Built To Last (Saltwater Springs #1) (2 page)

L
uke Garrity pulled
up in front of the non-descript storefront on Main Street and double-checked the address with the one the potential client had texted him earlier. He’d hoped to be there sooner but had gotten stuck dealing with a problem at one of his job sites. It was now getting to be about dinnertime. The shop owner was lucky he’d had a client cancel on him; otherwise it would have taken him months to get there. That was the success he’d made of his business in the past decade. All work and no play had paid off.

Luke reached across the cab of his pickup truck to grab a notepad and measuring tape to bring inside with him. He shoved the small notepad in the front pocket of his shirt and deposited his aviator sunglasses on the dash.

He’d been in the middle of something when he’d gotten the text and had forgotten to ask whom he’d be meeting with. Though he hadn’t spoken to the person, it was clear from the text that he or she was in a bind and needed to get this job done fast. While he didn’t really have the time to devote to another project, he had a hard time not helping out someone in need. He’d spent the better part of his youth “in need” and knew full well what that felt like. He figured he’d take a look and see if there was some small way he could help.

He got out of the truck, slamming the heavy door behind him. The cool autumn wind bit into him, cutting through his flannel shirt. As he brought his hand up to knock on the glass window of the shop, Luke froze mid-motion when he saw her.

Scarlett. His Scarlett.

His Lettie.

Here.

In Saltwater Springs.

The girl that had shattered both his heart and his self-confidence when she’d left him behind to attend college. His stomach clenched, his heart spasmed, and his dick twitched. Three simultaneous reactions that perfectly demonstrated the complicated nature of his feelings toward this woman.

At that moment, she looked up from the construction equipment she was pushing to the side and noticed him standing there. She made eye contact and her eyes flashed with something—recognition to be sure, but there was something else that was there and gone so fast he didn’t have time to identify it.

The past decade had been kind to Scarlett. Her wavy, black hair still shone and hung over her shoulders but wasn’t able to hide her ample chest. Her eyes were the same shade of evergreen. He used to be content to gaze into those emerald eyes for hours as they lay in the back of his pickup truck. She wore a tight-fitting pair of jeans that hugged her curvy hips—hips he was sure he’d still have a hard time keeping his hands off of if he were within arm’s reach of her.

But she’d never really been within his reach, had she? That was exactly why she’d left him without any explanation all those years ago.

Not that he should have been surprised, really. Scarlett was considered Southern royalty in this town, and he…well, back then he was nothing more than the son of a drunk and a waitress.

Figuring he needed to quit standing there looking like an idiot, he willed the semi in his pants to remember what a fool she’d made of him. Luke stepped sideways to stand in front of the door as Scarlett marched over to it, brushing her hands on her firm thighs as she went.

Scarlett chewed on her bottom lip as she unlocked the door, a nervous tic he remembered from her high school days. She whipped the door open, her eyes wide and panicked. “What are you doing here?” she asked, disbelief in her voice.

If he’d subconsciously had any hope that this could be a somewhat pleasant reunion, that had disappeared when the crease settled in between her brows.

“It’s good to see you after all this time, too,” he responded with a clipped tone. Luke brushed past her, and damn if she didn’t smell as mouth-watering as she looked. He wasn’t a gambling man, but he’d bet good money she still wore the same vanilla perfume as she did a decade before.

“Luke, wh-what are you doing here?” she stammered from behind him.

He turned to see her standing with her arms crossed underneath her breasts. Jesus, did she do that on purpose? Luke tried not to notice that her nipples were erect, but it was an impossible feat considering the thin cotton shirt she wore.

“I’m pretty sure you asked me to be here,” he said gruffly.

“I did not.” Was that contempt in her voice? “I didn’t even know you still lived in town.”

Ouch. That hurt.

Sure, she’d been the one to end things, but apparently he hadn’t even rated a social media-stalking at some point over the years. He’d kept up with her whereabouts for the first few years. After a while, it had become too painful when it was clear she wouldn’t be returning and had carried on with her life like he’d never meant anything to her.

“You texted me about taking a look at this place,” he said.

“
You’re
the owner of Old South Contracting?”

The way she said that really pissed him off. Like she couldn’t believe he’d actually made something of himself and wasn’t stuck pumping gas for a living. They’d met through his younger brother, and Luke had been five years older than her when they started dating. At the time he was in his early twenties and not doing much with his life, but was it that impossible to believe he hadn’t followed in his father’s footsteps and become the town drunk?

His mom had taught him to always be a gentleman, but figuring fair was fair, he returned some of her attitude. “That hard to believe?”

“I didn’t realize you had any interest in building things, that’s all.”

“Well, you’ve been gone for the better part of ten years, so you wouldn’t, now would you?” The accusation rang clear in his voice and he cringed inside. He didn’t want her knowing just how affected he’d been by her leaving.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she said, chin raised high like she was looking down on the world—down on him.

