Free Sparks (Bad Boy Burnetts Book 2) by Lola Rivera

 
    Chapter One
     
    With a lazy flick of her wrist, Blaire swished the tip of her paintbrush in a glass of water. Soft pink tendrils of pigment bloomed in the clear liquid. Head tilted, she studied her painting and subject, her eyes skipping from the canvas to the vase of peonies. As the owner of the most successful art gallery in the city, she knew her paintings would never be good enough to hang on the walls of her shop but that never stopped her from picking up a brush or pencil. She enjoyed the act of creating art and needed the relaxation that came with using her hands.
    Painting on her front porch was the perfect place to find that relaxation she craved. A warm gust carried the smells and sounds of a late summer afternoon, of honeysuckle and barbecues and children dashing through sprinklers. Her skirt fluttered against her calves. The porch swing to her left rocked slowly back and forth.
    As she blotted her paintbrush on a paper napkin, the sound of an approaching vehicle drew her attention. Her pulse raced at the sight of Logan’s silver truck slowly rolling down their street. Window down, sandy hair ruffled by the wind, he waved at the Olsens as they tended their flowerbeds and the elderly Ramos couple idly sipping iced tea on their front porch.
    And then he turned into his driveway and flashed that easy smile at her. Blaire’s stomach clenched at the sight of that mischievous grin she had missed. For the last seven days, he had been deep sea fishing with his brothers Cord and Jay. His elder brother ran the family ranch out in the Hill Country while Jay, a retired football player, worked as an architect with Logan at their thriving construction business where Logan was the master electrician.
    Sitting back, Blaire watched him unload a battered duffel bag and fishing supplies. Her eyes trained on the faded jeans hugging his taut backside. Unable to stop herself, she imagined slipping her hands into those back pockets and whispering in his ear, telling him all the dirty little things she had fantasized doing to him.
    Would he balk at her advance? Give her the usual line about ruining friendships with sex? Or would he drag her inside and take her right there, up against his living room wall, as she had imagined so many times before?
    She’d never been a shy girl and had never second-guessed her interest in any man until Logan. He was funny, sweet and a great cook. He shared her love of craft beer and awful, cheesy sci-fi films. Getting drunk on the latest local brew while watching a marathon of Sharknado and its sequels had been the best not-really-a-date of her life.
    So, no, she couldn’t risk coming onto him and facing rejection. She valued his friendship too much to chance losing it. He was good man, and she liked having him in her life, even if she had to sit squarely in the friend zone. So, for now, she would have to be content simply lusting after him from afar.
    As Logan started into his house, he turned to face her. Again, he grinned at her, his green eyes bright from his well-deserved R&R. Her heart fluttered, and she gave a friendly wave and smile. Lifting his cooler, he asked, “You want to join me for dinner later tonight?”
    “Of course!” Her heart raced even faster now. “I can’t wait to hear all about your trip.”
    “We had a good time.” He grinned even wider and said, “Cord is getting married.”
    “Really? That’s fantastic!” She had met Cord and his girlfriend Daphne a few weeks ago when they had been in town for the rodeo. She had suspected Cord would be putting a ring on the brilliant almost-professor’s finger soon.
    “Yeah, it is.” His expression turned pensive for a moment before he smiled again. “I better get these in the refrigerator.” He glanced at his watch. “How does eight sound?”
    “Perfect.”
    “Okay.”
    She leaned out of her chair for a better view of his incredible backside before he disappeared into his home. Suddenly feeling less inspired, Blaire