Читать книгу Made for Marriage - Helen Lacey - Страница 11

Callie moved her arm. Away from his touch. Away from temptation. Away from the realization that she liked how his hand felt against her skin.

I need you …

There was something startlingly intimate about the way he spoke the words. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had said that to her. Maybe never. Craig hadn’t needed her. And Noah Preston didn’t need her, either … not really. He just wanted her to teach his daughter to ride a horse.

“I can’t.”

He smiled. “Yes, you can.”

God, he was relentless. Callie lifted her chin. “I said I can’t.”

“She’ll be on her best behavior,” he said.

Callie expelled a heavy breath. “Even if she is, I’m not—”

“Is your unwillingness actually about Lily?” he interrupted her. “Or something else?”

Her heart quickened. “Like what?”

He looked at her. Really looked. Callie felt compelled to turn her gaze away, but she didn’t. Couldn’t. She’d never felt this kind of intensity with anyone before. She’d spent years convincing herself she didn’t want it.

“I thought that perhaps you and …” He stopped, hesitated and sort of half smiled. “I think we … I think we might have started off on the wrong foot.”

He wasn’t kidding. But she wasn’t about to admit it. She wasn’t about to admit to anything. Instead, she thought about the practical. “Why this sudden confidence in my abilities?”

“Because Lily believes in you.”

Callie didn’t break their eye contact. “Even though you don’t?”

“And if I said I did? Would you reconsider teaching Lily? If I apologized again for being a jerk and asked you to do this for my daughter?”

Her insides quivered. Don’t be nice to me. “You don’t give up easily.”

He shook his head. “Not when I want something.” He looked around. “I heard you’d lost some students recently.”

She stared at him. “How did you know that?”

He grinned. “Local gossip.”

Callie’s skin prickled. Just like the local gossip she’d listened to last weekend. “Yes, I did.”

He looked around, to the house, then back to her. “So, it looks like you’re not doing well financially.”

More prickles. “I’m not filing for bankruptcy just yet.”

A full smile this time. “I didn’t mean to imply you were,” he said carefully. “But I thought perhaps we could strike a deal.”

Cautious, Callie’s interest spiked. “What kind of deal?”

“Your usual fee—plus I’ll help prevent your house from ‘crumbling around your ears.’”

She stilled. “And how exactly will you do that?”

“I’ll do whatever maintenance needs to be done while Lily’s having her lessons.”

Callie looked at him suspiciously. “Do you work construction?”

“No,” he replied. “But I know my way around a toolbox.”

I’ll bet you do. Suddenly she was tempted. Very tempted. She did need the money. And as for his offer to help repair her house … that idea dangled like a juicy carrot in front of her nose. With windows that wouldn’t open, doors needing repair, fence palings hanging loose and the knowledge she needed to chase the entire house with a paintbrush, the lure of his offer teased her. Refusing would be impulsive. And foolish.