Excerpt of Ready to Wed by Cindi Madsen

“It’s rusted on,” Brendan said. The faux marble sink obscured his top half, and his jean-clad legs stuck out of the vanity. I’d never thought legs could be so sexy, but there was definitely something sexy about his. The way his thighs filled out the denim, how the material was perfectly distressed in all the right places. “Every time I turn the nut, the bolt turns, too.”?Was it wrong that his words sounded dirty in the best possible way? Get a hold of yourself, Dakota. He’s fixing your sink, and you’re looking at him like some kind of sex object. My cheeks heated, and I cleared my throat, telling myself to be a professional. “Should I just call a plumber then? It’s not a big deal if you can’t fix it.” “Hell no! I’ve got this.”? “Now who’s refusing to ask for help?”?He scooted out, ducking his head to keep from hitting it. “You actually called me with a problem, which I know is big for you, and I’ll be damned if I don’t fix it.” “So I have to ask for help, but you don’t?” “Exactly.” He flashed me a crooked smile. “Actually, I’m gonna ask you for help—see, not a hypocrite. I need you to hold the bolt in place while I twist the nut.” I should’ve known that handyman Brendan would be even hotter than usual Brendan. He hadn’t shaved today either, so the stubble was back, and I wanted to run my fingers across it, even though I knew that was pushing the friends boundary on multiple levels.? I knelt down. “Okay, tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”? He stared at me for a beat, long enough my pulse quickened. “Uh, I’m gonna lie back, and then you lean over me.”? Now how was I supposed to not be thinking dirty things? It was like the universe was setting me up. Brendan handed me the pliers, his fingers curling over mine for a moment, and a thrill shot through my stomach. This was getting out of control. Gripping the wrench, he maneuvered himself under the sink again. ?I leaned over him, trying to keep my body hovering above his, but there was no room for that. Finally, I just gave in and dropped on top of him, our bodies pressed together in a way that was sure to give away how fast my heart was now hammering.? Brendan shifted and his hips bumped against mine. My breasts were pressed against his firm chest, and every shift sent an addictive shiver of electricity through me. Heat built between us—or maybe it was just me. But I was definitely feeling the heat. Judging from the slight twitch of his eyebrows and the shallow exhale he let out, he wasn’t totally unaffected.? His gaze slowly lifted as he raised the wrench and secured it on the nut. Forcing my focus on to the bolt, I gripped it with the pliers. Brendan’s muscles flexed under me as he twisted the wrench, and I bit my lip, working to tamp down the swirl of desire twisting through my core. The nut finally broke free, sending a shower of rust down on us. I ducked my head to keep from getting it in my eyes. I heard the wrench hit the bottom of the cabinet as Brendan dropped it. When I lifted my head off Brendan’s chest, my eyes met his. He stared right back at me, his brown eyes darker than usual, and I swore it was more than the lack of light. His hand moved to my back, his fingers spreading there and pressing me closer. And that’s when I felt the thing. Not the thing. But the spark of hope in my heart. What I used to feel during weddings and when I used to look at Grant and think about being with him forever. What I hadn’t felt since Jamaica. What I was starting to think I’d never feel again.