Page 13 of Animal's Reformation
The girl pointed at a two-story brick house next door. The house had a big oak tree in the front yard and a picket fence surrounding the whole property.
“You must be the new neighbor.” The girl blew a large bubble with her gum. Olivia cringed when it popped, but the child just giggled and chewed away.
Olivia smiled and relaxed a bit. “I’m Olivia. What’s your name?”
“Lucy. So why’s your furniture on the sidewalk?”
“Good question.” Anger resurfaced but she pushed it down and focused back on the cabinet. “The movers said it’s too big to bring inside, so I have to take some of it apart to move it in.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Yes,” she said weakly. Lucy’s eyes widened and Olivia cleared her throat. “I mean, I know in theory, but I’m not too sure how I’m going to do it, especially since the screwdriver is packed away in one of the boxes.”
“You can’t leave it out here,” Lucy said.
Olivia gave her a sideways glance. “I knowthat. I’ll figure it out.”
“I’ll be back—my dad can help.” Lucy skipped away toward the brick house.
Olivia went inside and her heart sank as she looked at the multitude of boxes stacked everywhere. “I have no idea which box the screwdriver is in. It’d probably be faster if I just went to the hardware store and bought one,” she mused aloud.
Deciding to do just that, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door. As she took a final look at the type of screws on the back of the cabinet, she heard footsteps. Peering around the piece, she saw Lucy with a tall man beside her.
“You need some help?”
The coarse timbre of his voice rooted Olivia to the spot and she stood fixed and speechless. Her eyes raked over him, drinking in his wavy espresso-brown hair and black eyes framed by dark, thick lashes. He wore a long-sleeved T-shirt that molded over his chiseled muscles, and jeans that rode dangerously low on his narrow hips.Damn.
The late afternoon carried his scent toward her—fresh like leather and sandalwood and the great outdoors. It made her think about long motorcycles rides, moonlit swims, and making love in front of a roaring fire.Get a fucking grip! This is your neighbor—Lucy’s dad—who’s come over to help. Don’t get all mushy and shit. Anyway, you’ve sworn off men.
The scrape of boots across the pavement drew her gaze back to his face. Dark eyes bored into hers and she blushed. Then a smirk dimpled those stubbled cheeks. Anger pricked her face, but Olivia refused to turn away. Instead, she gazed right into the man’s amused orbs and lifted her chin.
“I can manage on my own, but thanks,” she said.
A low chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest as he walked over to the china cabinet, taking out a screwdriver from the back pocket of his jeans.
“I doubt that.” He walked around and Olivia stepped away as he surveyed the piece of furniture. “The movers shoulda brought this in.”
“No kidding,” she mumbled.
He gave her a sidelong glance then started turning the screws. Olivia watched him as he quickly dismantled the top of the cabinet then lowered it to the ground.
“Thank you for bringing your dad over to help,” she said to Lucy, trying to concentrate on something other than the neighbor’s flexing biceps and firm ass.
“You’re welcome.” Lucy stood back and watched her dad, and Olivia sensed a distance between her and her father.
“Here you go,” he said as he dropped the screws into the palm of her hand.
Olivia looked at them, then her eyes traveled up to his face. His gaze locked with hers and it was a few brief seconds before either of them blinked. Looking away, he took out a pair of gloves from his pocket and slipped them on.
“Do you need the thing now?” Lucy asked.
“Yeah, but I’ll get it. I don’t want you hurting yourself,” he answered.
“I can do it,” Lucy snapped.
“I’m sure you can, but I don’t wanna have to pick you up from the sidewalk when the dolly runs over you.”
He strode over to a furniture dolly and rolled it over.
