Harper gripped the whiteboard eraser. She wished she knew how to handle Luke. She’d just given him a huge telling off and he was still smiling at her. Like she could do no wrong. And instead of really, really pissing her off, it gave her warm fuzzies she hadn’t felt for a long time.
A long time.
He stood there before her saying, being, doing everything wrong—yet she liked him. All the women in the class had liked him too.
And she liked him a lot. Which brought her back to the warm fuzzy feeling that snaked through her whenever Luke was around. She had to clench everything, fists, teeth, those womanly bits she’d forgotten she had, just to stop herself melting in a tragic puddle at his feet. So wrong, because she wasn’t the pathetic, puddling sort. She couldn’t be. Two of them in one family was more than enough and Harper had made the conscious decision years ago to be the strong, independent one who never, ever, friggin’ ever needed a man.
Could have a man if she wanted, yes.
But needed? Big fat negative no.
And it had become her catch cry. Her philosophy. Her mission statement as well as her mission. Men not required.
Do it yourself.
And if she didn’t live the rule? All. Would. Be. Lost.
Luke didn’t understand how important it was that the class was female only. Yet she felt she’d laboured the point enough already. What more could she possibly say?
‘The whole point of the girls-only thing—’ she said it again ‘—is so they can ask daft questions. Often they know nothing. Nothing. “What’s a wrench?” or “How do you make the ladder stand up?”’.
Luke tried to cover a snort of laughter but failed miserably.
‘You laugh. You say your mother doesn’t need to know this stuff. But if on some level she didn’t want to know this stuff she wouldn’t be here.’ Was it Harper’s imagination, or did Luke look a trifle uncomfortable? She pressed on. ‘I’d like to ask you to leave my class because you’re cramping my style. But instead I’m going to show you how wrong you are. Not only about your mother and your aunt but about every woman in this class. Sit there for the next four days and watch as they ask questions and learn by doing things themselves.’
Harper’s breath hitched, suddenly desperate to know if Luke would accept her challenge. Afraid he wouldn’t. Afraid he would. Luke at the back of the class, day in, day out could drive her mad. He was too delicious. Too tempting. Too wrong.
‘You’ll see first-hand that it’s all about having a go.’ Harper cleared her throat, found the steady, reasonable tone of voice she usually reserved for Annie. ‘Anyone can watch TV shows or google things online but until my students try something for themselves, they don’t know—really know—if they’re capable of doing it.’
Harper threw the whiteboard eraser down on the desk like the proverbial gauntlet. Relief she could justify Luke’s presence and not lose two lovely clients swept through her. And if Luke discovered the error of his ways and Shelia got to try something new and exciting she’d never done before, all the better.
‘Okay.’ Luke looked relaxed as he stared her directly in the eye, pinning her in his stormy blue gaze. ‘Let’s see if you can convert my mother round to your way of thinking.’
‘Not just your mother. You too.’
Luke’s easy laugh filled the room. ‘Let’s not get too ambitious. Not saying you aren’t a good teacher or anything. It’s just that proper renovation requires trained professionals.’
‘When I say “convert” I’m not suggesting your mother will never need you again, just that she might learn some useful skills and hopefully experience a sense of pride in her accomplishments. If I can help Shelia, then it’s worth it.’
And maybe Luke would see Shelia didn’t need to be swaddled and suffocated in cotton wool.
Her unspoken words hung in the air, but Luke just shook his head, the confident smile not dipping for an instant. He held out his hand.
‘You’re on, Harper Cassidy.’
Her hand met his with a faint slap of warm palms. A firm handshake.
Professional. Business-like.
Yet her hand lingered in his as he showed no indication of letting go. His palm was rough, calloused, his grip strong. Did she imagine the softest caress of his thumb? A tingle where skin met skin? She pulled her hand sharply away, flustered in contrast to his apparent calm. What did it take for this man to lose his cool? She wanted to know the answer. To be at less of a disadvantage around him.
The realisation that she totally fancied Luke came as a huge shock. She’d never been so attracted to a man before and here she was wildly and stupidly attracted to Luke who stood for everything she’d taught herself to dislike.
