Page 14 of Wicked Stranger
“How strong do you like your coffee?” His voice had her eyes shooting from his ass to the back of his head. When she didn’t answer right away, he looked at her over his shoulder, his eyes searching hers.
“Huh?” Was the only word that managed to come out of her mouth from her mush-filled brain.
A half smile curved his lips. “Coffee?” He said as if knowing exactly what made her brain dead. “How strong do you like your coffee.”
“Oh.” She felt her face flame. “Ah, the stronger, the better.”
With a nod, he turned to finish as she rolled her eyes at herself. Lord, this man was as dangerous as they came. She shivered, then lightly slapped her hot cheeks, trying to get some control over herself.
“So…” She tried to talk, but her voice cracked. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “So Wicked told me you were helping Thorne build on to the house.”
“I am.” He replied, turning he leaned against the counter, crossing his muscled arms over his broad chest.
Raina swallowed hard, ordering her eyes to stay above the neck. It was actually a fight between her eyes and brain, and the brain was losing. “Do you do that?”
“Do what?” He tilted his head as he stared at her.
Realizing she was sounding like an idiot because her eyes and brain were at war, she let her eyes win with a quick up-and-down look before moving back to his face. That didn’t help because, honestly, she had no idea what she had asked and why. “What?”
Zane actually laughed, and the sound had all her girly parts screaming in need. Nothing turned her on more than a man who knew how to laugh and enjoy life. His genuine laugh was contagious, and soon, she was laughing with him. If there was one thing Raina was good at it was poking fun at herself.
“See why I need strong coffee.” She said once her laughter died down. “My brain is not fully functional until after two cups.”
“Only two cups?” Zane snorted teasingly. “So you’re a lightweight coffee drinker.”
“I said fully functional.” She countered with narrowed eyes but a smile. “Four cups, as long as the person making it knows what he’s doing, will have me totally capable of facing the day.”
“Oh, I know what I’m doing.” He countered back with a smirk.
“I bet you do.” She replied, wanting to add ‘big boy,’ but refrained from that…thank God.
“And to answer your earlier question…yes, I do that.” He grinned with a short chuckle. “I build houses.”
“Nice,” Raina said, leaning against the other counter. “That would be so amazing to have a house built exactly the way you want it.” Her mood turned a little sour, knowing that would never be a reality for her. The mess she found herself in may have put a stop to all the goals she had for her life.
“Yes, there are some people who get everything they want, but some don’t because either money or it just can’t be done. I do my best to please everyone, but many times that doesn’t happen.” Zane replied, still standing there looking sexy as hell. “What would be one must have if you had your house built to your specifications.”
“A pool,” Raina said without any thought at all. “With a slide. And lights.”
“Didn’t need to think about that one, did you?” Zane chuckled. “But that is not the house. What about inside the house.”
“Oh, well, as long as I got the pool, I would like a wrap-around porch that goes all the way around so I could sit anywhere and have different scenery.” Raina again answered quickly, then noticed the grin on his face growing. “What?”
“Still outside.” He replied, watching her closely. “What about inside? Do you want a huge chef’s kitchen, fireplaces in every room, or a walk-in closet fit for a queen?”
Raina thought about that, her nose crinkled up in thought. “I don’t cook often because it’s just me, so a regular kitchen would do. I would like a fireplace, but maybe just in the living area. And I’m no queen, so a small walk-in would be fine for me. I like being outside as much as possible, so I think all my plans would be for the outside.”
Enjoying the moment, Raina kept thinking about what she would want on the outside as Zane turned to pour them some coffee.
“Definitely a metal roof, so when I’m inside on a rainy day, I can hear the rain hitting the roof. I love that sound.” She sighed, getting lost in plans that would never happen. “And it would be blue. I’d want a log cabin with a wrap-around porch and blue metal roof.”
Zane turned, holding out her coffee. Raina walked toward him, reaching out to take it. “With a huge pool with a slide and lights.”
Their fingers touched as she took the cup. Her eyes rose to meet his as he stared down at her. “Yes.” She whispered with a slow nod.
His head lowered toward her as she tilted hers up, raising up on her toes. She slowly closed her eyes, ready for the kiss that was coming. Her body was humming in anticipation.
“Is that coffee I smell?” Thorne’s voice was like a bucket of cold water sending them apart.