A Hot Winter (New Adult Romance) (The Attraction Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

LEGOS.  She’d meant to straighten up before the contractor got here, but she’d lost track of time.  Oh, well.  Not like it mattered if the house was a little messy.  As she stepped into the foyer, she suddenly noticed the overstuffed laundry basket that she’d forgotten about, which was still sitting by the stairs.
    Earlier, Andy had prepped her about the guy from Winter Contracting who was coming to the house, so Emma was confident this would be a quick, to-the-point meeting.  She also felt comfortable greeting him in the worn fleece pants she liked to sleep in, and an oversized Boston College sweatshirt that made her look twice her size.  Andy had gotten it for her earlier this year when she’d started graduate school. 
    Before Emma opened the front door, she stuck the pen she’d been carrying in her hair, which was currently tied up in a messy knot. 
    Ben trotted over to the door.  “Who is it?” he asked eagerly.
    “Jake,” Emma called to her older son, who was now sitting on the couch, having abandoned the LEGO tower for his new book on magic tricks.  “How about you and Ben go upstairs, okay?  You can take your book with you and watch TV in my bedroom.”
    “Okay,” Jake said and hurried over with his book in hand. 
    Both boys hopped the steps, and not for the first time, Emma was grateful that they considered watching TV in the “master bedroom” to be a big treat.  The key, of course, was to use that leverage sparingly. 
    When she glanced through the strip of window beside the door, all she could see was a side view of the guy’s upper body.  “Who is it?” she called out as an extra precaution.
    “I’m with Winter Contracting,” he said.
    “Hang on.”
    It didn’t hit her that the voice was familiar until one second later--after she’d already swung open the door.
    “Oh, my God!”
    “Hey, it’s you,” the guy from the hardware store blurted in return.  The surprise on his face matched the shock that Emma felt.  “I can’t believe this,” he added with a brusque laugh.  “ You’re Emma?”
    “Yes…I…” she mumbled, too flustered and caught off-guard to know what to say.
    “This is too crazy,” he said with another incredulous laugh.  Though he was quicker to adapt to reality than she was.  “Wow, small world.  Anyway, I’m Matt.  Matt Winter.” 
    When he extended his hand, Emma shook it awkwardly, as if in a trance.  As stunned as she was to see him here, she wasn’t too dazed to notice how warm and strong his hand felt against hers.  “But I don’t get it,” she said, stepping back so Matt could come inside.  “I thought the man coming tonight was in his forties and married.”
    “Um…”
    She felt stupid as soon as she’d said it. What a weird comment!  It made her sound like she was screening the guy for some personal reason.  “I mean, um, Tragan volunteered that fact.  Totally of his own accord,” she added, stretching the truth a bit.
    “I see,” Matt said simply--though his dark furrowed brows indicated that he really didn’t.  “You must mean Bill Thompkins.”
    “Yes, I think that was his name.”
    “Right, he was set to do the job, but had to cancel at the last minute.  Apparently one of his kids is in a talent show and it’s running a few times this week, and--well, I’ll spare you the whole explanation, but long story short, I told him I could probably take the job for him.”
    “Probably?” Emma said.
    “No, let me clarify,” he said, giving her an easy smile.  “I can definitely do the work.  It’s just that I have a few things going on right now, so you and I will need to make sure our schedules sync up, that’s all.” 
    Though Emma nodded along, she was beyond distracted by Matt’s presence.  And by the fact that Tragan’s best friend was also the guy from the hardware store!  And by the fact that of all the nights to skip hair-combing and wear a muumuu-sweatshirt, she chose tonight!  (While she