“Easy there.” Jackson’s hands gripped her arms. “Where you running to?”
This was the second time today he’d grabbed her . . . and the second time her body responded instantly to his touch. The arousal that assaulted her each time he was around was only growing stronger and stronger. Denying her ache was
a moot point because she constantly lived with it now.
Why did she have to find this man attractive? Wait, attractive was much too tame of a word to describe what she felt for Jax. He was sexy, caring, frustratingly smart, and managed to take up some serious real estate space in her mind.
There were so many red flags that popped up when her hormones attempted to take over. She was much older than him, she wasn’t sticking around here, and . . . well, that’s all the reasons she had. Wasn’t that enough?
“I’m positive there’s a rodent in there or a snake or a hairy spider.” Once again, she shivered. “I was trying to find a screwdriver and . . . what are you doing here?”
“I was on my way home when I got your text.” He glanced over her shoulder and surveyed the inside of the garage. “It would be a miracle if any living creature could survive in that place.”
His eyes focused back on her, a naughty grin spreading across his face. “How bad do you want that screwdriver?”
Olivia narrowed her gaze. “I’m still upset with you, so keep your lips and all other body parts to yourself.”
Jackson reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, feathering his fingertips down her jawline. “You can still be upset and turned on.”
Batting his hand away, she lifted her chin because damn it she was definitely turned on.
“I’m not any such thing,” she insisted.
His laugh mocked her, but she held her ground. No way would she admit the mere sight of him did funny things to her belly. Fighting this attraction clearly wasn’t working. How could she lose a battle with herself? That didn’t even make sense.
“Well, then I guess that was someone else clinging and moaning when we kissed.”
Before she could reply, he’d released her and headed into the garage. And he had the gall to whistle. Whistle as if he hadn’t kept her on her toes since she came back. Whistle as if he hadn’t a care in the world while she was more confused than ever.
She hoped a big hairy spider crawled inside his shoe and bit his toes off.
“Don’t you have a daughter you need to be with?” she asked, remaining on the outside away from the unknowns inside.
“Cash has her at the gym,” he replied, his back to her as he searched through the mess. “I was headed home to shower when you texted, so I have time to find a screwdriver and glance to see if there’s any tools I might want.”
He went back to whistling and it took everything in her not to explode. She waited while he dug around, muttered under his breath, examined various parts to machinery.
“The screwdriver,” she reminded him when he seemed too enveloped in all the other things in the garage.
“I’ll get to it. I’m just looking as I go.”
“Well I need some brackets down so I can start painting. If you could speed up your shopping spree, I would appreciate it.”
With some greasy part in hand, Jackson turned to face her. “I have a screwdriver in my truck. Why didn’t you just tell me you needed something done right now?”
He laid the part down and headed down the driveway. “I did tell you,” she argued as she followed the infuriating man.
“No, you just said you needed a screwdriver. I thought you wanted one on hand for convenience.”
He opened his squeaky door and reached behind the driver’s seat. Pulling out a small black toolbox, he dug around and found what she needed.
When she reached for it, he shook his head. “Show me what needs done.”
“I can do it myself.”
He kept walking and started up with that damn whistling once again. Olivia ran ahead and stood in front of him, blocking his path.
“Why are you doing this?”