The Bad Boy Bargain (Suttonville Sentinels #1)(15)

Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and Faith raced back to her bed, landing just before Mom opened the door. “Did the noise wake you?”

“It did, but I needed to get up and do my stretches anyway. I’ve got a lot of dancing ahead of me with the musical.”

A little smile twitched at the corner of Mom’s mouth. “Don’t you usually do those on the back porch?”

Their back porch, screened in with a smooth painted hardwood floor, was the closest thing to a studio in the house. Blushing, she looked down at her quilt. “Yes. Do you think I’ll be in his way?”

“Oh, probably not.” Chuckling, Mom turned to go. “But do the poor boy a favor. Wait until he puts away the saw. I don’t want to be responsible for any lost limbs.”

Faith rolled her eyes as soon as her mother closed the door. Was she that obvious? No…she couldn’t be. Still, blushing every time Mom asked about Kyle was probably a dead giveaway that she had a little crush.

And that’s all it will be, right? Sighing, she pulled a clean leotard, tights, and shorts out of dresser. That’s all it had to be. They were in the business of revenge. Nothing else.





Chapter Eleven


Kyle


The morning air was a little brisk today, and the dew was taking its own sweet time burning off the grass. Kyle turned off the saw and took a deep breath, letting the cool air clear his lungs of the dust. So far, no one had come outside to yell at him for running equipment this early, but most of the homeowners had lawn crews, and were probably used to the sweet sounds of mowers at 8:00 a.m.

He wiped his forehead and gathered a load of branches to take to the truck. At this rate, he’d have to run to Mark’s Nursery by lunchtime. They paid for wood to make mulch—either in cash or product, and he’d need a lot of mulch to fix up the Gladwells’ flower beds. Maybe he’d break even with all this stuff.

On his way back, he happened to glance into the screened-in back porch and stopped dead in his tracks.

Faith had one leg up on a rail built into the back wall and was stretching toward it with her arm over her head. She was wearing another one of those leotards, along with pink tights and a pair of ballet shoes. Classical music wafted out into the yard, and she moved with it, graceful and sure. However emotional and uncertain she’d been yesterday, here she was all confidence. Her leg, toes pointed, was flexed, and he marveled at the muscles she’d built up. He hadn’t seen a pair of calves that perfect…well, ever. The rest of her was as long and lean. Her arms moved slow and smooth, like they were cutting through water, and her long neck arched as she turned her body.

Kyle’s breath hitched. He’d never seen anything quite so beautiful. If she looked like this just stretching, what did she look like when she danced?

He had to see that. He had to.

She bent forward, touching her raised leg, then straightened up. And caught him gawking. For a second she stared back—then a slow smirk crossed her face. Uh-huh, payback’s a bitch, he could hear her thinking.

Before he could stop himself, he said, “You’re pretty flexible.”

The smirk turned a little wicked. “You have no idea.”

His whole body flushed, but he jerked his chin at her, cocky. “Is this part of the game, or are you offering to prove it?”

Faith lowered her leg, looking flustered. “Um…”

“Faith?” her mom called from inside. “Time to get ready for church!”

Kyle sighed inwardly. My big fat mouth. Jesus. “Part of the game, then. Okay, I’m up for playing. I’m afraid it’s going to be pretty warm this afternoon. I might just have to work without my shirt on.”

“You’re a mess,” she said, but she smiled, and it lit him up inside. It was such a real smile—nothing behind it but happiness and a little mischief. “But if that’s your offer, I’ll have to find that telescope my uncle got me for Christmas in seventh grade.”

He took a step closer to the screen window. “Or you could come sit out here, drink an iced tea, watch the show.”

She looked at him through lowered eyelashes. “I do enjoy a nice glass of sweet tea.”

This girl was going to send him into orbit. She flirted like a pro—how did she end up with Cameron? He was an empty skull in football pads. “Shade’s nice out here, too.”

Faith paused, about to say something, but her mother called, “Faith! We’re leaving in thirty minutes. Let Kyle get back to work and go change!”

Faith jumped, looking guilty. “Coming!” She gave him a quick nod. “I’ll see you this afternoon. Keep that brashness going—you’re going to meet my best friend and she’s not for the faint of heart.”

“Looking forward to it,” he said, surprised she was willing to introduce him to people. Then again, the friend probably knew the deal. “Have fun at church.”

“I will.” And it sounded like she meant it. “See you later.”

She went inside, leaving him feeling like he’d taken a right hook to the jaw. Faith wasn’t exactly what he expected. And that could be dangerous.

Wonderful, but dangerous.



After running to the nursery to drop off the branches he’d cut up—and to barter for a bunch of mulch—Kyle sat in his truck eating a hamburger. The backyard looked less like a disaster area. There was still some demo work to do, but he’d be able to start planting tomorrow.