One More Time (Ruby Falls #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,17

screwed everything up. Now, instead of picturing my characters kissing, I’m imagining what it would be like for Tide to kiss me, realizing I never felt true attraction until he came around. Every time I’m near him, my stomach dances and my heart pounds. The worst part is that he has no idea the effect he has on me, and I’m scared to death that one day when he does something as simple as push some hair out of my face, I’m going to throw myself at him like a crazy woman.

Using the tips of my toes, I spin myself in a circle, first watching the window pass, then my bookshelves, followed by my office door. Maybe if I spin fast enough I’ll somehow be able to come up with a new series idea for my agent so I can stop trying to pretend I know how to write romance.

“Oh my God!” I scream, almost falling out of my chair when I spot Tide standing in the doorway of my office.

“Sorry.” He laughs as he steps into the room. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I forgot you were here.”

“I guessed that by your scream.” He takes a seat on the side of my desk. “Did you come up with a series idea?” He leans over to look at my computer screen, and I slam my laptop closed.

“Nope, not yet.” I clear my throat and push my chair back when I see how close we are. “Is everything okay?”

“I finished with the carpet.”

“You did?” Really, I shouldn’t be surprised. Yesterday when I helped him paint, I learned firsthand how efficient he is when he’s working.

“I did.” He stands, then walks around the desk to the bookshelves that line the wall, grabs one of my books I unpacked this morning, and flips it over to read the blurb. I watch him, fighting the urge to rush across the room to smack it out of his hand. “This sounds good.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Not at all.” He looks up and grins at me. “Can I have this one?”

“If you want it.”

“I want it.” He walks toward me, and my pulse starts to race as he grabs a pen from the holder on my desk and hands it to me. “Can I get your autograph?”

“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh.

“Can you write, ‘Tide, you really know how to lay some wood. Love, Aria’?”

“I’m not writing that.” I shake my head as I sign my name with a heart and a quick XOXO. Closing the book, I hand it back to him, then meet his gaze, unsure what the look in his eyes means. I do know it makes me feel warm all over. “So.” I move my chair back, because once again, we’re too close, then stand and head for the door. “Can you help me move my couch out of the kitchen?”

“Already done,” he tells my back as I step into the hall.

“I would have helped you.” I walk past the kitchen, then stop at the edge of the living room. “I don’t even want to step on the carpet it looks so good,” I whisper, taking in the light-gray soft plush carpet, feather-gray walls, and pure-white baseboards and windowsills that makes the bay window look like a piece of art. “I didn’t plan on starting any kind of remodeling or upgrades for a while, but now looking at how beautiful this room is, I’m thankful I was forced to.” I carefully step into the room, and like I thought they would, my feet sink into the carpet. “This is so nice.” I bend at the waist, then get down on my hands and knees before rolling to my back, spreading my arms and legs wide like I’m making a snow angel.

“I gotta say, you’re the first client I’ve had who’s done that.”

I look at Tide’s smiling face upside down, and my cheeks warm. God, I’m such a dork, and I didn’t even think about what I was doing.

“It’s really nice carpet,” I admit, and he surprises me by joining me on the floor.

“You’re right. It is nice.” He turns his head my way as his fingers brush mine. “Have you put anything in your stomach besides the Coke I saw you grab earlier?”

“I had a candy bar.”

“A candy bar?” He raises one brow.

“It had nuts in it,” I inform him, then hold my breath as he rolls to his side and looms over me.

“That doesn’t make it a meal.” He smiles, touching his fingers to my