5

      UPON REFLECTION, LUCA realized he’d been an idiot. And because he didn’t like doing things half-assed, he’d gone for the gold. Yep, he’d attained a whole new level of stupidity.

      Yawning, he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He really could have slept at his folks’ house last night, instead of on a pile of tarps. He hadn’t heard a peep out of April since they’d parted ways last night, and even if she had decided that she would rob him blind, what could she have taken? Drywall? Ladders? But she was in a strange house, in a strange city, and he hadn’t wanted to leave her alone.

      Although the truth was April needed to learn very quickly that she shouldn’t be so trusting of strangers. Not in New York City.

      Hell, he should be taking his own advice. He didn’t know her. She was already complicating his life. And she’d caused him actual, physical pain. Indirectly, but still. With a muffled groan he got to his feet and stretched. He didn’t even have the comfort of coffee to make him feel better.

      In a minute he’d run over to the corner bodega for some strong Colombian and pick up a few toiletries at the same time.

      Luca dragged his palm down his stubbled jaw. This was ridiculous. He wasn’t thinking clearly. There was no point in coming back here until later in the day. He might as well go straight to his folks’ house and pack the last of his things.

      He saw his shirt hanging on the ladder where he’d left it, but where was his phone? He checked his jeans’ pocket then saw it lying next to the pizza box. Of course he had messages. The first one stopped him.

      “Dammit.”

      His bed and wide-screen delivery. They were coming in an hour.

      Shit, shit, shit.

      He was supposed to have called the store last night to push the date back. Then April had come downstairs, and his mind had gone down a road that was strictly off-limits. So what had he done? Fed her. Got her tipsy. Helped her to bed.

      At least he hadn’t crawled in with her. For a minute there, when she’d leaned into him, he’d had a devil of a time letting go of her. Just thinking about it was reawakening his morning wood, and he made a dash for the bathroom. The delivery guys were coming soon. Normally he could count on them being late. But with his luck, traffic would be so light they would set some kind of record.

      He had to be ready for when they got there. There was only one place he could put his bed now that she was using the room upstairs. The office wasn’t large enough to hold more than just the king-size bed and a few boxes, and it had no door, but it would have to do. Of course, he’d have to use a couple guys to help him get the bed upstairs after April left, but he couldn’t worry about that now. The pathway to the office was blocked by yesterday’s efforts to organize his work space. Perfect.

      Sans caffeine, every muscle and joint in his body aching, he got to work. Starting with a stack of beams, he lifted as many as he could without making him actually cry, and took them all the way to the far wall. Next, he had to move the drywall. Unfortunately, he’d stacked a ton of it in the office, but there was nothing he could do but carry the heavy mothers two at a time out into the living room.

      “Hello?”

      April. Just what he needed. She stood at the bottom of the staircase, looking well rested and pretty. Damn her. Her hair was in a ponytail, her bangs pushed to the side, and she was wearing skinny jeans and a T-shirt that was at least one size too small for his comfort.

      “Can I help you carry that?”

      He thought about it. But no, she needed to get a jump on looking for someplace else to live and stop complicating his life. “No, that’s okay,” he said, starting a stack of drywall next to the front windows before heading back to the office to get more.

      “Um, okay, but I’m pretty strong,” she said, following him. “And not that I want to interrupt your work or anything, but I was wondering if you could tell me how much I owe you for the nights I’ll be staying here? And where I can find an ATM close by?”

      Huh. He hadn’t expected her to be so persistent and he had no idea what to charge her. He picked up two sheets then turned to face her. She’d been staring at his back but quickly met his gaze. She was young, healthy, and while she probably couldn’t lift a seventy-pound sheet, she could carry boxes and paint cans and tools.

      “Tell you what,” he said, glancing at his watch. “You help me move the smaller stuff to the front of the apartment, and I’ll let you stay for nothing.”

      Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

      “That’s the offer.”

      “Okay, yeah.” She glanced at the drywall and then lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning pink. Probably embarrassed about last night, though she didn’t need to be. “I can help move those, too.”

      “They’re heavy.”

      She nodded. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve worked with my dad on lots of building projects. I’m stronger than I look.”

      “Okay, but for now, grab that paint can and follow me.”

      They made the short trip in silence, with him leading the way. Damn, he was tempted to send her on a coffee run. But they didn’t have much time, so they walked back to the office, and he let her lift the next panel, but he could see her struggling.

      “I think we’ll get more done if we do two at a time, together.”

      “You can handle two by yourself so that doesn’t make sense,” she said, still having difficulty meeting his eyes. “It’s not the weight giving me trouble, it’s because I’m short. Let’s try three at a time.”

      Luca hesitated. “If it’s too heavy you let me know.”

      “Okay,” she said, her eagerness disconcerting. He wondered if this trade had been a mistake, but he didn’t give a damn. Not when he felt this shitty.

      The plan worked. For such a little thing, she had some muscle. And she didn’t complain, even though he could tell it wasn’t easy for her. Quicker than he could have done by himself, they’d cleared out the room.

      When the last paint can was gone, he needed a breather, but even more than that, he needed coffee. “Here’s an idea,” he said, pulling out his wallet. “There’s a café several doors down. How about picking us up two large coffees?”

      “Oh, God, yes. But I’ll buy. Anything else?”

      He shook his head, concerned that she still couldn’t look him in the eye. “I’m having some things delivered shortly. After that, I’ll think about breakfast. You go ahead, though.”

      She nodded and hurried to the door as he put his wallet away.

      “April?”

      Her hand on the doorknob, she turned and smiled, and predictably her gaze lowered.

      “You don’t need to be embarrassed about last night.”

      “I know,” she said, sighing. “But I am a little bit. Even one beer in my condition was stupid. You were great, though, so thanks.”

      “No problem.”

      She opened the door and hesitated. “I forgot to ask...sugar, cream?”

      “Just