Free Maid to Crave (Man Maid #2) by Rebecca M. Avery

easily picture how a room, or even a whole house, would look with different paint, different furniture or different decorations. He could even imagine the effect of taking down a wall here or there. The guys teased him about his design talent almost as much as they did about him being a dancer.
    Their jokes normally didn’t annoy him, but for some reason Caleb mentioning it to Tori bothered the hell out of him. He might have said something to Caleb if not for the way Tori was now blessing him with her undivided attention.
    “Why don’t you get your pictures and whatever other decorations you have and lay them out on the dining room table? I need to rinse off in your shower real quick, but then I will take a look at what you have,” he finally offered.
    “That’s just it. I don’t really have…
anything
,” she finished so quietly he almost missed it. “I’m more logical than creative.”
    Staring at her caused her to look away and blush furiously. She could stare him down and not even notice he was a man, but bringing up the concept that she had no creativity or decorating sense brought on a blush worthy of a virgin.
What the hell?
    “Um, let me shower and we’ll hit up a couple of stores to try and get an idea of your tastes, your style.” He watched her cheeks go from slightly pink to nearly flame red.
    She nodded her head in agreement. As he turned to walk down the hall toward the bathroom, she finally said, “My sister is coming at the end of next week for a visit and I want everything to be…perfect.”
    Turning back, he smiled at her before heading to the bathroom. Upon closing the door behind him, it dawned on him. Women tended to feel the need to compete with other women. In Tori’s case, she needed to compete with her sister, at least as far as her ability to decorate her new home was concerned. She might not be interested in him sexually, but she wasn’t above asking for his help with those things she did want from him. Maybe if he helped her with decorating her new house she’d forgive him for his transgressions.
    Finally he had a little something to offer her that she was actually interested in…
friendship
.

Chapter Five
    “I can’t do this, Caleb. What’s the point? I don’t even
want
payback anymore,” Tori said as soon as she heard the shower turn on.
    “You look hot in those clothes! Flaunt what the good Lord gave you.” Caleb laughed.
    The clothes had definitely gotten Seth’s attention yesterday. Caleb had been right about that. But to continue to seek his attention would be like admitting that his face had haunted her sleep for a week now. The man dripped sexy like he’d been caught in a rain shower of it. What was the point? She didn’t want sexy, she wanted safe, reliable…She wanted someone like Tim, boring or not.
    She kind of liked the way Seth had looked at her last night, though, as if he had some of the same fantasies about her that she had about him. Glancing again at Caleb, she could see his face was full of mischief and hope. He was enjoying her predicament for reasons she did not know and probably didn’t want to.
    “Fine,” she said with a sigh.
    She made it up the stairs to her room and decided to go with the outfit that had been the runner up for last night, according to Caleb. She dressed quickly. As much as she hated the fullness of her hair and how messy it looked, she had to concede that point to Caleb, as well. The fullness was better than the braid, especially with the outfit she now wore. She applied some eyeliner and a little mascara and then headed back downstairs. She walked into the living room and sat down next to Caleb just as Seth exited the bathroom.
    “I wish you could come with us,” she said to Caleb.
    “I think I will take a nap, rest up for this afternoon’s physical therapy session,” Caleb replied.
    Glancing to where Seth stood in the doorway, she nearly got lost in the look of longing in his eyes. Surely she was mistaking the look