Problem solved.
A moment of weakness averted.
Thankfully, Cal had made himself scarce over the past few days. I didn’t know if it had to do with my questioning his career path or if he finally realized I wasn’t going to give him the casual relationship he was looking for, but he hadn’t shown his face in three days. I was as grateful as I was disappointed. Damn him.
I didn’t want to see him, of course I didn’t. But I had grown used to having Cal around lately, more than I would have thought before I bid on the job. I had gotten used to him making his presence known whenever he was around, flouncing around without a shirt on to show off his hard body, laughing loudly with the other guys just to pique my curiosity. Now that the house was quiet—completely silent, in fact—it was weird. It was downright eerie.
But I’d also made a lot of progress without the big sexy distraction he presented. In a few more days, the job would be finished, and Cal and I could go back to our regularly scheduled lives. Only maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t find something else to do when he showed up to family functions.
That was a big maybe, especially now that I’d seen him naked, now that I knew what he tasted like when his body was slick with sweat. Now that I knew the face he made when he was overcome with pleasure.
“The crew is knocking off the for the day.” Travis’ deep voice startled me out of thoughts I shouldn’t be indulging in anyway, never mind in the middle of the day. “You should probably consider doing the same, considering it’s hot as balls today.” He wiped a forearm across his forehead and let out an exaggerated sigh. “We’re almost finished anyway.”
He was right, the sun had been high and scorching all day and the crew had worked a solid nine hours in the baking heat. “As soon as I get this trim done, I’ll knock off, too. Thanks for the reminder.”
Travis patted his chest and flashed a wide smile, the one he used whenever he was poised to get in trouble for pulling pranks around the house. “You can always count on me to remind you to stop working so hard, Teddy.”
I rolled my eyes and shooed him away. “Cal said the game room deliveries will be here in the next two days, and I’d prefer not to have to work around a pool table, pinball machine, and whatever other gadgets he has lined up for that room.”
I smiled at the thought. Some people might judge Cal for being a grown man with an expensive game room, but I was envious. I thought it was incredibly cool, and I wished there was a way we could be just friends just so I could take advantage of it whenever I wanted.
“Did you get your tickets yet for the Night of a Thousand Heroes Ball?”
“No, why?”
“Because Cenzo mentioned buying a table for the company. Said it would be good PR and better karma.” Travis shrugged and tossed a wave over his back as he ambled through the game room door and down the hall, probably headed home to shower before hitting the bars.
I worked in total silence for the next hour. No music played to distract me, so I was forced to focus on nothing but the job at hand. Not the hot doctor who threatened to infiltrate my thoughts during any moment of weakness, not the way he kissed. Or smelled. Or felt under my palms. I shook my head and wiped sweat from my brow, glancing up to see I had a few more feet of trim before I could break free from Cal’s personal space.
So close.
“What a beautiful sight to greet a man after a long, long day at the office.”
I could hear the smile in Cal’s voice, and I had no doubt it was because he’d caught me on my hands and knees, ass aimed right at the door.
“What a sight, indeed!”
I risked a glance over my shoulder and grinned. “You need to get better lines, Doctor. All of yours are played out.”
“Who needs lines when I’ve already got the best view on the west coast?” He arched a brow and folded his arms as if he thought I might actually answer him.
I shook my head and turned back to the job at hand. “I’ll be out of your hair in ten minutes, fifteen tops.” The sooner I could get away from him and his constant, addictive flirting, the better it would be for both of us.
“Don’t rush on my account. I haven’t seen you in days. If I didn’t know better, I might think you were avoiding me.” His words were bland enough, but there was a hint of inquiry in his tone.