.
Sofie stood in the driveway, keys in her palm, purse in hand, staring. But she hadn’t been caught yet, so she continued to stare.
Connor wore work gloves, low-slung jeans, and instead of a shirt, a sheen of sweat shined off his broad, muscular back. He lifted a bundle of sticks tied with twine, his biceps bunching with the movement.
There was another guy she didn’t recognize standing next to Donovan. He was pointing at a tall tree, a chainsaw resting on the ground next to his work boots. He was in loose cargo pants and a tee, his big arms crossed over his chest, a battered straw fedora askance on his head.
Donovan stood in a similar stance, arms crossed, tight tank top hugging the contoured muscles in his back. Battered, threadbare jeans hugged impressive thighs. Her mouth watered as her eyes tracked up to the tattoos on his arms. She was really going to have to get a closer look at those. Yesterday, she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off his face… or separate her brain from the amazing sex long enough to study his tats.
As many a fantasy took root, she blinked Donovan into focus to notice he’d looked over his shoulder and caught her staring. The corner of his tempting mouth slid upward. He turned and prowled toward her in a long-legged lope she now recognized as more cautious than careless.
It was like all the things she thought she knew about him seven years ago were slanted, off-center. Her perspective had shifted. Or maybe her focus had intensified.
“Scampi. Didn’t expect to see you today. Aren’t you tired?”
She had started walking toward him, but stopped dead in her tracks. Did he seriously say that?
The brown-haired guy with the hat cocked a smile in her direction.
“All that painting,” Donovan said, squinting in the sunlight. He smirked.
She blushed.
“Ant,” Donovan called.
Ant?
The man wearing the hat paced over to them.
“Meet Sofie.”
Ant closed the gap between them, arm extended. “Anthony Renaldo. Tree guy.”
His huge hand clasped hers and he gave two solid pumps. He was big, wider than Donovan and almost as tall. Attractive as he was, he paled in comparison to the six-foot-four, black-haired, silver-blue-eyed, tanned man standing next to him.
As she cataloged every inch, she realized her hand was still in Ant’s but she was staring at Donny. She pulled away after an unnaturally long handshake. “Nice to meet you.”
Donny winked, a smile sitting on his lips. Her thighs heated.
She really was a goner.
No, you’re not. You’re just taking what you want. When have you ever taken what you wanted?
The only time she had was with the man she was admiring now. Things hadn’t ended well for her the first time. Not at all.
But you are different now. You’re stronger.
She was. But was she strong enough to endure another broken heart?
“Don’t listen to him,” Donny interrupted her thoughts. “Ant is a carpenter more than a tree guy.”
Ant regarded the ground, looking humbled, and for such a big guy, it was kind of adorable.
“I’m just going to…” She pointed toward the house, then lifted a hand to return the wave Connor gave her from the other side of the yard. Seriously, the man candy here was bordering citation. Penalty: Too many hot men on the field.
Before she could embarrass herself by drooling down her shirt, she hustled inside.
What she found in the dining room surprised her. The plastic covering the floor was gone, the table and chairs back where they belonged instead of shoved against the back wall. The paint buckets were sealed and stacked in the corner of the room, the paintbrushes cleaned and lying on a towel in a neat line. She tipped her head to study the top section of the wall that needed another coat yesterday.
Wet paint gleamed.
Finished. The dining room was finished. The pictures and sconces hung, the outlet covers screwed back into the wall. She’d come back here to take care of it herself, but now there was no need.