She put her head back on his shoulder and they stood there in silence. Outside, a soft breeze was coming in off Seneca Lake, making her wind chimes play a sweet, tinkling melody. Birds were singing, someone’s dog was barking in the distance. A Jet Ski sped by on the water, sounding like an angry hornet.

She’d been afraid so many times in her life, fretting about what people would think. But right now she was standing in her kitchen, held close by a man who’d made it very clear he wanted her—just the way she was. And suddenly she wasn’t afraid anymore. Not of him. Not of what he wanted. She kissed the base of his neck, feeling the pulse in his throat as it picked up speed.

“I think we should...uh...you know...” She kissed his neck again, but he pulled away and tipped her chin up with his fingers so they were staring into each other’s eyes.

“You gotta say it. Tell me what you want. Do you want me to take you to dinner first? Share a little candlelight and champagne tonight before we—”

“No. I want you now. Before I change my mind.”

His eyebrows rose. “Now? Victoria Pendergast, are you seducing your contractor on a work morning?”

“It might just be now or never, Gordy. What’s it going to be?”

He cupped her face in his hands. “Hey, I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was pushing you. I just wanted us to talk about it. We don’t have to—”

“Is that a no then?” She pulled her shoulders back and pushed his hands away, her pride stung. “Guess you should get back to wo—”

His mouth fell on hers, swallowing the rest of her snark. And taking all the air from her lungs. She grabbed at him as if he were a life raft, pressing her fingers into his shoulders. She returned the kiss and their mouths did an intoxicating dance. His fingers slid down to grip her bottom and hold her hard against him.

“I could never say no to you, woman.” He spoke the words against her lips, then tipped his head back, staring up at the ceiling with a wide grin. “I’m just damn glad I stopped at the pharmacy on the way over.”

“For what? Condoms?” Lord knew, she didn’t have any around.

“I always have one or two of those handy—a habit since high school.” He caught her up in a short, intense kiss. “But I stopped to pick up a refill on my pills, so...if you’ll let me run out to the truck...we can definitely do this.”

It took a moment before she figured out what he was saying.

“Are you talking about little blue pills?”