She's the One (Lowcountry Lovers Series Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

of that button pushing, and if Henry don’t behave himself, you might have some competition.”
    “He’s all yours,” Melissa huffed, rounding the corner and heading straight for her office. “I’d love to see Shane with another woman. It would be good for him.”

    S hane stood in the lobby with Melissa’s pillowcase purse, listening to some of the exchange.
    Pearl winked at Shane and hollered after her. “You would spit in any woman’s eye who got within ten feet of that man, and you know it,”
    “Oh, yeah? Try me.”
    “Girl, you’re so full of shit.”
    “Maybe, but you were right about one thing, he does have a nice ass.”
    Pearl gave Shane the high sign and looked like she was going to bust a gut if she didn’t let out the belly laugh she was holding in. He gave her a peck on the cheek and headed back to Melissa’s office.
    “Hi.” He couldn’t help but smile when Melissa looked up from her computer to see him. She blushed hard and that cute little muscle above her lip twitched. “So you think I have a nice ass.”
    She grabbed her purse from him, but he held on to it, totally enjoying the show.
    “Let go, Shane. Don’t you have a house to build or something?”
    “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gave her a kiss that was chaste, sweet and full of promise, lingering just long enough to feel her tremble and weaken.
    “Shane.” The sexy drawl she used whenever she wanted something. “Will you go by Mermaid Cove and check on Savannah? Make sure she’s settled in okay?”
    “No.”
    “What do you mean?” Her tone said, you never say no to me .
    “Stop trying to pawn your lonely hearts off on me. I’m not interested. I’ve told you what I want. I know you want the same thing, but you use your matchmaker thing as an excuse.”
    Yes, they’d had that discussion more than once while laying tile and hardwood, when what he really wanted to lay was Melissa. But there was more to it than just the physical thing. Working beside her just felt so—well, he wasn’t sure. Perfect? Right? Like home?
    “How do you know being with me wouldn’t make what you do better?”
    Well, that made her blush and shut her up—for about five seconds. “You’re making me sound crazy and I’m not. It’s a gift that can’t be clouded by—”
    “Fine. Just stop trying to fix me up with your broken hearts.”
    No, Melissa wasn’t crazy, but she made him that way. Still, those two kisses had weakened her, he was sure of that much. He’d just have to be patient, even though she made that next to impossible.
    He drove back down Palm Boulevard towards a new construction home across the street from the beach, one of his. Ben Stevens’ truck was in the driveway, which meant Ben was there putting the finishing touches on the pool.
    Shane loved everything about building a house, but his favorite homes to build weren’t second homes for people like the Gladstones. He loved the ones that were designed for a family. This home in particular was Joan and Bill Gardner’s dream home. Everything about the place screamed the couple lived for their children. Special cubbies and reading spaces, built in desks, a massive playroom, the killer tree house.
    Shane wandered around back and saw Ben fiddling with the pool pump.
    “Looks good,” he said surveying the elegant pool. “The landscapers are coming next week. When they get done, this would be a good one for your portfolio.”
    “Everything’s coming together. The first pump I put in was defective. If they have a problem with this one, just let me know. I’ve had some concerns with this company. Don’t think I’m going to use them anymore. I’ve used this brand for years, but lately, I’ve had issues with several of their pumps.”
    “Planned obsolescence,” Shane laughed. “They’ve taken it to the extreme.”
    “I hate when shit that’s always worked doesn’t. It really bothers me. I used to make fun of my dad when he’d say stuff like that, but I get it