Alexa took a step back. Sweat dampened her skin, causing her tank to cling. She eased the head of the sledgehammer down to the ground and rested the handle against her thigh. She was definitely going to feel that workout in the morning, or quite possibly tonight.
“Feel better?”
Alexa glanced over to see a very smiley Hayes. She hadn’t seen that much emotion from him other than when they were naked.
“I’m sweating and sore,” she told him. “That was amazing.”
Hayes chuckled and stepped forward. “Maybe I should exorcise some demons, as well.”
Alexa stepped far enough back to not get hit by the debris, but still close enough to admire that very masculine form in action. Muscles clenched and bulged as he took his own frustrations out. Before long, the entire wall with the sink was done.
Hayes stepped back and pulled in a deep breath. “Well, that didn’t take as long as I thought.”
“What about the other wall?” she asked.
“That’s a gas stove, so I’ll wait to pull that out. I think we’ve done enough for the day.”
Alexa took in the carnage and propped her hands on her hips. “So how are we going to cook?”
Hayes propped the sledgehammer against the newfound wall. “I have plenty of things. We won’t need to cook.”
Alexa narrowed her eyes. “Like what?”
“Ice cream, cereal, bread from Sweet Buns.”
“I’m here for two days and I’m going to leave fat if all you have is carbs.”
Hayes’s gaze raked over her entire body. “You’re perfect now and you’ll be just as perfect when you leave even with a buffet of carbs.”
Words every woman wanted to hear. If she was ready for something more, maybe he’d be the one who helped her get back into life as a couple, the man who fed her every fantasy, the one she told her every secret...
Except, oh, that’s right. She was now the one keeping a secret from him.
She couldn’t tell him about Scott. Something about the admission felt too emotional, too raw. She’d be gone soon and Hayes would never have to know who she was. That was for the best, considering both of them had determined this to be physical only and nothing personal.
Bringing Scott into the mix now would only make it seem like she’d been keeping something from him all along. And considering they weren’t going to see each other again, it was best she just kept her late husband to herself.
“I say we have ice cream for dinner,” he told her as he closed the distance between them.
“You don’t have to talk me into that if that’s what you’re thinking.”
A corner of his mouth tipped up as he reached her and banded his arms around her waist. “Oh, that’s not what I’m thinking.”
Alexa flattened her palms against his chest. “We’re filthy, Hayes. And I know I smell.”
His lips trailed over her jawline. “We’re definitely on the same page. You do stink.”
She swatted his shoulder with a laugh.
“Which is why I’m about to go scrub you from head to toe and work out those sore muscles in the shower.”
She squealed as he scooped her up. She started to say something about his knee, but he wouldn’t care. He’d ignore the pain and push through because once Hayes had his mind set on something, he followed through.
And apparently he had his mind set on making sure she was thoroughly clean.
By the time Sunday rolled around, it was like the sky opened up and poured down some much needed sunshine. Alexa was sore in places she hadn’t even known muscles existed—from the sex and the demolition. She’d ended up staying in Hayes’s bed last night, though she’d vowed to herself not to. Things just progressed and that was where she stayed.
The man had a power over her she couldn’t comprehend. It was as if the word no didn’t exist where he was concerned.
And her time there had come to an end. She’d been in contact with Sadie, never once admitting where she’d truly been. They were expecting her home this afternoon and Alexa knew the water had gone down and she’d be able to deliver on that promise.
Alexa adjusted her tank over the top of her jeans. She was most excited about putting on different clothes. Even though Hayes had washed her things while she’d worn his shirts, she still wanted something else.
But part of her hated to be leaving. The house was amazing and she wanted to see more of what would be done, but she’d never be back. She’d never see what happened with the kitchen they’d torn up and she’d never know if he put that long farmhouse table in for guests or if he’d keep it simple so he didn’t have to invite people over.
So much about this house, and this man, she would miss.
Being in bed with him last night, not just the sex but the actual intimacy, had sparked something deeper inside her. After sleeping alone for two years, having someone right beside her had been...perfect. She’d slept so well, all cradled in Hayes’s arms. When morning had come, she didn’t want to get up, but she knew this fairytale couldn’t last forever. The real world waited on both of them.
As Alexa came down the steps and headed toward the kitchen, she heard Hayes cursing.
“Something wrong?”
Her question had him jerking around, eyes wide. His hair was all a mess, from sleeping or running his fingers through it. “Just a minor electrical issue.”
“Do you want to ride back with me?” she asked, knowing full well he would.
He pulled in a deep breath and met her gaze from across the space. “Stay.”
That one word held so much power as it settled between them.
“You don’t mean that.”
Those dark eyes that held so much pain never wavered from hers. “You know I never say something I don’t mean.”
That was true. She’d come to know him pretty well over the past couple of days. “You’ll be glad to see me go,” she informed him, remaining where she was in the doorway.
“I slept better last night than I have in years.”
She didn’t want to hear that. She didn’t want to know that she had an impact on him because last night had been a turning point for her, too. She was having a difficult time gearing herself up to leave. And if he were being honest, he wouldn’t want her to stay. This euphoric state would wear off and he’d want his privacy once again. It was best for everyone if she left as planned and they forgot about each other.
In theory, that’s exactly what should happen, but Alexa wasn’t so quick to believe that she could just let all of this go.
“You’ll do fine once I’m gone,” she assured him, and tried to take the advice herself. “You only slept so well because of the sex.”
Hayes shrugged. “Maybe so. I wouldn’t turn down sex or a good night’s sleep if you stayed.”
“We both know that’s not a good idea and I have a son and reality to get back to.”
Now he did cross the room, and her heart kicked up. Maybe it was the whirlwind weekend or perhaps it was just the man himself, but every time he looked at her she couldn’t help the fire that continued to blaze within her.
“Maybe