Part 1 (1/2)
Irresistible Sin.
Lynn LaFleur.
The Men With Tools series.
Griff Coleman used to be the happiest man in the world, until a doped-up kid killed his wife in a bank robbery. Now he does his job during the day and spends the rest of the time alone.
Emma Keeton, a five-foot-three package of energy, comes barreling into his life. They're thrown together when Griff is put in charge of building a restaurant where Emma will be chef. Emma oozes s.e.x appeal, an appeal Griff finds irresistible.
Emma has never been interested in anything long-term with a man. Her feelings change as she and Griff spend so many hours together. s.e.x with him is the best she's ever had, but soon only s.e.x isn't enough. Griff has to let go of the past and accept her as part of his future. Only then will he heal and love her as much as she loves him.
Chapter One.
The light, floral fragrance drifted around him and crept into his nostrils.
Jana was here.
Griff Coleman's hands froze while connecting new wires in the kitchen ceiling of Stevens House. His heart began to pound, his lungs couldn't draw in enough oxygen. Logically he knew it wasn't possible for Jana to be here. His wife had been killed ten months ago by a doped-up kid in a failed bank robbery. Yet he still felt her presence, still woke up reaching for her every morning.
Still barely slept at night for wanting her in his arms.
Griff turned his head at the sound of feminine laughter. Alaina May-his brother Rye's girlfriend and the woman who'd bought this old Victorian to remodel into a bed-and-breakfast-entered the kitchen, followed by a pet.i.te woman with short, dark hair. The brunette must be the one wearing Jana's perfume.
He a.s.sumed she was one of Alaina's former housemates. Rye and Griff's other brother Dax had met both of the women who had shared a house with Alaina in Dallas, but Griff hadn't. He did his job every day, then went home alone and stayed there until he had to go to work again the next day. His routine hadn't varied in ten months. He knew of no reason for it to vary in the future.
The brunette's gaze swept the empty kitchen. Griff saw it as she did, now no more than a sh.e.l.l. Griff would finish all the light fixtures today, drywall would go up on the walls starting tomorrow, then flooring, then cabinets and appliances. The work would take several weeks, but by the first of November, Alaina would be able to start stocking the cabinets and pantry.
He watched as the brunette ran her fingertips over a bare wall. It reminded him of the way a woman would run her fingers over a man's skin.
It had been ten long months since he'd felt a woman's touch. Griff knew it would be even longer. He and Jana had been together since high school. He couldn't imagine being intimate with anyone but his wife.
”Oh, Lainy, it's wonderful.”
Alaina laughed. ”There's nothing here.”
”I have a great imagination. I know exactly how it will look when it's finished.” Her gaze s.h.i.+fted from Alaina to him on the stepladder. The smile remained on her face, now mixed with a light of appreciation in her eyes. ”h.e.l.lo.”
Alaina looked from her friend to Griff and back again. ”That's right. You haven't met Griff yet. Emma, this is Griff Coleman, Rye's brother. Griff, Emma Keeton, one of my best friends.”
He nodded in greeting. ”h.e.l.lo.”
”Hi,” she said, her smile widening.
”Rye's brothers do a little of everything,” Alaina said to Emma. ”Griff is the company's electrician, Dax is the painter.”
”You're much braver than I am.” Emma s.h.i.+vered. ”I'm terrified of electricity.”
”It won't hurt you if you're careful.”
”You stick to wires and fuses. I'll stay with my pots and pans.”
Alaina looked up at Griff. ”Emma will be my chef once the B-and-B opens. She currently works at a restaurant in Dallas.”
Emma grinned. ”I can hardly wait.”
Her grin made her eyes sparkle. Griff's gaze pa.s.sed over her body. She couldn't be more than five-foot-three and weigh around one-ten. For such a little thing, she had a lot of curves. Her tight jeans and cropped T-s.h.i.+rt revealed her shape perfectly.
Ashamed of himself for noticing her body, Griff quickly returned to connecting the wires hanging down from the ceiling. He had ceiling fans and lights to install in almost every room in the house. That didn't leave him time to stare at Alaina's friend.
”Come see my office.” Alaina took Emma's arm and tugged her toward the room that had been created off the kitchen. ”Rye took out part of the back hall and enlarged the old pantry. I have a cute little place in the corner.”
Griff watched the two women walk across the kitchen. Emma let Alaina lead her, but she looked back at Griff over her shoulder. He held that gaze until the women disappeared and he could no longer see them.
”It's cozy, but I have plenty of room.” Alaina gestured toward the built-in bookshelves along one wall. ”Aren't these gorgeous? George does such a good job. I can hardly wait until he starts on the kitchen cabinets.”
Emma nodded in the appropriate places while Alaina prattled on about her office. She was happy that her friend was so happy, yet her mind kept drifting back to the man in the kitchen on a ladder.
The too slim but very handsome, s.e.xy man on a ladder.
Alaina had told her about Griff. What a tragedy for a man to lose his wife so young, especially since they had been happy, according to Alaina. Emma knew a lot of married couples who were together but she wouldn't describe as happy.
Emma jerked when Alaina waved a hand in front of her face. ”What?”
”Where are you?”
”I'm right here.”
”Did you hear anything I said?” Alaina asked, frowning.
”Yes. You said your bookshelves are gorgeous. I agree. You said you can hardly wait until George-whoever he is-starts on the kitchen cabinets.”
Alaina crossed her arms beneath her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. ”And?”
”And...what?”
”What did I say after that?”
Emma hadn't a clue. Not wanting her friend to know she hadn't been listening, she tried to bluff her way out of it. ”A bunch of stuff about your house. I want to know if you've ordered the kitchen appliances yet. You promised me I could help you pick them out.”
”No, I haven't ordered them and you're changing the subject.”
She could never fool Alaina, no matter how many times she tried. ”Okay, okay. I was thinking about Griff. Satisfied?”
Alaina rolled her eyes. ”Of course you were. He's a man and he's breathing, so naturally you were l.u.s.ting after him.”