Free Made For Us by Samantha Chase Page A

six. There was no way she was staying any longer and no way she was going to stop by the model home on her way through town.
    While her computer was shutting down, she pulled the schedule from her pile of paperwork to see what was planned for tomorrow. Earlier when she had spoken to the paint foreman, Charlie, he hadn’t been opposed to Zoe lending a hand. And that was exactly what she was going to do.
    Making a mental note to dress in jeans and an old shirt tomorrow, she gathered up all of her paperwork and closed up her office. With the hectic schedule that day, she hadn’t had a spare minute to herself. Knowing that there still wasn’t much to eat back at her place, it meant another night of takeout.
    She’d starve before she ate Italian again.
    Okay, maybe not starve, but it would be a long time until she willingly went out for Italian again. Except Friday night was pizza night, and now she knew where to get good pizza.
    “I despise myself,” she muttered as she climbed into her car. “I am too weak and my love of carbs is too strong!”
    In the end, Zoe went for Chinese and drove home, wishing she had a convertible. The sun was still out, so she ate her dinner out on her deck and listened to the waves crashing on the shore. Then she went for a long barefoot walk along the shore until the sun began to set. It was the perfect night.
    Even if she was alone.
    * * *
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    Oh good. Aidan’s here , Zoe thought to herself from her perch on the six-foot ladder. “I’m painting.”
    “I can see that,” he said with a huff of frustration. “What I want to know is why. I have an entire paint crew here for this. Painting isn’t part of your job!”
    Ignoring his temper tantrum, Zoe continued to cut in the paint at the ceiling line.
    “Get down from that ladder, Zoe. I’m not kidding.”
    “No can do,” she said lightly. “We’re on a schedule here. Dark red is tricky to work with, and while I’m sure Charlie himself is capable, his crew of college students is better suited to spraying the easier, more neutral colors in the rest of the house. Much better for their skill level. I’d rather handle this myself.”
    “What do you know about painting?” Aidan was completely ticked that Zoe wasn’t listening to him and staying put on the ladder. If she didn’t step down soon, he’d bring her down himself.
    “I used to paint every house that I decorated back in Arizona when I was starting out. It cut the costs and I’m good at it.” Most people found it to be tedious, but she had always found it relaxing.
    “But it’s not your job. You’re here to—”
    “Fix what my firm screwed up?” She threw his own words back at him and only wished she could have seen the look on his face.
    “Zoe, please come down,” he said in a deep voice, nearly a growl.
    “If I don’t finish cutting this in with the brush at the trim line and get the rest of the wall rolled out, the colors won’t match. It’s important to follow through quickly.” She brushed her way to the corner before leaning back and making sure there were no brush strokes or streaks. Only then did she start to climb down from the ladder.
    Aidan watched her movements. She was wearing a snug pair of jeans that hugged her curves perfectly. He hadn’t noticed just how nice of a bottom she had until now. The skirt hadn’t done her justice. But here and now in jeans, her figure practically had him salivating.
    But that wasn’t all.
    The black tank top fit like a second skin. Her hair was up in a ponytail high on her head, leaving her neck completely exposed. There was a paint smudge on her cheek that his fingers itched to wipe away.
    Focus , he reminded himself. This was his company and he had a job to do. Maybe the lines had gotten a little blurred the other night with Zoe, but he knew better than to indulge in that again. He couldn’t get involved with her. They were colleagues of sorts, and anything beyond