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Thankfully, she didn’t seem to detect his panic. ‘IwishI’dbrought my running gear.I’d’vecome with you.’Shepicked up her bra and threaded her arms through the straps.
‘You’rea runner?’Ofcourse, she was.Fuck, she might just be the perfect woman.
‘Yup.Butyou go ahead.I’llhave a shower.Getsome breakfast ready.’
‘Great.Thanks.’Herolled onto all fours, pushed himself up to standing, and escaped into the house, forcing himself not to look back.Hehad some thinking to do.
14
‘Ifind this look extremely sexy,’Jesssaid.Hercurls still wet from the shower, she tucked them behind her ears as she surveyedGabrielpost-run at the bottom of the stairs.Histan skin shimmered with sweat.Awell-loved, navyYankeesbaseball cap covered his damp hair; he wore running shorts and no shirt, which left his sculpted chest on view; and he’d changed his prosthesis to a futuristic blade.Whatwas it about this man that made her feel constantly frisky?
‘Ihave no problem with that.’Grinning, he swiped off his hat and ran his arm across his forehead.
Shewas glad he had returned and seemed to be back to himself.Beforehe left, she’d noticed his slight wobble; she chalked it up to the fact that he wasn’t used to spending so much time with another person, being a ‘hermit’ asElodiehad called him.Jesshad no problem giving him the space he needed, even though she missed him for the forty-five minutes he’d disappeared for his run.
Cravinghim,Jesssashayed over. ‘Youknow what you are?’Shepursed her lips to stop from laughing.
‘Don’tsay it.’
Runninga finger down his chest, she said, ‘Okay,Iwon’t say it, but youareinspiring me…to want to do very naughty things to you.’
Hegave her a dangerous look. ‘Later.First, a shower.Then, we’re going to demolish some shit.’
‘Ilove it when you talk dirty to me,’ she joked.
Anhour later, she wore protective eyeglasses and a hard hat with her hair tied back, and faced a false wall that needed to disappear.Jesscould not be happier.Afterall the renovation programmes she’d watched, to be standing in a real chateau, about to punch holes in a wall…well, it was a dream come true.Whileshe worked on that job,Gabrielwould chip away at an old fireplace across the room. ‘I’vegiven you the fun job,’ he said.
‘I’venever demolished anything before!DoIjust…?’Shemade a swinging motion, like hitting a golf ball.
‘Notquite.’Hedemonstrated the correct action with the sledgehammer and then passed it over to her. ‘Justmake sure to slide your upper hand down?—’
‘Likethis?’ she asked as she swung with all her might and planted the metal head in the wall.Itstuck there.
‘Yup.Prettymuch,’ he said, scratching at his hair with a look that said he already regretted putting a weapon of destruction in her hands.
Shejumped up and down with glee. ‘Thatwas awesome!Wait!Youknow what we need?Moodmusic!’
‘Goodidea.Holst?ThePlanets?’
‘Iwas thinkingAC/DC.’
Hegroaned.
Jessreached around to the back of her jean shorts and retrieved her phone. ‘Gabriel, we have to do something about your taste in music.Ijust don’t get your obsession with classical.’
‘Itrelaxes me,’ he said, appearing very unrelaxed.Shesaw a shadow of grumpyGabrielin the furrow of his brow.
‘Likedemolition, you need to choose the right tool for the job.AndI’mafraid right now, we need heavy metal.’ScrollingthroughSpotify, she found a suitable playlist.Shehit the triangle, bit her bottom lip, and banged her head up and down as the electric guitar of ‘Thunderstruck’ bounced between two notes and raced towards that first drum beat. ‘Thunder!’ she chanted along with the band.Gabrielrolled his eyes, even as the corner of his lip pulled upwards.
Jessbraced her leg against the wall and pulled the sledgehammer free. ‘Thunder!’Shestabilised her legs like she was up to bat atRounders. ‘Thunder!’Sheheaved the heavy tool back and then slammed it into the wall again, causing a hefty leaf of plaster to crumble away.Asurge of power flowed through her.Thiswas fun.
‘Yee-hah!’ she called out with jubilant abandon.
Gabrielwatched her from the other side of the room, arms crossed with a fist covering his mouth, trying to hide his laughter.
Shecocked her head at him. ‘Comeon,Severin.Getto work.I’mnot doing it all by myself.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’Hesaid, taking a chisel and hammer to the fireplace.
