“I didn’t see your truck.”
“It’s out back.”
“Did you—” My voice trailed off when she held up her hard hat.
“I learned my lesson.” Her face darkened. “Because of me, you got hurt.”
I held out my hand, my frustration forgotten. “Come here, sweet girl.”
She stood and walked toward me, her footsteps loud. I bent over the arm of my chair and whistled. “When did you get those?”
“Right after your accident. I haven’t been to a site since, so you haven’t seen them.”
I grabbed her hand, pulling her down. “Sexy,” I breathed against her mouth, kissing her. “I like you in steel-toe boots.”
“I look like an idiot.”
I ran my hand up her thigh, cupping her rounded ass. “You look totally sexy in a skirt and boots, baby.”
She giggled, the sound making the corner of my lips twitch. I loved hearing her laugh.
“An added benefit.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Hey.”
Her eyebrows rose in question, but she didn’t say anything. I stroked along her soft cheek, down her jawline, and cupped her chin.
“It was an accident. Thanks to your care and patience, I’ve recovered. I’m fine.”
“An accident I caused.”
I hated that it still bothered her. “No. You didn’t break the machine. It was an equipment malfunction.” I sighed. “No matter what, I would have reacted the same way, Laura. I will protect you at all costs—that’s my job. Always. So, no more blame, okay?”
Biting her lip, she nodded.
“Now, what is in that basket?”
“I got your text earlier saying you had to stay late, so I brought you dinner.”
I groaned as I remembered why I was working late. “Do you have any alcohol in there?”
“Is Sven at it again?”
“He’s decided he wants two walls moved.” I snorted and added a thick Swedish accent. “It’s only two valls, Yackson. Two valls. Vy so hard to do?”
I leaned my head back, feeling weary. “Two load-bearing walls. Walls which are already up. Then he wants the kitchen moved. God help me. It never ends. The design changes weekly now. This is why I hate taking on private homes. Give me massive office buildings anytime.”
Laura hummed. “I have a meeting with him tomorrow to tell him how much it will cost with another redesign and structure issues.”
“A lot.” I sat up straight. “I’ll go through the numbers and have it for you in the morning.”
She walked around the back of my chair, her hands resting on my shoulders. “First, you need to eat and relax.”
“I’m not sure I can do either.”
“Yes, you can. I’ll make sure of that—that’s my job now.”
“Is that so?”
She gently pushed my shoulders forward, her hands working on the tense muscles. I moaned in pleasure. Laura’s hands were as talented as her mouth. How she worked those tiny fingers into my sore flesh, releasing the painful tension, was beyond me. I loved it when she gave me a massage. I loved it when she touched me. Anywhere.
I hissed as she dug her fingers into my neck.
“Jackson, your neck is like cement.” She tsked.
“It’s been a shit day.”
Bending, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her lips to my ear, placing a slow, lingering kiss there. “Can I help you relax?”
“Don’t tempt me, baby.”
She flicked open my shirt buttons and slipped her hands inside, her blunt nails pressing into my skin. “I had you pretty loose last week,” she crooned.
I rested my head on her full chest, meeting her mischievous gaze.
“We should have stayed in Jamaica,” I grouched.
“It was a lovely honeymoon.”
I grinned up at her, pulling her face down to mine. Upside-down kissing had never been as good as it was with my wife.
We got married quietly at city hall with Hank and a few close friends around us. Laura insisted she didn’t want a big wedding. ”I had the big wedding with the wrong guy the first time. I want it small with the perfect man this time,” she stated firmly.
She was beautiful, and the day was perfect because it was just us. Quiet, simple, and real. Then came a week away in a secluded bungalow with nothing but a warm, sandy beach, my sexy wife, and as few clothes as possible. We rarely left the cabin, having meals brought to us. We walked along the surf, swam in the ocean, danced under the stars, stayed up way too late, and slept in every morning. We made love in a huge net-covered bed, fucked hard on the wet, packed sand with the sunlight streaming down on us. We were together every