Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,91

I stood on a step stool, doing my best to reach for the bust of a mannequin dummy that needed a fresh shirt display, when I heard his gruff, rough voice.

“You should be careful up there. It’s not safe to stand on a ladder without someone spotting you.”

I spooked and lost my footing a little, causing the ladder beneath me to wobble.

I knew the voice.

And I knew damn well who was attached to it.

Phillip Conrad. A ridiculously handsome man built like a Greek god, with a full head of dark hair streaked with silver, and just a bit of stubble—that was new—on his incredibly chiseled jaw. Just like everyone else at the club, we used to be friends. Only Phillip had been more than a friend. He’d been…well, a lot more.

And now, here he was. Standing directly beneath me, one hand on each arm of the ladder, his face pointed up—giving him a fantastic view up my short khaki uniform skirt at my—oh shit. I was in desperate need of doing laundry, but the shoebox I was renting didn’t have machines and—I’d gone commando.

The blush in my cheeks came hard and fast. I grabbed the mannequin with one hand and quickly made my way to the floor. “Thanks.”

He grunted in acceptance but didn’t move away, leaving me boxed in between the ladder and his hard chest. He was taller than me, at least six two, with a broad chest and muscular arms that—despite the fact that he probably thought I was a nothing, just like everyone else—sent a thrill through me, right between my legs. Something about a big, strong man never failed to turn me on.

No. Correct that. Something about Phillip never failed to turn me on. Not that I’d admit it. Especially not now. And especially not with his dark eyes staring at me in a way that would have definitely made my panties wet—if I’d been wearing them.

“Excuse me.”

My body trembled and I hoped like hell it didn’t show.

I had no right to let myself feel anything around this man. Although it had been him, not me, who’d lost interest in our relationship. I thought we were going to…it didn’t matter. Once Daniel came home from Europe and I met him, everything changed. He’d pursued me intensely and Phillip…he’d just backed off, like I hadn’t meant anything.

And maybe I hadn’t.

But maybe if he’d called again, asked me out one more time…maybe I wouldn’t have married Daniel.

Yes. I knew that was true.

I’d been completely turned inside out with Phillip. I would have done anything for him, and our attraction was off the charts. So I’d thought. But it had never gotten physical. He wanted to wait, and I’d agreed because I didn’t want to mess things up by sleeping with him too soon. I still wondered if that’s why he was able to walk away so easily. Phillip was the one who…what? Not got away. But the one I still thought about, wondered about. And fantasized about.

He eyed me for a moment. Any other time, I would have been absolutely sure there was desire in his eyes. Just when I started to think I should go back to work, he took off his suit jacket and handed it to me. “I forgot to return this to the restaurant,” he said. “It’s a ridiculous dress code. You’d think since I spend thousands of dollars here every bloody day they’d let it slide.”

“Rules are rules,” I said, just the way I was supposed to, even though I agreed with him. Phillip Conrad was known to routinely tip extravagant amounts in the bar and restaurant. If only I could get transferred there and away from the stupid pro shop, a lot of my troubles would be over. At least financially. I’d have a whole host of new problems actually serving my former friends. Still.

I took the jacket from him and laid it over my arm. “I’ll return it right away, Mr. Conrad.”

For a moment, I thought he might say something else. His lips turned up in a slight, very sexy grin, and then he nodded before he turned to leave.

I watched him walk away. No, I watched his firm ass as he walked away. Damn.

As soon as he left the shop, I let out a pent-up breath and returned to the till to find something to do until I could close up. The sooner I could put Phillip and his ass out of my mind, the better I’d be. I needed