He didn’t take what she did seriously. And what she did was who she was. The two were inseparable.
Which meant he couldn’t take her seriously.
This situation was becoming more than a mild inconvenience. Making flicking movements with her hands, she motioned Luke out, pulling the door firmly closed behind him. With a sigh of relief she rubbed her hands across her face but barely had time to regroup before the door opened again and Annie sauntered in.
‘Phwoar! Who was that total spunk I saw leaving?’ Annie asked, eyes popping out of her head.
‘He’s the latest thorn in my side,’ said Harper. ‘Yet another male who doesn’t see the value in DIY Divas. But I’ll show him he’s messing with the wrong girl. He’s not going to know what’s hit him once I get started.’
‘Can you hear yourself? It’s scary. And you didn’t answer my question. Who is he?’
‘Luke Bloody Colton. Construction guy and non-believer.’
‘Construction guy, huh? You should get him to help with your house. It’s a nightmare. You’ll be dead before it’s finished.’
Harper frowned. ‘I hate when you talk like that. You sound like Mum.’ Annie looked like their mother too. Where Harper was small with dark colouring, Annie and their mother were both tall and fair. Harper watched Annie toss her head, the signature move shared by mother and daughter. Her honey-gold tresses resettled without so much as a strand of hair out of place—the trick just one of many passed from the older beauty to the younger. Huge eyes that would put Bambi to shame rested resentfully on Harper.
‘Mum’s not always the bad guy, Harper.’
‘I know, but she’s not always the good guy either. Especially when it comes to men.’
‘Not this old chestnut. I came to tell you my exciting news, but I can see you’re going to get mad now. You’re in that mood again.’ Annie’s face was downcast and she tilted her head to the side as if weighing up whether to share her news or not. Her exquisite face was wrinkled in a petulant frown.
Harper played with her charm necklace, rolling it around in her fingers. ‘Go on then. Out with it.’
‘I just wanted to tell you I’m getting a new car. I met this guy and we’ve been out a few times. He’s a car salesman and he’s doing me a really great deal. The timing’s perfect, the vee dub’s not going to last forever.’
‘No! No!’ Harper couldn’t help how the words burst from her lips. ‘You can’t keep doing this. Last month it was the guy at the temp agency who got you a job and before that it was the phone company guy who gave you a new phone.’
‘You’re just jealous no one does you any favours. Maybe if you didn’t walk around repelling people all the time, they’d be nice to you, too.’
‘I don’t want anything from anyone. I’m not Mum and neither are you. You’re an intelligent young woman. You can live on your own terms.’
‘Spare me the “teachable moment” crap. I can look after myself.’
‘Then look after yourself. Stop expecting a man to do it for you.’ Harper ground the words out through gritted teeth. Her body quivered with anger and disappointment. She’d tried to instil better morals in Annie; to lead by example because their mother never had. But Annie had found an easier way to get what she wanted.
Men found her irresistible. Harper had years of experience sweeping up the pieces of broken-hearted ex-boyfriends after Annie had moved cheerfully onto the next guy. Her little sister had learned early in life to turn situations to her advantage with a few eyelash flutters or a pout of her bottom lip.
Said lip was in full-on pout mode now, but Harper was immune.
Annie took a step back, about to leave.
‘Don’t go. I don’t want to fight,’ said Harper. She sighed. Would she ever win this argument? All it seemed to do was drive Annie further away—usually into the arms of someone less suitable than before.
‘You’re way too staunch, you’ll never get anywhere. You had that gorgeous man, Luke, here in the classroom. I don’t know why. But if he’s a builder you should ask him to lend you a hand with your house. Men like helping.’
‘But then you owe them something.’
Innocent Bambi eyes looked at her. Harper didn’t want to ask how her sister repaid the men who drifted in and out of her life. She was afraid it was the same currency her mother had used throughout Harper’s childhood. The very thing Harper had sought to shield Annie from and failed.
‘See ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya,’ Annie said as she bounced back out the door.
