Key Of Valor by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page A

snapped out an order for her to leave it be. And he insisted on going down himself to haul up her cooler.
    But she overlooked it in the thrill of spreading the glue for the laminate on her first station.
    Even with the windows open for ventilation, the fumes were strong.
    â€œGood thing we’re working in small sections,” Brad commented. “If we were doing long stretches of this, without a fan in here, we’d be buzzed before we were finished.”
    â€œI got carried away redoing my kitchen counters at home a couple years ago. Got giddy as a Saturday night drunk and had to go outside and lie down on the grass.”
    He studied her face, noted that while she was a little flushed, beautifully so, her eyes were clear. “You start feeling it, let me know.”
    â€œI’m fine.” She touched a fingertip to the glue. “Nearly done here.”
    â€œToo bad. I wouldn’t mind seeing you giddy.”
    She shifted her gaze to his as she straightened up from the counter. “Plenty of fresh air in here.”
    â€œYou’re a little flushed, though.” He stroked the side of his finger over her cheek. “You have the most incredible skin.”
    â€œIt’s, ah, like advertising.” She didn’t know if she’d been flushed before, but she could feel the heat rising now. “I use a lot of the products I’m going to carry. There’s this wonderful serum. It’s time release.”
    â€œIs that so?” His lips curved a little as he trailed that finger down her throat. “Seems to be working.”
    â€œI don’t want to carry anything I don’t believe in.”
    â€œWhat do you do with your mouth?”
    At the question, it dropped open. “What?”
    â€œWhat do you use? Your lips are soft.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb over them. “Smooth. Tempting.”
    â€œThere’s a balm that I—don’t do that.”
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œDon’t kiss me. I can’t get mixed up this way. And we’ve got work.”
    â€œYou’re right about that. But work has to stop sometime. Glue’s probably set up enough. You ready?”
    She nodded. Fresh air or not, she was just a little light-headed now. And could put the cause of it solely on him. She imagined he knew it—knew just how those long, deep looks, those casually intimate touches affected a woman.
    So she would just have to toughen up against them before they got her in trouble.
    Together, they lifted the laminate. It was an exacting process, one that required teamwork and precision to create a smooth surface. Once glue hit glue, there was no turning back.
    When it was down, the edges routed smooth, and the clamps tightened every few inches to hold it in place while it set hard, she stepped back.
    Yes, it was right, she’d been right to curve the edges, to give it that subtle flow. Simple, practical, yet with a fluidity that gave it a touch of class.
    The clients might not notice the details, but they would notice the effect.
    â€œIt’s a good look,” Brad said from beside her. “Smart to put the holes in for the cords of those gizmos you people use.”
    â€œThey’re called hair dryers and curling irons.”
    â€œRight. The way you’ve got it, the cords won’t be dangling everywhere, tangling up. Gives you an uncluttered look.”
    â€œI want it to seem upscale but relaxed.”
    â€œJust what do you plan to do to people in the other rooms?”
    â€œOh, secret rituals.” She gave an airy wave of her hand that made him smile. “And when I earn enough to pump some real money back into the place, I’m going to put a Swedish shower and a hydrotherapy tub in the bathroom. Turn it into a kind of water therapy space. But that’s down the road. For now, I’m going to set up to build the second station.”
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    SHE worked like a Trojan, Brad thought. It was more than