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chipped paint. But it was an antique well worth restoring.
    “I love the detail they used to put into their work back then. These grape and leaf carvings are beautiful.” She ran her fingers along the top. “There’s some pretty serious water damage here. But something can be done about that.”
    “That was the main thing I was worried about.”
    She nodded. “With good reason. But my grandmother’s a genius with this kind of thing. And if it turns out she can’t do it herself, she’ll know who can.”
    He moved in close beside her, brushing against her as he bent to take a closer look at the chest of drawers. She was always so hyper-aware of him. If it had been anyone else, she would barely have noticed. But with Marcus she noticed everything. The heat radiating off his skin. His intoxicating scent, which was a combination of soap and clean male. The fresh stubble of beard darkening his chin, which only made him look hotter than he already was.
    He stepped forward to examine the water damage and she immediately missed his closeness. It was official, she was in serious lust.
    “So you think it’s worth restoring?”
    “From what I can see here, definitely. We’ll know more about what needs to be done once we get it into our workshop. The lighting’s better there.”
    He straightened and turned the full impact of his gorgeous blue eyes on her. “I appreciate you coming out here to have a look.”
    Their gazes locked and the now familiar longing she felt around him increased tenfold. “No problem. I’ll arrange for the guys to come with the truck and pick it up on Monday.”
    He didn’t break eye contact. “Perfect.”
    Oh yeah. He was perfect all right. Unbidden, she leaned toward him, wanting what she shouldn’t have. Because kissing him would be a really bad idea.
    She jerked back. She had to leave. Right now. Before she said or did something to humiliate herself. Like jump his bones. “Okay, so we’re done here. I’d better go before that storm hits.” She couldn’t keep her enthusiasm for escaping his tempting presence out of her voice.
    He nodded but didn’t comment.
    She had just turned toward the stairs when the first crack of thunder rent the air. She jumped. Hand to her heart, she gasped and then laughed. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
    “Looks like the storm’s already here.”
    The moment the words left his mouth, the rain came down in a torrent, pounding the roof shingles with enough force as to make it impossible to hear each other.
    Marcus pointed at the stairs and led the way back down. Out in the hallway the pouring rain was more muffled, but there was no mistaking that it was coming down with a vengeance as it lashed against the windows.
    Lightning illuminated everything, quickly followed by more booming thunder. It sounded like the storm was right overhead.
    When they reached the first floor, Marcus turned to her and shook his head. “I don’t think you should go out in that. Why don’t you stick around for a bit? I’ll make us some coffee while you wait it out.”
    It was a reasonable suggestion, she knew that. But reason had nothing to do with her desire to get away from his oh-so-tempting presence. Just looking at the man made her want to throw herself at him no matter how determined she was to keep her distance.
    The problem was, her reactions to him had nothing to do with logic and everything to do with raging hormones, rampant desire and raunchy sex. None of which she was going to engage in or even allow herself to think about. No sirree. But the only way to accomplish that was to get away from his broad shoulders, sexy bedroom eyes and mighty fine ass.
    And the last thing she should be focusing on was his ass and how great it looked in his well-washed threadbare jeans. But being in close proximity to Marcus always had this dismaying effect on her. And when the hell had she gotten so damned horny anyway? Was it the storm? The atmosphere? Her crazy out-of-control