‘Take care,’ said Harper. Be good. She was sick of the roles Annie pushed her into playing. Either she was a nag for criticising her or she was a coward for burying her head in the sand rather than confront Annie and have the shit really hit the fan. All Harper had ever tried to be was a strong role model and counterbalance their mother’s influence.
Energy levels now zapped, Harper slumped down at the back of the classroom on the window seat where Luke had spent half the day. The soft old cushions still retained the vague imprint of his butt and she took some weird comfort in the thought that it was like sitting in his lap. It made her feel less alone.
Stupid, stupid thought. She was alone and she had much more important things to worry about. Big picture stuff, like how she still had to get Cliff King to see her. She hadn’t forgotten about that, but she’d got caught up in the minutiae of her holiday classes … of the right here, right now of life. And she still had to start tomorrow’s lesson plan, get more students for the next two weeks’ classes and deal with Luke Colton.
Luke. His name made her tongue curl. She said it again, enjoying the sound. He’d be back tomorrow, driving her crazy with his dazzling panty-shedding smile and his big clomping feet.
He didn’t get what she was trying to do here anymore than Annie did.
Harper closed her eyes. When had life got so exhausting?
***
Doing it yourself wasn’t just about home maintenance, thought Luke. With the emphasis firmly on the doing, it could encompass all aspects of life. From his spot at the back of the classroom he’d embraced Harper’s philosophy and incorporated it into his romantic scheming. She clearly wasn’t going to fall at his feet, which meant it would be up to him to make it happen. He had to do it himself.
After a couple of days the women had got used to his presence and pretty much forgotten about him. He was as much a part of the furniture as the old floral-cushioned window seat and the tatty community centre curtains. At the end of each session he’d succeeded in getting some time alone with Harper—his mother had cooperated by waiting in the car for him—and progress had been made.
Harper liked him. She just didn’t know it yet.
They’d slipped into what he regarded as a semi-comfortable routine. He alternated between reading the paper, checking work emails and avoiding Harper’s dirty looks each time he made a noise during the teaching part of the session, and then he joined the women at the end for cups of tea and what they jokingly called builders’ biscuits. Although Harper didn’t talk directly to him during tea time, it allowed him to observe her out of teaching mode.
And he liked what he saw.
Someone not afraid to speak her mind, who worked hard, and was generous with her time and energy. She was modest, kind and her enthusiasm was downright inspirational. If Luke hadn’t already mastered the tasks she set he knew she’d be able to teach him. Even if he’d been useless. Which of course he wasn’t.
He added a heaped spoonful of sugar to the steaming cup of tea someone had passed him. Dunked a biscuit. ‘How’s it going?’ he asked Shelia. ‘Lucky you wore your old clothes for today’s session.’
His mother’s grin widened as she looked down at the emulsion splattering her trousers. ‘Such fun,’ she said.
When they’d arrived on day three, Harper had split the class in half and they’d set up large A-frames as mock walls. Half the class had painted the miniature windows and skirting boards and the other half had tackled wallpapering.
Today, day four, they’d swapped over. Luke, although no expert, couldn’t fault Harper’s technique as she talked the women through the wallpapering. They worked in pairs, folding the pasting paper to carry it carefully to the wall and used a spirit level to ensure it was straight.
He’d been unable to help himself when his mother and aunt forgot about the direction of the wallpaper pattern. He’d rushed over to help, earning a dark look from the teacher. When he thought she wasn’t looking he’d assisted them to trim the corners of the paper and stood back with them to admire the wall.
‘Not bad,’ he said, ignoring the slightly wonky pattern and the air bubble.
‘It’s beautiful,’ said Shelia. ‘I can’t wait to try it at home.’
‘Hmm,’ he said, not wanting to encourage or openly discourage. He caught Harper’s eye, unapologetic at aiding the older women. Nothing wrong with helping. If anything, Harper could let up on the girls-going-it-alone theme and accept some help herself. Running the class, dashing back and forth between the groups, was hard and she definitely had her hands full.
