Playing With Trouble (Desire Bay 1)

A twinge of guilt flooded her.

If Jake was right, and the warehouse brought in the majority of the revenue for Baughman Home Goods, she’d have to get on board real quick. Otherwise the company would suffer. And maybe Jake was better to oversee it all than she was.

She really had no idea what she was doing when it came to this aspect of the company. She was learning, but she’d never be as good as Jacob. And she didn’t want to be. He clearly loved his job and was amazing at it. She loved the floral shop. Overseeing all the men and the orders and moving lumber wasn’t her expertise and wasn’t enjoyable.

What the hell kind of owner was she trying to be, then? She didn’t even like the main part of the business. But the idea of leaving the floral shop behind made her chest throb. She was finally making headway with it, integrating into the community a little and building a life. She was finding happiness. And she didn’t want to give that up. But she couldn’t chase any of those things at the expense of the business, or Jacob.

She thought of the California job. Of her mother’s memory. Of her father’s retirement and the fate of Baughman as a whole. It was so much responsibility, and it was hers to lose. To fail.

Maybe she should think harder about California . . .

Jacob chatted with the crew, and the men dispersed in several directions, some handling the distribution of the gravel, and the others off to various tasks. That was, whatever Jacob instructed them to do. She, however, felt sweaty, her hands ached from carrying the wood, and she had a nasty splinter.

It was break time.

Because while she felt gross, Jake just looked hot. And not in temperature.

She wound through the massive warehouse until she found a quiet spot in back near a small counter that housed a lone coffeepot. She stared at the concrete floor.

Leaning against the wall, she took one long inhale . . .

“You all right?” Jacob asked, weaving around pieces of machinery she didn’t know the names for and coming to stand in front of her.

“Yes,” she said and gave her best smile. “Just taking a quick breather.”

Surrounded by heavy machinery in the corner and the smell of fresh-cut lumber, her hormones ignited when Jake looked her over.

His jeans were dusty, his T-shirt tight over his muscles, and holy God, the man was built and strong and sexy. And as Jake came toe to toe with her, she realized that she really did need to breathe. Preferably with his mouth against hers.

She reached for him, cupping the back of his neck and yanking him down for a kiss. He instantly responded and pushed her against the wall, devouring her mouth.

“Looks like I need a breather, too,” he said and nipped her bottom lip.

She unfastened his belt and tugged on his pants. She didn’t know what came over her, but she did know she had to have him. Had to feel his skin. Had to feel all his strength wrapped around her.

This was happening, and she was beyond ready. She was frantic. Clanging her teeth against his as she tried to kiss him hard while tearing at his clothes. Damn, she needed him.

“What’s gotten into you?” Jake asked but kept busy working her pants open. He seemed just as desperate for her.

“Don’t know. You on a big machine is hot, I guess.” She got his belt open and his cock free. She gripped him tight.

He growled and tore her pants off and kicked her feet apart.

Grabbing a condom from his pocket, he put it on quickly, then hoisted her up and plunged inside her. Her legs wrapped around his hips, and she cried out his name.

“You’re so sexy working hard, you know that?” he said and thrust inside her again.

She held on tight. Just like the other night. Just like every night when it came to Jacob in her world.

“I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

The rain started, and it pounded the tin roof above, creating a pretty echo and loud dinging sound.

He fucked her against the wall, hard and fast. His mouth stayed on hers as he took her body to the brink in record time. With the sound of the storm brewing around them, there was no fondling, no sweet kisses or exploration of bodies. This was sex against the wall. Rough and wild and consuming.

With every hard thrust Jacob gave her, her ass banged against the wall and she cried out louder and louder. Her body started to crackle with the impending orgasm that was just out of reach.

The sound of the dump truck returning echoed through the warehouse. Mannie was back from the gravel delivery and near the front of the shop, while Jake had her pinned against a corner in the back.