I pushed my chair back and paced away from the table.
“Look, there’s a lot of work to be done structurally. The windows alone are going to take time, especially with the stained-glass portion of them. We have a guy we use locally, and he’s damn good, but there’s a wait. Unless you know someone who does that as well.”
I laced my fingers at the back of my neck. “No. I have a call in to Archer, but he hasn’t gotten back to me yet. Still off-grid.”
She stood and followed me over to the panel that had my plans still pinned up. “Look, I get wanting things to move faster.”
“Can I just throw money at it?”
“Just how much money do you have budgeted, Nolan?”
I glanced at her. “How much do you need to advance the timetable?”
She stared at me for a long minute. “You’re serious?”
“Do I seem the type to joke?”
“No. Though you should sometimes. You’re a real bear.” She rolled her eyes when I didn’t so much as smile at her. “You’re the worst. Throwing money at it only does so much.” When I opened my mouth, she held up a hand. “But it will work for the windows, which takes a big chunk out of your schedule.”
“Any other places we can shave time?”
“Nolan, I’m not a miracle worker. This isn’t Los Angeles, you know.”
“Can I call in people from there?”
“We don’t work with people we haven’t vetted. Especially some fancy pants overpriced blowhard from LA.”
I arched a brow at her. “Now who’s the pain in the ass?”
“I’ve been burned by cutting corners. Rushing and not meshing with people can set a job back months. You sure you want to take that chance?”
I growled.
“All right, all right. I’ll make some calls. I might have a few ideas.”
“Good.”
“You know you can’t just growl at me like a beast and think you’re going to get your own way. Welcome to small town life, pal. Things don’t go as fast as you want.”
“Got my way today, didn’t it?” I stepped closer to her. “And the way your nipples are staring at me, you like when I growl, Hellcat.”
She lifted her chin. Every time she did that, I wanted to kiss that smart mouth of hers. “It’s the AC.” She turned and went back the desk.
“Dahlia...” I’d stepped over the line. One that I’d drawn.
She whirled back and stalked back to me. “You’re the one who wanted to keep this professional.” She poked me in the chest. “You’re the one who flounced like a pissed-off kitten after you were done with me.”
“Done with you?” I crowded into her. “I’d never be done with you—” I cut myself off.
She went onto her toes. “You could have fooled me. Rolled off and disappeared just like the asshole you are.”
I gripped her ass, dragging her to me. “I might be an asshole, but it didn’t stop you from coming on my dick again and again.” I stared at her mouth. “On my tongue. Flowing down my beard because you were so wet.”
She licked her lips. “So what? Every woman makes a mistake or two.”
“Six?”
“You wish.”
“I felt you. I tasted you, Hellcat. I know how many times you came.”
“I just made sure to make extra noise to make you feel better.”
The chill that skated down my spine almost got me. Pity fuck.
No.
She was lying.
The pride and the sting of her words melted under the direct stare. “I didn’t mean it that way.” She dug her fingers into my shoulders. She was pushing me away as much as she was digging into my muscles. “You make me crazy.”
“Ditto.” Then I covered her mouth.
The spice of the pizza danced on her tongue, and I twined mine around hers. The kiss was carnal and heady. There was no breath between us. Instead, we fed on one another as if we were creating it.
She tore her mouth away. Her lips were swollen from mine and my beard.
I dug my fingers into her hips, lifting her onto her toes so she could feel how hard I was for her. I flicked my tongue along her lower lip, slowing the blazing heat that made me want to steal everything from her. Drag all that passion and fire into me. To warm up the cold blankness that lived inside of me.