And he was just sitting there twiddling his thumbs most of the time; a waste of human resources.
Tea over, Luke started to gather up the cups. Behind him he heard the ladies calling out their goodbyes and packing up their bags to leave. He gave his mum a quick nod and followed Harper out to the little storeroom. He gave the door a nudge, quietly closing it behind him so they were alone in the tiny room. She hadn’t noticed, too engrossed in rinsing off the cups and saucers and placing them in the draining tray. Luke dumped the remainder of the cups on the bench and picked up the tea towel.
‘You don’t have to do that,’ said Harper.
‘And you don’t have to do everything yourself. I’m just drying the dishes, not laying concrete. It’ll free you up to do whatever else you need to do before you head off for the day.’
Yet Harper didn’t seem to be in any hurry now that the classroom was silent and empty. Her hands made swirling patterns in the hot water as she washed and rinsed cups. White detergent bubbles pouffed up her tanned forearms.
‘Has your mother said anything about the class? Is she enjoying it?’ Harper placed the last cup on the tray and put her arms under the tap. Tiny freckles revealed themselves as the bubbles disappeared down the plughole.
‘Yeah. She’s loving it. She thinks you’re great.’ So do I, he wanted to add. He handed her the towel to dry herself, realised how small the storeroom was, how close they stood. Harper’s expression softened at his words and the usual ‘piss off’ vibes she emitted were absent. Hope filled his chest. Maybe his plan to hang round for the week was paying off. He’d wanted to get under her skin the way she’d gotten under his.
He tugged the towel back, pulling her off balance towards him. Their feet bumped, her knee nudged into his shins and she let out a small yelp. Laughing, he grabbed her elbows to steady her, his hands slipping slightly on soft wet skin. He felt her tense, but she didn’t move away, just looked up at him with her big brown eyes. Something in those eyes begged him to kiss her. He knew enough about women to know she wanted him.
He slipped his hands a little higher up her arms, pulling her closer into his sphere. She didn’t help, but she didn’t resist either. His thumbs slipped along her skin. She was close enough now he could almost have buried his face into her neck and breathed her in—natural woman, herbal shampoo and a faint lick of paint. Wanting her would drive him crazy.
And still she didn’t move away. Frozen like a deer in the headlights, waiting to see what he would do next. Waiting; her lips parted. His pulse pounded through his fingertips eliciting a responding shiver from her; a welcoming sign he couldn’t ignore. An opportunity too good not to take. And man, he wanted to take. Take her hard, take her gently, take her anyway, as long as he had her. He pulled her into his arms, bending his head low to taste those pink kissable lips. Gently. Testing the water. Then with increasing pressure as she yielded to him and responded in kind. Her lips soft, yet insistent as they met his.
She shuddered and his heart thumped an erratic beat as he pulled her hard against him, wrapping his arms around her slim waist to hold her tight in his embrace. He lifted her, adjusting her small, perfect form to his large frame till she melded into him, her soft curves pressed against him. Her arms reached to wind around his neck, her fingers in his hair as she pulled his head towards her. She gave herself to him in a passionate and intoxicating kiss.
He was on fire.
Lips crushed against lips, demanding and heady. His hands explored her slender back, moving to stroke up and down her spine. Heated sensation after heated sensation burned through him, and he couldn’t get enough. He buried his face into her delicate neck, revelling in the tiny whimper of sound she made as his breath whispered across satiny skin. She melted into his touch when he found a sensitive spot at the base of her throat, tasting her, breathing her in, before trailing up her neck to explore her mouth again, seducing with his tongue.
The crash of the door behind them and a startled ‘woops’ jolted him back to reality. The door slammed shut again, but the moment was gone. Harper ripped her mouth away and shoved him back so hard he’d have toppled over if he hadn’t grabbed hold of the bench.
‘Crap, crap, crap,’ she said. Her eyes filled with panic, followed by an icy fury. She glared up at him, swiping her hands desperately at her swollen mouth as if she could remove all evidence of his branding kisses. Then she turned, smoothing her hair and her clothes and pushed back into the classroom.