Read Online Always and Forever by Farrah Rochon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Farrah Rochon
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Mya.
They peered into the living room just as Corey and Jamal stood up and high-fived each other. His muscled arms and broad shoulders were displayed to perfection underneath the lightweight football jersey.
“Oh, yeah. He would be good,” Phil said.
“So good,” Mya agreed.
Phil was tempted. Good Lord, was she tempted. But she’d been burned once before. She needed to be smarter this time around. Her nightly fantasies would have to suffice.
Yet, even as the thought rolled through her head, another—this one just as strong—moved in.
Would it be a cardinal sin if she and Jamal saw each other outside of work?
Denying her attraction to him was harder than she’d ever imagined. She had not been this turned on by a man since...well...ever.
She’d convinced herself that she loved Kevin, but it had taken months of getting to know him before she’d felt even an ounce of the sizzle she felt when Jamal was near. It was primal, this awareness between them. Why not see where it would lead?
Because it will likely lead to heartache.
“Don’t mix business with pleasure,” she murmured.
“What was that?” Mya asked as she leaned back on the stool to watch the TV.
“Nothing,” Phil answered. “Come on. I don’t want you crashing to the floor.”
They walked back into the den, and Jamal’s eyes turned in her direction. He picked up his beer bottle and stared at her as he tipped it back, his eyes lit with a knowing, humorous glint.
Don’t mix business with pleasure, Phil reminded herself. But the mantra became less and less convincing with every moment that passed.
* * *
Jamal balanced himself on the second rung from the top of the ladder as he stretched the tape measure to the bottom shingle.
“Are you trying to break your neck?” he heard from just below.
He twisted around so fast he had to latch on to the house to steady himself.
Phylicia ran to the ladder and held it in place. “Get down from there,” she demanded.
“Just a minute.” He quickly took the measurements he needed before making his way down the ladder. “Thanks for holding it steady for me.”
“You do know better than to climb that high on a ladder without having a second person to anchor it, right? I know your comfort zone is usually behind a computer, but your family owns a construction company. You have to know at least that much.”
“I know all the safety rules,” he said. “I just needed a quick measurement.”
Phylicia rolled her eyes. Jamal grinned. She was bossy as hell, but it looked so damn good on her.
“Was your client satisfied with the work you did on the radio?” he asked her.
She’d told him she would be a couple of hours late this morning because she had to deliver an antique radio she’d restored to a customer in Mandeville.
“My client was very satisfied,” she said. “In fact, he hired me to restore an armoire that dates back at least a hundred years, I’m sure. It is an absolutely gorgeous piece. It’s being delivered to my shop next week. But it won’t interfere with my work here,” she said. “I know we’re under a huge time crunch.”
“Since you came on board I’ve been able to catch up. I’m actually slightly ahead of schedule now. And once the work crew arrives in a few days, things will move even more quickly. Hey, what’s with the frown?” Jamal asked.
“Nothing,” Phylicia said. “Just sounds as if this job won’t last as long as I thought it would.”
“Yes, it will. That construction crew isn’t touching the woodwork inside. That’s a job for the much sought-after restoration specialist.”
A modest grin curled the edges of her mouth. “Well, I guess the much sought-after restoration specialist had better get started then,” she said, but she didn’t move, just continued to stand there, her eyes locked with his.
Only a couple of feet separated them. Two steps. That’s all it would take to bring their bodies into contact. Jamal took a step forward, and
They peered into the living room just as Corey and Jamal stood up and high-fived each other. His muscled arms and broad shoulders were displayed to perfection underneath the lightweight football jersey.
“Oh, yeah. He would be good,” Phil said.
“So good,” Mya agreed.
Phil was tempted. Good Lord, was she tempted. But she’d been burned once before. She needed to be smarter this time around. Her nightly fantasies would have to suffice.
Yet, even as the thought rolled through her head, another—this one just as strong—moved in.
Would it be a cardinal sin if she and Jamal saw each other outside of work?
Denying her attraction to him was harder than she’d ever imagined. She had not been this turned on by a man since...well...ever.
She’d convinced herself that she loved Kevin, but it had taken months of getting to know him before she’d felt even an ounce of the sizzle she felt when Jamal was near. It was primal, this awareness between them. Why not see where it would lead?
Because it will likely lead to heartache.
“Don’t mix business with pleasure,” she murmured.
“What was that?” Mya asked as she leaned back on the stool to watch the TV.
“Nothing,” Phil answered. “Come on. I don’t want you crashing to the floor.”
They walked back into the den, and Jamal’s eyes turned in her direction. He picked up his beer bottle and stared at her as he tipped it back, his eyes lit with a knowing, humorous glint.
Don’t mix business with pleasure, Phil reminded herself. But the mantra became less and less convincing with every moment that passed.
* * *
Jamal balanced himself on the second rung from the top of the ladder as he stretched the tape measure to the bottom shingle.
“Are you trying to break your neck?” he heard from just below.
He twisted around so fast he had to latch on to the house to steady himself.
Phylicia ran to the ladder and held it in place. “Get down from there,” she demanded.
“Just a minute.” He quickly took the measurements he needed before making his way down the ladder. “Thanks for holding it steady for me.”
“You do know better than to climb that high on a ladder without having a second person to anchor it, right? I know your comfort zone is usually behind a computer, but your family owns a construction company. You have to know at least that much.”
“I know all the safety rules,” he said. “I just needed a quick measurement.”
Phylicia rolled her eyes. Jamal grinned. She was bossy as hell, but it looked so damn good on her.
“Was your client satisfied with the work you did on the radio?” he asked her.
She’d told him she would be a couple of hours late this morning because she had to deliver an antique radio she’d restored to a customer in Mandeville.
“My client was very satisfied,” she said. “In fact, he hired me to restore an armoire that dates back at least a hundred years, I’m sure. It is an absolutely gorgeous piece. It’s being delivered to my shop next week. But it won’t interfere with my work here,” she said. “I know we’re under a huge time crunch.”
“Since you came on board I’ve been able to catch up. I’m actually slightly ahead of schedule now. And once the work crew arrives in a few days, things will move even more quickly. Hey, what’s with the frown?” Jamal asked.
“Nothing,” Phylicia said. “Just sounds as if this job won’t last as long as I thought it would.”
“Yes, it will. That construction crew isn’t touching the woodwork inside. That’s a job for the much sought-after restoration specialist.”
A modest grin curled the edges of her mouth. “Well, I guess the much sought-after restoration specialist had better get started then,” she said, but she didn’t move, just continued to stand there, her eyes locked with his.
Only a couple of feet separated them. Two steps. That’s all it would take to bring their bodies into contact. Jamal took a step forward, and
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