[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He bit into a piece of French toast and let out a groan.He pictured Johanna’s soft fingers making this breakfast.“Told you,” Ted said.“Heaven with a sprinkle of cinnamon right there.”Damn.Cabin building was not enough to keep Holden from thinking about Johanna.“You tell Parker and Reggie to put everything you buy from them on my account.When my insurance check comes in, I’ll square them away.” Ted finished his breakfast and handed his plate to Kam who was already cleaning up.“I’ll put in a call to my electrician and plumber buddies unless you know that stuff too.”Holden stopped mid-chew and paused for a moment.C’mon, man.Think.He shook his head.“I don’t remember.Sorry.”“No need to be sorry, kid.You’ll be doing enough just building the structure.Besides, my buddies would probably kill me if I farmed the work out to a new guy.”Holden nodded and finished his juice.His mind was Swiss cheese.He was pretty sure he hated Swiss cheese.“That looks good.” Ted pointed to Holden’s stitched arm.The angry, puffy redness that had surrounded the cuts had gone away and so had the itchiness.“My headache is gone too,” Holden added.“Just a little soreness in the ribs still.” He peeked under the table where Ted’s leg was propped on Johanna’s chair.“How’s that feel?”“Like someone used it as a baseball bat.” Ted shrugged and moved his leg off the chair.“I know I’m an old man, but I usually don’t feel it, you know?”“You’re not old, Pep.” Kam dropped soapsuds on the kitchen floor when he turned around from the sink.“Thanks, kid.You’re not short either.” Ted elbowed Holden as if to say, Watch this.Kam’s body stilled by the sink, his mouth hanging open.“That was mean, Pep.Mean.”“Maybe your mom will buy you some stilts for your birthday.” Ted roared with laughter.“What do you think, Holden? Think he’ll ever grow?”“I was a short kid,” Holden said.“Now I’m over six feet tall.”Kam studied Holden for a silent moment.“Do you really remember being a short kid?”Holden dropped his gaze.“No.”“Thanks anyway.” Kam glared at Ted.“You, however.” With super-speed, he grabbed the kitchen sink hose and fired a spray of water directly at Ted.His aim was off a bit, and though Ted did get the brunt of the assault, Holden’s neck took a hit as well.Water dribbled down his skin and soaked the shoulder of his T-shirt.He held up the empty French toast platter and used it like a shield.Kam’s laughter mixed with Ted’s and before he knew it, Holden was laughing too.Really laughing.Laughing like he belonged among these people.****Johanna couldn’t concentrate on her work with all that male laughter going on out in the kitchen.What are they doing in there? She wanted to be bothered by it, but in truth, it was music to her ears.Kam’s high giggles blended so well with Ted’s low guffaws and Holden’s raspy chuckles.She closed her eyes and committed the sounds to memory.When Alex and Kallie were here, they used to laugh all the time.They couldn’t get through an entire meal without someone doing something that made the rest of them erupt in laughter.Watching Kam and Kallie interact with each other had been akin to watching cartoon character antics.Holden’s voice rose above the laughter.“Truce! Truce!”She smiled and wondered if Holden had slept okay in the basement.It was comfortable down there, but so…remote.She had liked walking past the guestroom knowing he was just beyond that closed door.Downstairs was a galaxy away.Just as well.She didn’t need temptation a door down from her bedroom.And Holden Lancaster was temptation in a handsome package.Simply running her fingers along his palms last night on the couch had caused a heat to grow deep inside her.A fire only Holden could both start and extinguish.“I’m telling Mom what you said, Pep!” Kam screeched.Johanna finished up the estimate she had been working on and hit send on her email.She’d managed to tie up a few loose ends so she could spend the majority of the day with Holden.With Kam, she corrected.Yes, Holden would be tagging along to get started on Ted’s cabin and buy some clothes as he’d asked, but the day was about Kam and preparing for his birthday.As long as she remembered that, she’d be okay.After pushing away from her desk, she left her office and entered the kitchen.The floor by the sink was covered with soapsuds, and the table was streaked with lines of water as were Holden and Ted.Miles was lapping at a puddle on the floor.“Exactly what is going on out here?”The three males froze at the sound of her voice.Johanna wished she had a camera to capture the guilty expressions on their faces.Priceless.“Mom, Pep said I was short.” Kam let another stream of water loose on Ted.Ted held up his hands to block the spray.“He is short.”Johanna looked at Holden who shook his head.“I am not involved in this.”“Your shirt is wet,” Johanna pointed out.“I’m merely a casualty caught in the crossfire.” Holden’s neck was dotted with water droplets, and Johanna had the urge to lick them off his skin.She focused her gaze on the bubble-covered floor.“Well, Kam, these two men are on the injured list, so I’m afraid clean-up is on you, sweetie.”Kam shifted the hose nozzle to aim at Johanna, a devilish grin on his normally sweet little face.“Don’t even think about it.” She wagged a finger at him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]