He clenched his jaw. It really ate at his craw that after all these years—and the way she’d ended things—that
she
was the one throwing attitude at
him
. She had some nerve. “You could start by telling me what it is you want done here.” Luke motioned to the bare walls and concrete floors surrounding them.

“This isn’t going to work,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air with an exasperated sigh.

He narrowed his eyes. “I’ve heard those words before.” He paused. “Oh wait…that would imply you stuck around long enough to say goodbye.”

She inhaled deeply, as if to keep her composure before responding. “You need to leave.”

“Aren’t you the one usually doing the leaving?” He couldn’t help himself. The past still had a grip on him, and having her here in front of him not only made him angry at her but also with himself. Because the truth was, he still wanted her. How pathetic was that?

Scarlett brought her hand to her waist. “You need to go.”

“You’re something else.” Luke shook his head as his urgent steps carried him closer to escape. Scarlett’s boots clicked on the cement behind him.

“What the hell does that mean?”

He wasn’t prepared for this—hadn’t expected to be confronting his past this evening—and he didn’t know how to handle it. Ten years worth of emotion was a lot to keep bottled up inside. Memories of the pain and desolation he’d felt when she left made him feel like a shaken-up soda—primed and ready to explode. He stopped and spun on his heel so fast that Scarlett walked right into him. He gripped her upper arms to keep her from falling, and the heat of her skin seemed to singe his fingertips and spread in an almost painful wave up his arms.

“It means that after the way you left, I can’t believe you have the nerve to act like
I’ve
done something wrong. You’re the one who asked me to come here today.”

“I didn’t know it was going to be you!”

“Yet here I am, and you still can’t stand the sight of me. Even after a decade.” He exhaled a frustrated breath. “And I still don’t know why.”

Hurt flashed in her eyes, though he couldn’t imagine why. She removed herself from his hold and took a step back. His hands instantly felt empty from the loss. “Please leave. Now,” she whispered.

Luke growled—for probably the first time in his life. “No problem. I’ve got somewhere I’ve gotta be and she won’t be happy if I’m late. Have a nice life.”

He tore out of the store, almost ripping the door from its hinges, and began stalking down the street. He was way too riled up to drive right now. He breathed in deeply as he passed the idyllic storefronts, hoping the cool autumn air would help to clear his mind.

Infuriating woman. What the hell was she doing back in Saltwater Springs?

If she was opening a shop in town, it seemed she was planning to stick around.
Damn it.

He’d been doing fine without the biggest loss and temptation of his life strolling around the same streets as him.

Luke had always known in his gut that this day would come—the day he was forced to confront his unresolved feelings for this woman. He just hadn’t expected it to be during such a tumultuous time in his life.

I
n no way
had Scarlett been prepared for the deepest, darkest, and most mouthwatering part of her past to show up at her door today. All of the hope she’d had about turning her bleak situation around vanished the moment she set eyes on
him
through the glass window.

She’d heard some years ago that Luke had moved away, and so when she made the decision to return to Saltwater Springs, Scarlett figured she was in the clear.

How wrong she was.

Because the minute she spotted him, the past had come rushing back to her like it’d been yesterday. The well of emotions she thought had run dry from all of her tears over the years had apparently been replenished.

Of course, he had to look even better than he did in his early twenties. Luke was even harder to resist now, looking all smoldering, rugged, and male—oh, so male. He still wore his sandy brown hair a little long, with the ends curling up over his collar. That coupled with the stubble on his face gave him a sexy, weathered edge. And then there was the way his flannel shirt pulled across the expanse of his chest, hinting at a well-muscled body beneath. All of it worked together to make him damn near irresistible.

Unfortunately, she had a bigger problem at the moment. His business had been her last hope at getting this place together in time for the holiday season. Scarlett sunk to the floor, unable to take the extra weight that living in the same community with Luke added to her already heavy load. She watched as the tears fell onto the dusty floor below.

She heard the sound of the door chime—she really had to remember to lock that door. In her despair, Scarlett didn’t bother to look at who had come in. A set of large, strong hands wrapped around her upper arms and pulled her up before she knew what was happening.

Stunned to be suddenly standing on two feet, she looked up and was shocked to see those sapphire eyes she’d been crying over. It was easy to forget how much time had passed as she gazed into his eyes. The deep blue color hadn’t changed at all. It was exactly the same as she’d remembered—and she’d remembered often over the years. No matter how hard she’d tried to get those midnight blue orbs out of her head, she’d never been able to.

“Why are you crying?” he asked with a soft voice, fingering a tendril of hair stuck to the saltwater on her cheek. Gone was his irritation and anger from earlier, replaced only with concern.

“What are you doing back here?” she said with a sniff.

“I was getting in my truck and I saw you crying through the window.” He paused and pursed his lips, as if thinking of what he wanted to say. “I shouldn’t have said those things earlier.”

Scarlett shook her head. “No, you had every right.” If he’d known the real reason she’d pushed him away all those years ago, he might feel differently. But he didn’t know—could never know.

