hot commodity and enjoying every minute of it. Why shouldn’t she? Ryan was young and so good-looking it almost hurt to look at her. She’d dressed casually for the bar that night in dark jeans and a simple black shirt that would look plain on anyone else. On Ryan, it more than worked. It was all she needed. With that gorgeous dark hair that hung past her shoulders and dreamy blue eyes that contrasted with her tan, Ryan could make a nun rethink her life choices. Gabriella grinned because Ryan had been so incredibly cute when she opened her mouth to speak and then paused, like she’d forgotten the most important of things.
Three minutes.
A new understanding struck. Her heart was thumping, and her palms itched. Thinking about Ryan Jacks had apparently gotten her unexpectedly keyed up. What in the world was that about? But she knew and resisted the self-recrimination. Like the rest of the universe, she found Ryan off-the-charts attractive and was paying for it now. She shifted in bed, acutely aware of her body’s newly awake sensitivity. She remembered Ryan’s gaze connecting with hers at the bar and those startling blue eyes dancing. Where had those eyes come from? Unexpectedly, she imagined Ryan’s gaze on her now. Everywhere. She swallowed. Her panties were now wet, and she lightly touched herself on the outside of the fabric, prompting her eyes to slam shut. Too many pleasing sensations hit. She checked the clock with one eye, realizing that she needed to get a move on. No more minutes. Plus, Ryan Jacks was not the wisest person to fantasize about. In fact, given what Gabriella had witnessed the night before, the woman should have caution tape draped all over her. She wasn’t for the faint of heart, and Gabriella was no player. She wasn’t going to beat herself up for her little Ryan crush, but she wasn’t going to indulge or fantasize about the woman any further either. Too many more important things to concentrate on.
After showering and prepping for the day, Gabriella walked the perimeter of the property along the row of quaint cottages en route to Jolene, where she would start prep for the day’s service, beginning with the fettuccini she’d been itching to roll out. She’d finish with the creation of an ingredient assembly line for a crowd favorite, the Goodfella—a slider topped with salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and her famous vinaigrette. She worked quietly with the exception of an occasional bam, huzzah, or what-what. Cooking simply required sound effects. It had always been her way. She was not at all aware that her body was still turned the hell on from earlier. Nope. She hadn’t noticed at all. Sigh. If only she could find the off switch and stop thinking about sex.
Some sort of power tool roared to life behind her in the distance. Interesting. She checked her watch. Way too early for Ryan, yet she caught sight of her maroon truck peeking out from the side of the building. Curiosity got the best of her, and Gabriella paused her work and took the short walk to the jobsite just in time to see Ryan, alone, sanding a column complete with the sexy goggle things to protect her eyes. Yeah, she was definitely a sight for Gabriella’s already exacerbated state.
She swallowed back the burst of lust and watched a moment, unsure whether it was rude to interrupt someone wielding a power tool. They’d not covered that in any of her schooling. She didn’t have to wonder for long, however, as Ryan saw her there and grinned. Dammit. The dimples. The eyes. All of it. She wore faded jeans, a white T-shirt, and her dark hair up in a high ponytail. Ryan silenced the sander and raised a hand. “Hey.” Such a simple word, but when Ryan said it, she felt it.
“You’re early.” Dumb observation. What did it matter? She ordered her brain to return to the regularly scheduled version of herself without delay. She’d fake the confidence she was used to having if she had to.
“I know. I have another commitment this afternoon, so I need to knock off early and didn’t want to short you on time.”
“Isn’t that unusual for a contractor? I’ve always imagined you guys did what you wanted.”
Ryan blinked because that probably sounded insulting. “It’s not unusual for me. I make sure I put in the time. You’re actually my second stop today.” She gestured to the road with her