Break of Day. Andie J. Christopher

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      Carla wasn’t about to touch that. So, she looked at the plates. “Where’s yours?”

      “I had too much sex to eat.” Lola’s face looked totally innocent. If Carla didn’t know better, she’d think her great aunt was a sweet, gently aged, older lady. Not true. Not true at all.

      “That’s not a thing, tia.”

      “Just eat dinner with Jonah.”

      “I don’t want to. He doesn’t like me.”

      “He’s not stupid, so of course he likes you.”

      “No. He thinks I’m here to fleece you of your savings and steal the family home out from under you.”

      “Well, are you?”

      “No. I’m here to do some updates so you can charge more money.” Carla took a bite of the ropa vieja—she refused to moan aloud because it was just food, and she wasn’t that deprived of pleasure. Or maybe she was, but she didn’t want to admit it out loud.

      “What do I need more money for?”

      That stopped Carla in her tracks. Lola had a fuller life than she did—a lover, a very good-looking man in the house to look at, and an active social life. All her needs were met. Maybe Carla was here for nothing.

      Lola grabbed Carla’s shoulders, her bony fingers demanding Carla’s full attention. “You’re here because you need something to do. And I’m happy to give it to you.”

      That made Carla feel bad. She’d always felt like a burden to her parents. Hell, her mom had let her redecorate their master bath twice. Although Carla was too proud to borrow money, she’d had less of a qualm about doing work for her parents—even if it wasn’t necessary. And now they were pawning her off on her great aunt.

      “I don’t have to do anything if you don’t want me to.”

      “This place needs sprucing up; I think you’re just the one to do it. I’m just not going to charge any more money.” Lola winked. “I like my strays.”

      When they walked into the dining room, Carla was gut-punched again by how attractive Jonah was. He stood with his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts, a stance that made the muscles of his forearms especially prominent. She imagined them pinning her wrists into a bed while he pounded into her. Sweat broke out onto her upper lip, even more unladylike than the thoughts this man aroused in her.

      He seemed oblivious to how hot and bothered he made her. If he was aware, he’d either throw her over his shoulder and run upstairs or—more likely—flee the island.

      “One of those plates for me, princess?”

      “Uh. Yeah.”

      Jonah sat in another chair that looked like it had to work hard to take his weight. She’d never been into guys who were so big and broad before. Geoff had been lean, almost to the point of being scrawny. She shook her head. This comparing Geoff and Jonah had to stop. Jonah didn’t even like her; they weren’t going to have a relationship.

      “Yes or no, princess?” He looked pleased with himself.

      Carla shoved his plate at him and seated herself as far away as she could, next to Lola. When she looked over at her great aunt, the older woman was stifling laughter.

      “It’s not funny.” Carla kept her voice low.

      “What are you doing here, for real?” The room was large, but Jonah’s voice bounced off the walls and enveloped her in its gruffness.

      “She’s here to spruce things up.” Lola answered for her.

      “You didn’t mention it.” Jonah’s brow furrowed, and it killed Carla, but it made his face even more compelling.

      “Since when are you a member of the family, Mr. Kane?” Carla flipped her hair over her shoulder. “This is family business.”

      “I care about Lola.” Jonah stuck his fork into his food so it stood upright, which felt to Carla like a gambit to intimidate her. “That’s enough.”

      “I’m not here to hurt her. I’m not here to hurt anyone.” Despite herself, she felt her eyes burn. She didn’t have to answer to him, but the way he examined her and found her lacking made her skin itch. She’d never hated someone on sight before—not until now. What made her even angrier was the bone-deep knowledge that she would still have sex with him, even if she wanted to stab him the entire time.

      Chapter 3

      Jonah didn’t know why he couldn’t stop poking at her. Women usually found him charming, considered him a delight. Hell, Lola Hernandez had practically adopted him over the past few months. But Lola’s great niece got under his skin, and he couldn’t help himself but try to make her mad.

      Maybe it had something to do with how her cheeks reddened every time he said something to her. It made him wonder if her ass cheeks had freckles. He’d give up the righteously good meal in front of him to find out. And he was a man serious about food.

      He didn’t even have the excuse of trying to protect Lola from getting screwed over by her own family. If Lola trusted Carla, she was probably right to.

      He should apologize, finish his dinner, and go up to his room. But he wanted to irritate the lovely redhead as much as her presence irritated him.

      “You said you were working on a book, didn’t you?” Carla returned his stare, arching one eyebrow. “You’ve been hanging out at the house all day. Don’t you have to go take pictures or something?”

      “I didn’t have anything set up today.” That was a lie. He’d been planning to go out until Carla showed up. After that, something kept him there. Something redheaded. He wondered if she tasted like strawberries. Or maybe something savory like caviar. Just asking the question in his head made him feel nuts.

      He pushed away from the table so abruptly that the heavy wood scraped against the floor. Liquids in glasses sloshed and he felt his skin flush from embarrassment. A familiar feeling due to his size. Until he’d started playing football as a junior in high school, his size had been a disadvantage. It had made kids his own age scared to play with him. Now, seeing the look of horror on Carla’s face he was brought right back to being the sophomore in high school with no friends. He hated that, and he projected that hatred back on her.

      He grunted an excuse, or what Lola might understand as an excuse, and went upstairs.

      * * * *

      “He’s weird,” Carla said. “Are you sure it’s safe for you to be alone with him?”

      Lola glared at her. “I think he’s perfectly wonderful. Sort of like having a pet grizzly around the house.”

      “Grizzlies like to maul and kill things.” They were also hairy, and thinking of hair on Jonah’s body rubbing against her skin, rubbing it raw, wasn’t likely to drag her mind out of the gutter. Her skin pricked up as though he’d touched her.

      Once they’d finished eating, Carla helped Lola with the dishes. Jonah might think she СКАЧАТЬ