Jillian’s arm, then let it drop back to her side.
Suddenly, the only thing Jillian wanted to do was spend more time with Wil. “I don’t know. What are you guys doing? Do you need any help?”
Wil gave a halfhearted smile, and Jillian was irritated that the sunglasses prevented her from seeing if it changed her eyes. Jillian imagined that if she could see them they would still be arctic and emotionless. She wondered if she would be so bothered by that thought if she hadn’t already seen them bright with desire.
“I agreed to let you work on your projects at the same time. But I can’t let you work with us.”
“Why not?”
“For starters, my father would have a fit. Besides, that’s why you’re paying us. By tomorrow we’ll have the kitchen completely gutted. We’ll spend the rest of the week pushing out that wall and installing the new window in the breakfast nook. Next week I’ll give you one day if you want to paint before we install the new cabinets.”
“That would be easier than painting around them.” Jillian made a mental note to go back down to the hardware store and buy the paint and supplies. “Your crew seems great. I get the impression you’re all close.”
“Andy and I are—friends. And she and Patti are together. I don’t know Tracy very well, but Andy says she’s good people.”
“A whole crew of lesbians?”
Wil shook her head. “Tracy’s straight. Recently divorced.” Wil glanced toward the porch where the girls were cleaning up the remains of their lunch. “We better get back to work.”
Jillian stood on the sidewalk as Wil quickly took the steps to the front porch. As she approached the other women, she pulled a small notebook out of her pocket and flipped it open. Though Jillian could hear the low timbre of Wil’s voice, she wasn’t close enough to hear her words. But her attention was focused on Wil’s long fingers as they gestured toward the paper. The women listened carefully and nodded in respectful agreement.
She’d already decided that Wil was competent and dedicated. And judging from her suggestions at the hardware store, she could complement Jillian’s vision for the finished renovation. Jillian was glad she hadn’t let a night’s indiscretion interfere with their professional relationship.
*
A generic country band competed with the din of conversation and laughter throughout the darkened interior of Rambles Ranch. But sitting at the bar with her back to the crowd, Wil ignored the noise. She swirled three swallows of amber liquid in her mug and thought she should probably just finish her beer and go home. Not in the mood for company, she’d avoided making eye contact with anyone but the bartender. The only reason she’d even come out was because she’d grown tired of restlessly prowling her house and replaying intimate moments with Jillian.
Her first full day of working at Jillian’s hadn’t been too bad. They’d made a lot of progress and Jillian had stayed out of their way. But though Wil wanted to ignore her, she was constantly aware of the sounds of Jillian working in another part of the house. And she didn’t like the blaze of arousal when she caught sight of Jillian passing through the hallway adjacent to the kitchen. There was absolutely no logical reason why helping Tracy rip out the old countertop should make her wet from the memory of taking Jillian on that very surface.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing.” Wil glanced up as Andy settled on the stool next to her.
“Come on. I know that look. You’re thinking about something serious.”
“No. It’s definitely not serious.” Wil drained her mug and set it back on the bar. “I’m surprised your woman let you out of the house tonight.”
“You know she hates it when you call her that.” Andy signaled the bartender, pointed at Wil’s empty glass, and held up two fingers. “She knows I’m safe if I’m out with you.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s
Suddenly, the only thing Jillian wanted to do was spend more time with Wil. “I don’t know. What are you guys doing? Do you need any help?”
Wil gave a halfhearted smile, and Jillian was irritated that the sunglasses prevented her from seeing if it changed her eyes. Jillian imagined that if she could see them they would still be arctic and emotionless. She wondered if she would be so bothered by that thought if she hadn’t already seen them bright with desire.
“I agreed to let you work on your projects at the same time. But I can’t let you work with us.”
“Why not?”
“For starters, my father would have a fit. Besides, that’s why you’re paying us. By tomorrow we’ll have the kitchen completely gutted. We’ll spend the rest of the week pushing out that wall and installing the new window in the breakfast nook. Next week I’ll give you one day if you want to paint before we install the new cabinets.”
“That would be easier than painting around them.” Jillian made a mental note to go back down to the hardware store and buy the paint and supplies. “Your crew seems great. I get the impression you’re all close.”
“Andy and I are—friends. And she and Patti are together. I don’t know Tracy very well, but Andy says she’s good people.”
“A whole crew of lesbians?”
Wil shook her head. “Tracy’s straight. Recently divorced.” Wil glanced toward the porch where the girls were cleaning up the remains of their lunch. “We better get back to work.”
Jillian stood on the sidewalk as Wil quickly took the steps to the front porch. As she approached the other women, she pulled a small notebook out of her pocket and flipped it open. Though Jillian could hear the low timbre of Wil’s voice, she wasn’t close enough to hear her words. But her attention was focused on Wil’s long fingers as they gestured toward the paper. The women listened carefully and nodded in respectful agreement.
She’d already decided that Wil was competent and dedicated. And judging from her suggestions at the hardware store, she could complement Jillian’s vision for the finished renovation. Jillian was glad she hadn’t let a night’s indiscretion interfere with their professional relationship.
*
A generic country band competed with the din of conversation and laughter throughout the darkened interior of Rambles Ranch. But sitting at the bar with her back to the crowd, Wil ignored the noise. She swirled three swallows of amber liquid in her mug and thought she should probably just finish her beer and go home. Not in the mood for company, she’d avoided making eye contact with anyone but the bartender. The only reason she’d even come out was because she’d grown tired of restlessly prowling her house and replaying intimate moments with Jillian.
Her first full day of working at Jillian’s hadn’t been too bad. They’d made a lot of progress and Jillian had stayed out of their way. But though Wil wanted to ignore her, she was constantly aware of the sounds of Jillian working in another part of the house. And she didn’t like the blaze of arousal when she caught sight of Jillian passing through the hallway adjacent to the kitchen. There was absolutely no logical reason why helping Tracy rip out the old countertop should make her wet from the memory of taking Jillian on that very surface.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing.” Wil glanced up as Andy settled on the stool next to her.
“Come on. I know that look. You’re thinking about something serious.”
“No. It’s definitely not serious.” Wil drained her mug and set it back on the bar. “I’m surprised your woman let you out of the house tonight.”
“You know she hates it when you call her that.” Andy signaled the bartender, pointed at Wil’s empty glass, and held up two fingers. “She knows I’m safe if I’m out with you.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s
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