Page 4 of Level With Me

“I’m kidding. I just had to do that because I got a bunch of insulation on me. Won’t happen again. Likely.” And the dude has the balls to smirk. Not while looking at me though. Just to himself as if he’s told the world’s funniest joke.

My arms are crossed awkwardly in an immature way to avoid touching him. Because honestly, my body is on fire.

“You okay? Seriously, Koty? Are you hurt?”

“What?”

“Your ankle?” He tilts his head toward my foot just before setting me down on one of the chairs in the kitchen.

Shit. With all the fiery patches on my skin I’m trying to mentally put out, I forgot about the throbbing between my legs—I mean, in my ankle. Oh my God. What is happening to me? Cam’s hot. It’s an objective fact. All the Briggs boys are super fine. I’ve always been able to separate Cam’s hotness from himself because of the terrible things he’s done to me. But right now, my body is vibrating in direct response to having been held by His Hotness.

“Ya, it’s fine.” I stand up to prove my point, only to wince in pain.

“Alright, I get it. You’re tough. But before you do any more damage to your foot, why don’t I wrap it up?”

And because I just don’t have the wherewithal to fight my body’s vibrations, I say something awesome, “Whatever dude.”

I think I can hear him chuckling as he rummages through his bag and returns with athletic tape. “Come on.” He pats his thigh as he squats in front of me. “Gimme your foot.”

I figure the louder I scowl, the less likely I am to forget all my reasons for resenting this guy and jump his bones. To add to the volume, I keep my arms crossed.

But in hindsight, that was a mistake. I should have taken off my own socks because even though it’s not sexy, having him undress me in any way sends a riot of shivers up my leg and all the way up my spine. And then his delicate fingers—large, calloused hands—gently wrap my foot.

“There. That should help you prove your toughness without making a fool of yourself.”

“Great.” Again. I should say thanks. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Ya. That lie’s not going to last long. I know exactly what’s wrong with me. It’s been less than twenty-four hours in Cam’s presence, and I’ve already found my melted panties on the floor.

“By the way, thanks for opening up and letting me use your shower for the foreseeable future. It’ll be a lot easier than what I had planned.”

I open my mouth and gape at him for a second.

“You’re a woman of your word, right Dakota? You wouldn’t take that offer back, would you?”

Damn him and his hotness.

Chapter 3

Cam

“Ford, this was the worst idea you’ve ever had. She hates me.” It’s been one day and I really didn’t think she’d be so hostile to my face, nor did I think she’d be so soft in my arms. I mean, I’ve always known how hot she is, and I’ve also known for a long time that she doesn’t like me. I’ve just never found a way to explain to her what I did to her. I wish I had. Maybe opening up and telling her the truth would have given me a real shot with her.

“She doesn’t hate you,” my brother reassures me through video. “She just…needs to realize that.”

Beckett, one of the few who’s in on the call, chimes in, “Don’t worry. She’ll realize the second she sees you with your shirt off that she doesn’t hate you.”

“It’s already happened, dude, and I think she hates me more.”

“She’s already seen you half naked? Hasn’t it only been a day, bro?” Daughtry does not seem impressed.

“Yup. One day is all it takes for me to work my magic and sink the ship I’m building.”

“Mixed metaphors, dude,” Nash interjects.

“Thanks. Because that’s what this is about.” I shake my head. “I need this project with Dakota to work. I need to prove to you guys that I can be the GC for the next job we take on.”

Nash makes a face because he sees this as me vying for his job. “The more I can take on, the more we can take on as a company.”

“Maybe,” Nash concedes.