Page 26 of Smokey's Distraction
A small laugh escaped her lips. “Where do I start?”
“That bad? Who’s the dude you’re meeting?”
“Mark Ames. Do you know him?”
“Ames …” his voice trailed off.
Ashley saw a white pickup truck in front of the house.
“It’s strange, but I don’t know the name. How’d you find him?”
“I didn’t—Zach did,” she replied as she pulled behind the truck. A tall man wearing a black and gray puffer jacket got out of the pickup. “I have to go. Was there something you needed to tell me?”
“No, just checking to make sure you’re doing okay. I’ll see you at six.”
“Okay, bye.” A smile whispered across her lips as she slipped the phone into her purse.So Mr. Sexyiscapable of being nice.A hot shiver ran down her spine and landed low in her belly. Pressing her lips together, she ignored it and opened the car door.
“Ashley Callahan?” the man said as he approached her.
Nodding, she wrapped the scarf tighter around her neck. “And you’re Mr. Ames?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll show you what needs to be fixed.” Little puffs of vapor formed in the air as she spoke.
He tipped his head and followed her toward the house.
For the next forty minutes, Mark Ames measured, scribbled things down into a yellow notebook, and inspected each room while Ashley leaned against the kitchen counter watching him. There was something about him that was off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. He didn’t talk much, and every so often, she caught him staring at her when he didn’t think she was looking.
“I’ll fix the garage door now,” he said, the harsh bark of his voice making her jump.
“Did Zach okay that?” she asked.
He narrowed his eyes and shook his headno.
“Then …?” she said weakly.
“The snow’s coming down hard. I’ll just go out to my truck and get the tools to fix that door.”
Rooted to the spot, Ashley nodded and watched as he walked through the kitchen to the back door. Thirty minutes later, Mark Ames strode into the family room, folded his arms across his chest, and stared at her.
Combing her fingers through her hair, Ashley glanced quickly at him and then looked away, her eyes scanning the room. The ticking of the clock above the mantle was barely audible over the beating of her heart, and as her gaze landed on a spot on the carpet, the handyman took two steps toward her.
Exhaling a breath she’d been holding, she lifted her chin up and locked eyes with him. “Are you finished?” she asked.
The man stopped in his tracks and slowly nodded.
Ashley picked up her coat from the back of the sofa and slipped it on. “Thanks. I have to get back to work,” she said as she walked toward the front door, “but you can give the estimates to Zach.” She pulled open the door and he walked out, then she stepped onto the porch behind him and locked up. Cold air rushed around her, and she turned up the collar of her coat against the biting wind.
For a long pause, Mark Ames stood there looking at her, his hard breaths coming out in frosty white puffs until he turned away and slowly walked to the truck.
Frozen in place, Ashley waited until the strange man was gone, then hurried to her car and drove away. The encounter with Mark was unnerving, and she hoped his bid would be too high and Zach would ask Smokey for help. She smiled as she pictured him in jeans, a T-shirt that molded over all those toned muscles, and a tool belt slung low on his hips.So hot and all male.Her mouth went a little dry. There was no denying it: Mr. Sexy exuded raw sensual power and that damn swagger was machismo at its finest.I bet he knows exactly how to please a woman.
A horn honked behind her, and she snapped back to awareness, realizing that she’d been stopped at the green light. Waving at the driver behind her, she pressed on the gas and continued on her way back to work. In less than four hours, she and Mr. Sexy would be having dinner together, and much to her chagrin, anticipation coursed through her.
Ashley shook her head fiercely, then clenched her teeth.
It’s just a dinner meeting—not a date. It’s all good.
