Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“Do you know where the joists are? Which are stable and which to avoid? Because I’m guessing you don’t.” He moved closer and glared down at her.
“What the fuck do you know about houses? You said you’re a rich boy who doesn’t work.”
“Maybe I lied.”
“No, you’re merely being a prick.”
He paused. “I may have lied about the work.” A shrug. “I was. And I didn’t say I was a prick.”
“My mistake,” she sneered.
“Iris, look. Bottom line, it’s dangerous. What happens if you fall off or through? Like you pointed out, we can’t leave and I’m not a doctor. Hell, I don’t even play one on television.”
Her lips twitched despite not wanting to smile. Damn it, he had a point.
She held her hands up, trying to regain control of the conversation. “I can judge where the holes are from inside and just be careful up there. There are some additional sheets of plywood I can lay over the holes. Tarp then plywood. Just a temporary fix.” She held up her hand. “You can’t do this. We don’t have decent shoes for you and as much as I’d love to give you my boots, they won’t fit you. Your feet are too big.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Weren’t complaining about that last night or earlier today.”
Grateful for her darker skin so he couldn’t see her blush, Iris cocked an eyebrow. “Your modesty is overwhelming.”
“I know.”
Her snort escaped as she rolled her eyes. “If you think you can handle being out there for a short time in those sorry excuse for shoes you have, you can hold the ladder.”
“There’s a ladder?”
“Yes.” How sturdy it was, she didn’t have a clue. “We can rig something up to pull up the plywood.”
His expression told her how not okay he was with this. “Okay,” he forced through clenched teeth.
They headed to the barn, and she narrowed her eyes against the stinging wind and snow. Hell, it felt like sleet was making its way in there. They didn’t find enough tarps, but there was enough plywood to cover the holes, which was a good thing.
Piros investigated on his own as she worked in silence with Bradford. The man didn’t have a problem working and he was in shape.
“When you said earlier that you lied, what did you mean?” she asked as they carried over a sheet of plywood.
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.” They set it down and walked side by side back to grab another. “You know something about buildings.”
Bradford shook his head. “Not really. I know some from the charity I have.”
She nearly tripped over her feet. “Charity?”
His cheeks pinkened, and he wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Yeah. I started one for homeless veterans. My brother serves, and while we don’t talk about it much, he’s often mentioned how hard it is for the men and women who’ve given so much of their life to get readjusted into civilian life. Most of the homeless are veterans in some cities. I wanted to give back.”
Ignoring the plywood by her, she walked to his side and pushed up on her toes to kiss him. “That’s very unprickish of you. What does your brother think?”
“He doesn’t know.”
“And what is it called?”
He grasped her coat when she went to step back, bringing her close once more. After a kiss that kicked her body’s temperature up, he shook his head. “I’ll tell you, but after we finish your crazy idea.” Another kiss. “So we can be warm, and I can have my dick inside you.”
She lifted up once more and nipped his lower lip. “Is that what turns you on? Talking about other guys while fucking?”
“You, beautiful. You turn me on, just by breathing.” He moved her hand to cover his groin, and she squeezed his erection, eliciting a small moan from him. “Not now.”
“You started it.” She backed away, putting the plywood between them. “But fine, let’s finish this first.”
His laughter made her smile.
* * * *
Bradford had never been so happy to be sitting on a makeshift bed, holding a cup of warm soup by a fire in his life. Every second Iris had been up on that snowy roof had taken years off his life. Not to mention the ladder was shit and he had been shocked it didn’t collapse.
But they’d done it. Survived and were back in their small, warm room. Today’s soup was minestrone. He was on his second bowl, and Iris was still on her first. She’d positioned the food and the camp stove in here as well.
With the additional ice storm moving in, she’d not wanted to open those doors unless necessary. The food was in a far corner to stay away from the heat. More trips to bring in wood had happened as well.
“Tell me,” she commanded, tapping her foot to his as she got comfortable.
“I think we’re missing the my-dick-inside-you part. Not sure I can tell you without that.”