Excerpt of Just One Kiss by Traci Hall

She shifted on the blanket, the scarf revealing tan skin at her knee. “Where did you move from?”

When they’d met this morning, she’d been in coveralls and sneakers. Then her sundress. He liked this look better—less was more in Grace’s case. “Seattle. Originally, L.A.”

Grace laughed, the sound husky. “So, Kingston might be a culture shock.” She glanced at him. “Lottie told me that you’re here to start a new business?”

“Yeah—service dog training, using my patented system. I just bought a place. Plan to start ripping it up tomorrow.” Getting in there with his bare hands, just as he had when he’d started in L.A.

Her face paled. “That wouldn’t happen to be the property off Fiftieth, would it?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, still pleased as hell by the bargain. “Got the building and five acres.”

Violet dropped her shovel with a splash and turned toward the square brown house.

“That must be Lottie.” Grace stood in a fluid motion, but he got the impression she wanted to continue the conversation. “Kid’s got superpower hearing when it comes to her mom’s Corolla.”

Sawyer rose. “I should go.” He didn’t want to. They were neighbors and could see each other all the time. Swim, kayak. Cocktails on the beach. He grinned. “I’ll bring the camera over once it arrives.” He had the perfect bottle of red wine in mind, damn glad to have a reason to see Grace again. He got the feeling she might be elusive as the wind.

Grace tilted her head, her black curls spilling to the left, her expression serious. “Watch Bert, okay?”

“I will.” He whistled, and the dog leaped up as if prodded.

Violet ambled to the blanket, avoiding Sawyer by going the long way around to Grace’s side. “Mom’s here.”

“I know, sweetie. Why don’t you go on in?”

Violet marched resolutely toward the back of the house.

Grace’s mouth thinned, and he wanted to tease her lips open with a kiss. His curiosity to taste her, to know her, burned, and his throat grew parched. He drained the water she’d given him and put the cup on the blanket.

“See you later, neighbor?”

She held his gaze as she folded a beach towel in front of her body. “I’ll see you in the morning. Boss.”

His sensual thoughts of her skidded to a halt. “I’m sorry?”

She held out her hand to shake, keeping the towel between them. “I checked my work orders from the temp agency, and that’s the address I have to start work tomorrow. To set up your office.”

His gut reaction was disbelief. “No.”

“Yes.” Grace lifted her hand in a wave, silver flashing from her rings and bracelets, as she turned toward her house.

What a cruel twist. He had a strict policy on not dating his employees—the lesson had been drummed into his skull after his older brother Juan had made that mistake, almost ending up in a lawsuit.

Sawyer left her property, glancing back once more at Grace in her purple bikini. His heart skipped a beat or two before finding its rhythm. He blamed his reaction on the chocolate he’d had earlier rather than Grace’s crystal-blue eyes.

Off-limits.