Free Haunting Ellie by Patti Berg Page A

the door.
    “I meant every word.”
    The grin touched his face. He laughed and would have walked right over her if she hadn’t moved out of his way. She was sure he could do it, too. In fact, she had the feeling Jon Winchester could leap tall buildings in a single bound, swing a sledgehammer with his little finger, and drive a nail with just one blow.
    He leaned the ladder against a wall in the parlor and turned around. “I’ve watched you hauling water all week. I take it the plumbing’s not working too well.”
    “Oh, there’s water, all right. It looks like sludge, and I imagine that’s what’s stopped up the drains.”
    He set the toolbox on the floor and walked toward her. Too close... way too close. She took a step back. He moved another step closer, reached out an ungloved hand, and gently brushed a thumb across the tip of her nose. “Y’know, Elizabeth, you’re just as pretty with dirt on your nose as you are without.”
    Her eyes widened.
    Red hot heat crept up her neck, and she hoped it had stopped before reaching her cheeks.
    “If you want to work, fine. But please save the flattery for someone else.”
    He shrugged and she turned away, but his words stuck in her mind. You’re pretty and You’re gorgeous were such commonplace words thrown at the models she’d worked with that they meant little or nothing. They were part of the business, the hype. But You’re just as pretty had sounded so much nicer, so much more sincere, coming from Jon. She liked it—but he didn’t need to know.
    She walked to the kitchen, coming to a sudden halt when Jon cupped his hand around her arm. “I owe you an apology.”
    His words surprised her, but she didn’t turn around. She waited for more.
    “I was rude the other day.”
    “Overbearing and judgmental, too,” she added.
    “You’re probably right.” His hand slid up her arm and rested on her shoulder. “I’ve got faults, Elizabeth. You’re bound to find even more flaws in my character—if you’re willing to get to know me better.”
    She stepped forward, away from the grip of his hand. She thought about turning around, she thought about giving him some kind of response, but instead she continued into the kitchen. Behind her she could hear Jon’s boots on the hardwood floor. “You could start with the plumbing,” she said.
    “I could,” he said, circling Elizabeth until he stood right in front of her. He leaned against the counter, and slowly she looked into his eyes. “Am I going to be just the hired help,” he asked, “or will you give me a chance to make up for an unfortunate case of bad manners?”
    Her smile came too easily. She wanted to hold it back, but she couldn’t.
    “Does that smile mean I’m forgiven?” he asked.
    She shook her head. “Fix the plumbing for free and I’ll consider it.”
    He laughed. “Ever the businesswoman, right?”
    “Successful businesswoman,” she corrected him. “I learned a long time ago how to deal with stubborn, egotistical men. That helped me succeed.”
    “That’s part of why I like you.”
    “Because I’m successful?”
    “No, because you think you know how to deal with me.”
    “You’ve already informed me that a two-by-four doesn’t work. Guess I’ll just have to stick with words.” She turned away from his grin and ran a hand over the old and cracked linoleum countertop.
    “This needs to be replaced,” she said, effectively changing the subject, “and the wallpaper needs to be stripped in every room. My first priority, though, is the plumbing. I’d like it to be your first priority, too.”
    He laughed. “Are you always this dictatorial with your hired help?”
    She tilted her head and smiled. “It didn’t endear me to anyone, but it got the job done.”
    “Good thing I decided I liked you long before I decided to be your slave.”
    And he did like her. He liked her spunk, he liked her drive. He liked the dirt on her nose and the wisps of ebony hair that had fallen out of her