Part 18 (2/2)
”Sure.” Lauren smiled and waved at the twins as Lizzie pushed the shopping cart past.
A warm hand settled on her nape, and Nate's lips skimmed over the sh.e.l.l of her ear. ”You look like a woman in need of some ice cream to cool down.”
”Ice cream,” whooped Drew. ”I need ice cream, too!”
Lauren walked with him to the checkout, his big, warm palm on the small of her back. Ice cream wouldn't cool the heat setting her on fire every time Nate was close by.
Lauren was a sucker for punishment as much as Nate was a sucker for her m.u.f.fins.
Most days around afternoon break time, she found herself, with Drew in tow, hiking up to Nate's place with a container of home-baked goodies. Every time she spotted Nate, paint-splotched and s.e.xy, a niggling little voice said Drew had gotten too attached-that she had gotten too attached. Each time she told the niggling little voice to ”shut it” and went to boil the kettle.
Today, she'd made b.u.t.terscotch brownies-Nate's favorite-because today, she'd heard Bounty Bay's power providers were interested in founding a sustainable-wind farm in the area. Mac's place looked pretty darn good, but even with Kathy's contacts, no one within the community had shown any interest in buying it.
Lauren had gone so far as to speak to Kathy's cousin Samuel, thinking the old, neglected barn a short distance from the main house could be a potential workshop for his art. The man's carvings were a hit with the Asian market, and although Samuel didn't broadcast his financial success, she knew he could afford the place. A brilliant idea-only Kathy's gorgeous but stubborn younger cousin wasn't interested in moving.
Dammit.
Lauren waved out to Todd working on the scaffolding as they approached, and Drew shrieked like a maniac as he spotted his uncle.
”Uncle Todd! Uncle Todd! I wanna come up!”
Todd climbed down the ladder and plucked his nephew up by the straps of his overalls. He swung him in a dizzying, giggling circle before setting him back on his sneakered feet. ”Not a chance, squirt. Your mum'd kill me.”
”Aw, man! You and Nate let me come up the other day.”
Todd winked at her and grinned. ”Shh, you little blabbermouth. That's a man secret. You don't tell women man secrets.”
Lauren grinned at her brother, who had already told her about Drew's adventures on the scaffolding when it'd been set up two feet off the ground. ”Hmm. I'd better go and talk to the boss.”
She pa.s.sed the container of brownies to Drew. ”Sweetie, can you and Uncle Todd put the kettle on while I talk to Nate?”
”He's around back.” Todd tipped his head toward the house. ”Say, how come she gives you the baking to carry, squirt?”
”Because I won't let you eat them all. Mummy says you can't be trusted and she says I'm more 'sponsible.” Drew wrapped his arms around the container.
”'Sponsible...Right.” Todd shot her a hard-done-by big brother look. ”As if I'd eat all the brownies-they are brownies, aren't they?”
”Go wash up while I find Nate,” Lauren threw over her shoulder as she headed for the rear of the house.
Brand new windows and roof, and now the first coat of paint almost completed on the new clapboard siding. Bounty Bay workmen had come up to finish the electrical and plumbing work. More were due in a couple of days to start on the new kitchen and bathroom, and to install the beautiful rat-p.o.o.p-free carpet she'd helped Nate pick out. Mac's place would soon be a jewel again.
Lauren couldn't help a wistful smile as she rounded the corner. Old Mac would've loved seeing his place restored, though volunteers would've had to hog-tie him before he'd allow anyone to touch it.
Still grinning, Lauren smacked into a solid but not made-of-clapboard wall. The wall's hands shot out to steady her, and she yelped while being dragged flush against a hard chest and stomach.
”Good, you're here.” Nate's hands ran over her waist and clamped on her bottom. ”I thought you weren't coming.” He dipped his head and nibbled on her jaw.
She squirmed closer, threading her fingers behind his neck and holding on tight. ”Please tell me you've cleaned your hands, and that I won't have to explain to Drew and my brother why I have two Driftwood-colored handprints on my backside.”
His laugh a smoky rumble, Nate kneaded his two handfuls until she nearly purred.
”Lucky for you, I've already washed up.”
Before he distracted her any further, Lauren said, ”I spoke to a representative from NorthEnergy this morning.”
”Mmm.” Hot lips pressed against the pulse point at the base of her throat. ”You smell so good. Like sugar.”
”About wind turbines-”
His lips left her skin. ”Turbines?”
”For a wind farm. NorthEnergy would be interested in evaluating the land up here as potential sites for their wind turbines.”
”When you say 'the land up here', you're meaning my land?” Some of the warmth drained out of his voice.
”Well, yes. But they said if the sites met their needs after testing, they'll pay ten thousand dollars per turbine per year. That's an amazing investment.”
”And I wouldn't have to sell the property to Martin Davis.”
Busted. ”There is that.”
”How many turbines are they talking about?”
This was the cruncher. ”One to start with, if the test turbine shows it can produce the power they require-but potentially up to three.”
Nate released her bottom and straightened, causing her hands to slip from around his neck. ”I'm sorry, Laur. It's not the kind of return I'm looking for. Even best case scenario, thirty thousand a year isn't going to work for me.”
”So it's all about money.” Her cheeks sucked in on a frown.
”As far as Mac's place goes, yes.” His tone blunt, he raised an eyebrow. ”I've invested pretty much all I own here, and I'm counting on the profit to fund my next overseas trip.”
”For another coffee-table book.”
”Exactly. After the sale, I'll be in a position to quit the twenty-four-seven life of a photojournalist.”
”I thought you loved that life.” A tiny flame of hope flared in the back of her mind.
”What I love is living through the lens of my camera. And selling Mac's place for top dollar will allow me to do that full-time on my own terms.”
”I'm still trying to find you another buyer.”
With a crooked smile, he tugged her back into his arms. ”I know, babe. And I'm keeping an open mind. But no wind farm.”
”Fine-”
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