Following Love Read Online Free

offered help and was pulled to her feet. In a split second she was slammed up against his body.
    They stood there a few seconds until he stepped back and walked away. “You need to be more careful, I could have killed you.”
    Seeing that he was physically shaken by the incident, she softened. “You didn’t, and I’m fine. I guess I should be delighted that you have so much control over your hammer.”
    He looked at her and tilted his head, feeling his body’s urge. Everything she said and did seemed to send one message straight to his wanton body. The awkward moment lasted only a few seconds but seemed to go on forever.
    He nodded then swallowed hard. “Sorry, I overreacted. I’ve been a little stressed lately.”
    â€œThere’s a lot of that going around.” She muttered her affirmation. “I’m Dena, Ellen Peyton is my aunt.”
    â€œJulian.” He removed his other work glove and held his hand out to shake. Hers sticky, his dusty, they shook, holding on slightly longer than necessary.
    â€œAre you the handyman who reconnected her gas stove after my great-aunt moved it to the other side of the room a few months ago?”
    â€œYeah,” he said, remembering the fire marshal’s outrage when he’d found out what she’d done and ordered her never to attempt another remodeling job like that again.
    â€œAnd I guess you helped her with the fireplace, too?”
    â€œYeah, that, too.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œFor what,” he asked, “nearly taking your head off?”
    â€œNo, actually, that wasn’t such a good idea. Thank you for looking out for my aunt, she means well.”
    â€œYou’re not from around here, are you?” he asked.
    â€œNo. I grew up in California but I lived here with my aunt for about a year and a half after my folks died.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    â€œThanks, it was awhile ago, I was sixteen. Anyway I haven’t been back to live here in years.” She looked around, taking her eyes off him for the first time since she’d walked outside.
    â€œWell, I’d better go change and get another pitcher of something for you to drink.”
    He cleared his suddenly dry throat, nodded and smiled. He bent down, picked up the glass pitcher and handed it to her. “Thanks. I’d appreciate that, thanks.”
    She nodded politely, half smiled in return, then turned and left. Without thinking she rubbed her thigh and rear, knowing she’d have a nice black-and-blue bruise in a few days. When she entered the back door of the Peyton house she turned, sensing that he’d been watching her.
    Â 
    Julian lowered and shook his head to steel his wayward body. He’d watched as her heart-shaped rear clad in perfectly taut shorts hurried away, but for him it was like slow motion. The sway of her hips accentuated the sweet taunt of her body. He’d watched as she’d reached down and rubbed her rear. That was his undoing. There was no way he could continue watching her. Of its own accord, his body went into overdrive as thoughts of her beneath him continued to test his resolve.
    Still holding the lemon slices that he’d plucked from her neck and shirt, he popped them into his mouth and bit down hard, letting the sharp bitter-tart fruit pucker his mouth as a distraction. Then he replaced his work gloves, picked up the hammer and took another swing, nearly leveling the crumbling wall in a single blow.
    â€œNo,” he said out loud, answering his body’s needful yearn. He refused to go there. She was attractive, sure, but that was no reason to go back on his word. He’d vowed to focus on work and that’s just what he intended to do. Like it or not, celibacy was his new calling.

Chapter 2
    E llen innocently looked up as soon as Dena walked through the door. “My goodness, was Julian that thirsty?” she asked, after seeing the empty pitcher in