Love on the Lake (Lakeside #2)(36)

I crack a lid. “We’re talking about sex, right, and not the literal act of cutting someone’s grass with a lawn tractor?”

Aaron smiles. “Yes, we’re talking about sex. I don’t get involved with those women anymore, but if you’re interested, I could come over after work and finish up the trim, and we could do this again.” He motions between the two of us.

“I would like that.”

“Me too.” He tugs me forward by my belt loop and wraps his arm around me, bending until our lips connect. And we start all over again.





CHAPTER 11


INTO THE SWING


Teagan

As promised, Aaron shows up just after five the next evening, carrying a backpack and a bag of takeout from the diner where Dillion’s mom works.

“What’s this?” I motion to the backpack.

“A change of clothes for after I’m done with the trim. And I brought my shower stuff, because as nice as you smell, I’m not partial to me smelling like roses and chamomile.”

“Lavender and rosemary.”

“Pretty much the same thing.”

“Not even close, but okay.” I step aside so he can come in, which he does before he drops the backpack and the takeout on the floor, takes my face in his calloused hands, and kisses me until my toes curl.

Everything else is forgotten: the food, the things he came over to do—other than me. He kisses along the edge of my jaw, hands sliding under my shirt. “This okay?”

“More than okay.”

“How was your day?” he asks as he lifts the fabric over my head and drops it on the floor.

“Good. Yours?” I get to work unfastening his belt.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And every time that happened, I got a really inconvenient hard-on I couldn’t do anything about. It was a good thing that I was working alone, on a roof, otherwise it would have been embarrassing as hell.”

“I guess it’s also good we can do something about it now.”

“So good.” He yanks my pants down my thighs and takes my panties right along with them. Then he spins me around and pins my back against the door. “All day, Teagan.” He drops to his knees and hikes one of my legs over his shoulder. “You were all I could think about.”

An hour later we’re seated at the kitchen table, me with a martini and Aaron with a bottle of root beer, eating takeout from the diner.

Aaron picked up three different meals, and one included a side salad. I’m in awe of the way he shovels in food, barely tasting it.

“I already took care of the trim, so you don’t have to worry about that.” I pop a cherry tomato in my mouth.

He pauses with a forkful of pasta halfway to his mouth. “When did you have time to do that? I thought you were at work all day.”

“I woke up early and couldn’t fall back to sleep because my brain went straight into high gear. Anyway, I bought a bunch of light fixtures, and I thought maybe you could show me how to install them.”

“I can install them for you no problem.”

I spear a piece of grilled chicken and dip it in my salad dressing. “I know you can, but if it’s not too much trouble, maybe you could show me, so I know how in the future.”

Aaron tips his head, a small smile playing on his delicious lips. “Oh yeah, sure. I can definitely do that.”

“Thanks.” I return the smile and pop the piece of chicken in my mouth.

There are no leftovers because Aaron polishes everything off. Apart from what was left of my salad. He wasn’t lying about hating vegetables.

His phone rings as I’m washing up the dishes. “I gotta take this. I’ll just be a minute.” He presses a kiss to my temple and disappears outside for a few minutes.

When he returns, the dishes are done, and he sets everything up so we can install the light fixtures. He adjusts the ladder, turning it into what looks like one of those old climbers kids used to hang off in the playground at school. Except it’s silvery metal and not painted red. He lays a thick plank over the top and secures it, then helps me up onto it. I have to sit down, feeling unsteady. “I’m only a few feet off the ground. Why does this feel so much higher?”

“Because you’re not used to it. You’re not going to fall, babe, I promise.” He gives my calf a squeeze. “I’m going to pass you the chandelier, and then I’ll climb up after you.”

I don’t know if babe is a common term of endearment for him or not. Troy used to call me doll, and it drove me up the wall, but for some reason I don’t mind babe coming from Aaron. “Okay. Then what?”

“All you have to do is hold the chandelier for now.”

He climbs up beside me and hops to his feet, then holds out his hand. When I give him a skeptical look, he quirks a brow. “What are you worried about?”

“Losing my balance and falling.”

“You won’t. You’ve got thighs of steel. I would know since I’ve had them wrapped around my head and my waist recently.” He winks. “Now come on, babe, there’s an orgasm waiting for you after we install this.”

“Well, in that case.” I slip my hand in his, letting him help me to my feet.

I like this, having him teach me things. Practical things. Stuff I’d have to watch videos to learn otherwise. And it gives me reasons to touch him and have him touch me. It feels a lot like another form of foreplay. Especially when he moves to stand behind me, a foot bracketing the outside of mine, and drops a kiss on the side of my neck.