Luke blew a breath out between his full, kissable lips, and she couldn’t help but drop her gaze to them as he said, “Even so. I didn’t have to be such a jackass.”

Her gaze darted back up to his and they both stood, staring at each other. It felt as if she’d been pulled into the past, and she was a young girl again with her whole life in front of her, full of possibility.

Scarlett cursed herself for still being drawn to this man. She could try to deny it all she wanted, but the heavy ache in her breasts and the center of her thighs couldn’t be ignored. She licked her lips and took a deep breath, trying to rein in her need for the man who’d once been her entire world.

Luke’s eyes darted down to her lips and his entire body tensed. “Scarlett…” His voice was low and laced with desire. His scent cocooned her, making her feel warm and safe. It was a mixture of the woods and a spice she couldn’t name.

Scarlett brought one hand up to his cheek, unable to help herself. Luke shuddered and briefly closed his eyes. The feel of his warm skin and stubble underneath her hand brought a sense of calm to her. It was the first time she’d felt anything other than panic or uncertainty in months. With regret, she let her hand drop.

Luke’s brows furrowed for a moment. “I want to help you get this place ready,” he said with determination.

Scarlett shook her head, not removing her gaze from his for a second. “No. After everything, I could never ask you to do that.”

“I’m doing it,” he responded with an authoritative tone. “End of discussion.”

“I don’t even know if it can all be done in time. It’s probably a lost cause.”

He sighed. “Your text said you needed to be open before Thanksgiving. The timeline will be tight. I can’t afford to take any of my guys off the sites they’re on, but most of my days now are spent roaming from one job to another, making sure everything is going the way it should. If I do that first thing in the morning, I can be here around lunch and work into the evening most nights.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, unsure what to do. There was no doubt this was the answer to her problems. But accepting his help would come with its own set of issues to contend with—like the torture of having to see him every day. And more importantly, the need to keep her secret safe.

Plus, what if he was married or involved with someone? Would she be able to handle hearing about how happy he was with someone else? She’d purposely not asked about him over the years. It would have been too painful knowing what he was up to…to hear how he’d moved on with his life.

No, she could never stomach the images that would forever be imprinted in her head. She’d drawn her own conclusions over the years, but knowing something for certain was another beast altogether. Seeing it? God, she couldn’t even comprehend how she was going to deal with that.

For a moment, she pictured Luke walking hand-in-hand with his wife around town, a child in his arms—

Nope. She couldn’t go there. It would destroy her if she let that vision take hold of her.

Scarlett blinked back the tears forming behind her eyelids, determined not to let them fall. “I don’t know.”

His strong arms wrapped around her body and gave her a small shake. “Say yes,” he demanded.

“Okay,” she said simply, still sure it was a bad idea but out of options.

He closed his eyes for a moment and drew in a deep breath. When he opened them again, those blue eyes pinned her with an intense gaze before he bent down and crushed his lips to hers. His tongue grazed along the seam of her mouth, and though she knew she should be pushing him away, it felt too good…too familiar. She opened to give him access and he didn’t delay in taking advantage, swirling his tongue inside her mouth. Exploring her. Tasting her. Devouring her.

She felt the kiss all the way down to her toes, which were now curled up inside her leather boots. Unable to control her reaction to him, Scarlett plunged her hand into his hair. She’d always loved that he kept it a little longer. It was easier to grip that way.

He pressed Scarlett into his muscled body and she moaned when his obvious arousal pushed against her stomach. One of his hands gripped her ass while the other moved to the base of her neck so he could control the kiss. He’d always taken charge in the bedroom—something she could never get enough of. She could picture them now…her underneath his chiseled chest as he drove into her, the scent of the two of them combining into one musky aroma that drove them both on, the feel of her muscles contracting before she—

Scarlett pushed Luke away with as much force as she could muster. If she didn’t end this now, all of those things she’d just been daydreaming about were bound to happen. And no good would come of that. She could never be what he needed. That dream had been ripped away from her long ago.

Hell, she didn’t even know if he was married or not. Her gaze darted down to his left hand, and she let out a relieved breath when she found no wedding band there.

They both stood, unmoving, breathing heavy, and not saying a word. What had been an overwhelming meeting of the tongues had quickly turned into an awkward silence.

Luke ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a decade,” he finally said, shaking his head as if to clear it. “I’ll see you tomorrow around lunch. Be sure to wear work clothes.” His eyes took her in from head to toe, then inched back up at a snail’s pace. Her face flushed, her nipples beaded, and her clothing suddenly felt too restrictive.
Damn hormones.
“If we’re going to meet your timeline, I’m going to need to put you to work. It’ll keep your costs down, too.” His voice was gruff, no longer laced with desire.

She liked that last bit, but the first part concerned her. “I don’t know anything about construction,” she said, a little uneasy at what he might be expecting her to do.

“If memory serves, you used to take instruction well.” He grinned momentarily and then disappeared out the door as quickly as he’d shown back up in her life.