Free Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) by Jeannette Winters Page A

Hannah isn’t around to endure Don’s pathetic jokes .
    “And the look on your face when you saw she was bleeding. I wish I’d had a camera. Trust me; you weren’t the controlled Mark that you always are. Can’t believe I was here to witness it.”
    Neither can I. “Are you planning on talking all morning or can we start this job?”
    Don got off the beam and picked up his tool belt. “I can multi-task. Besides, giving you shit will help me forget how fucking hot this place is.”
    “I warned you about the air conditioner.”
    “How low on the list is that or can we sneak it up here? Remember, I’ve been off the job for a few years now.”
    “Yeah, I can tell; you’re out of shape,” Mark teased, but Don probably spent half his day working out.
    “I seem to remember you complaining about the beam earlier. Maybe you need to hit the gym yourself. But you had no problem swooping Hannah off her feet, did you?”
    So close to changing the damn subject. “Give it a rest.”
    “Hit a nerve, did I?” Don raised his hands as if pushing him wasn’t wise. “Easy, Mark. It was an observation. Okay? There’s no connection between you and Hannah. It’s possible I was wrong.” Don mumbled under his breath, “But I wasn’t.”
    Mark wasn’t sure if Don had meant for him to hear that last comment or not. Giving him another warning wasn’t going to change one damn thing. Don did and said whatever he wanted. He would’ve been hell to deal with in the military. Honestly, he wouldn’t have lasted a day. But as a friend, he made life interesting. If it hadn’t been for Don and his sense of humor, he might’ve snapped after those first few missions. He had a knack for taking a situation and ripping the stress right out of it. Probably what you’re trying to do right now. But stress isn’t what I’m feeling. And what I need isn’t something he can help me with.
    He might be near Don, but Hannah was first and foremost in his mind. He’d never faced such distraction. If one of his men was in this mindset, he’d tell him to get his head out of his ass and get back to business. There was no room for this in their line of duty. It’s what made men get wounded, or worse, killed. He hadn’t been there even a week, yet somehow she’d found a way past his defenses. Mark wasn’t sure how it happened, but it was the first and hopefully the last time.
    It has to be. There can’t be anything more than business between us. He bent down and grabbed the sledge hammer. Breaking something sounded great. “Then let’s get this job done and get out of here. I have places to be.” Any place other than here. Damn. I’d prefer sleeping on the hot desert sand than alone in my bed just two doors away from hers.

Chapter Five

    T he remainder of the day Hannah hid in her bedroom. Partially because she couldn’t bring herself to face Mark, and the rest because she never imagined how one small puncture wound could be so painful. Although she wasn’t happy when Mark cleaned it, she was grateful it wouldn’t get infected. As she got dressed for work, she was regretting she’d agreed to cover the early morning shift. It meant being up at four to get there by five a.m. With little sleep last night, this would’ve been a perfect day to sleep in.
    She grabbed her purse and searched for her keys. Normally she left them in the car so she didn’t have to search for them. Since Mark had drilled safety into her head, she found herself doing things she hadn’t done since living in Providence with Bailey.
    Maybe I should give her a call today. She’s wanted to come for a visit. Might as well let her before I lose this place. Besides, I’m totally outnumbered with all this male testosterone suddenly present. Time to even things out a bit.
    Hannah opened her bedroom door gently, hoping not to make any noise. Since she hadn’t heard any noise above her, she assumed Mark and Don caught the hint about waiting until daybreak before starting