Following Love Read Online Free Page A

Dena’s hand.
    â€œNo,” Dena said as she looked down at her sticky, soggy shirt and shorts. “I spilled it.” She placed the pitcher in the sink, rinsed and dried her hands then walked over to the refrigerator and began pulling out more lemons.
    Ellen brought over the cutting board and, seeing Dena’s shirt up close, shook her head. “What in the world? Looks like you spilled the whole pitcher down the front of you.”
    â€œI did,” Dena said, pulling the sticky shirt away from her body.
    â€œThere are easier ways of getting a man’s attention.”
    â€œI wasn’t trying to get his attention,” she insisted with a deep blush and hesitant stammer. “I walked up just as he was swinging that big thing…hammer thing of his. He didn’t hear me until I screamed. He nearly took my head off with that thing.” She looked at her smiling aunt, knowing exactly what she was thinking. “You’re smiling and the grim reaper almost tapped me on the shoulder with his sickle.” Ellen continued smiling. “What?”
    â€œNothing,” Ellen said innocently.
    â€œWhat?” Dena repeated as Ellen shook her head silently. “If you have something to say, Aunt Ellen, go ahead, say it.”
    â€œMe?” Ellen feigned innocence. “I didn’t say a single word.” Dena looked at her aunt, knowing better. Ellen had a way of looking that spoke loud and clear. A horrible poker player, she couldn’t keep exactly what she was thinking from spreading all over her face. “Now go get yourself washed up and changed, and rinse those sticky things out before you get attacked by every ant in the county. I’ll make another pitcher and take it out.”
    Dena saw the suggestion as her exit, so she took it. She hurried up the back stairs, stopped and peeked into the bedroom next to hers. Dillon was still asleep. He’d had a long, exciting day and passed out right after getting home.
    She tiptoed over to his bed, smiled as she pulled the sheet up, removed his hard hat and tucked his teddy bear beside him. Then quietly she turned and continued to her own bedroom.
    As soon as she entered she heard the sound of the sledgehammer slam against solid wall, and casually strolled to the window. Knowing that she’d have a perfect vantage point to the backyard from her large window seat, she carefully pulled the curtain back expecting to have an even better view.
    Unfortunately she’d forgotten about the fullness of the giant oak tree outside her window. Her view was completely obscured by branches and leaves. Squinting and peeking through and around didn’t do any good. As the hammer slammed again, she closed the curtains and headed to the next window and then to the next one.
    Not getting any better view, she tiptoed back into Dillon’s bedroom and looked out his window. Unobstructed, she looked down as Julian hammered away at the solid wall. The guilty pleasure of watching him made her warm. The power of his motions excited her. Then the thought of making love to him drifted through her mind again. She closed her eyes and smiled, feeling the pounding against the wall as against her body.
    The hammering stopped. She opened her eyes, seeing that he had taken a break and was now looking up at the house. She quickly closed the curtains and stepped away from the window, then went to her bathroom to wash and change.
    Standing at the sink she sighed wearily as she looked at herself in the large mirror. She was a mess. Her ponytail and bangs had frayed and her face was shiny and sticky. Suddenly the thought of Julian seeing her like this mattered.
    She peeled out her damp socks, slipped out of her sticky clothes and turned on the shower. Knowing what would come next, she stepped into the tiled stall and ducked beneath the stream of water. The cool refreshing blast poured over her. She tilted her head up, taking the full intensity of the flow