Teach Me Like That (LMLT Book 2) by Marie James Read Free Book Online Page A

his nieces are in my class, and I have to remain professional. “I wasn’t aware you worked on the crew demolishing this home.” I look away from his hauntingly beautiful eyes. “I would like to speak to the crew chief or whoever is in charge. I have a few issues I’d like to discuss with him.”
    I give him a polite, albeit fake, smile and take a step back.
    “Foreman,” he says stepping back into my space.
    “I’m sorry?”
    “The ‘crew chief,'” he says with air quotes, “is called the foreman.”
    “Very well,” I say standing my ground, refusing to take another step back. He registers my inflexibility to back down a second time, and the corner of his mouth pulls up. “I’d like to speak to the foreman then.”
    He grins wide showcasing a brilliant, perfect smile.
    I look over my shoulder to see a group of the workers clustered together watching our interaction. They’re too far away to hear what we’re saying, but I can feel at least a half dozen pairs of eyes burning into my ass. I shift my weight uncomfortably. Sensing my discomfort, Kegan clutches my shoulders and switches our positions. His large frame blocks me from the other guys completely.
    “This is my crew,” he says.
    Shit. Why would I mistake him for just any other worker? His brother is loaded beyond what anyone would consider normal; it only makes sense that Kegan would be wealthy as well. Kudos to him for getting out and getting his hands dirty, though.
    Crap. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to get the images out of my head about just how dirty his hands could get. I clear my throat weakly and look back up to him.
    “Please feel free to express your grievances, Ms. Carter. We can discuss them out here or back at your place, say bent over the couch?”
    “Not likely,” I say with a hitch, my voice failing at my attempt to sound indignant at his suggestion.
    “Your loss,” he says with a quick shrug.
    I’m sure .
    I take a fortifying breath before I begin to complain about the issues that have been bugging me since they began working on this property. Suddenly, I feel as if I’m just being a whiney bitch. These men are only here to do a job.
    I remember my assertiveness training and the things my therapist told me a few years ago.
    You have to quit letting people run over you. If you don’t express how you feel, they will never know. Internalizing it and not speaking your mind doesn’t make it go away. Speak up.
    He runs his hand over the scruff on his face. My eyes follow that hand down his chest, over his abs, until it settles in the front pocket of his jeans. And now I’m staring at his crotch.
    When my eyes find his again, I realize what he’s just done. I regain my fortitude and sneer in his direction.
    “It’s not even eight on a Saturday. The noise is out of control and more than a little disruptive. Every morning I have to pick up debris out of my yard,” I complain. “The roads in front of this block are covered in clumps of mud from your equipment.”
    His smile never falters.
    “And,” I say taking a step closer and jabbing my finger into his rock solid chest. “I’m just hungover enough to smack that damn grin off of your face and not feel bad about it.”
    He catches my hand before I can pull it away and holds it flat against his chest.
    “I know a few stress relieving techniques you’d benefit from,” he says on a low purr.
    Cue sexual innuendo and thigh clenching.
    With a violent tug, I pull my hand from his grip. “You’re incorrigible,” I say and storm back to my house.
    I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that he thinks he can talk to me that way, or that I actually want to take him up on his offer.
    “Nice shoes!” he calls after me as I cross from utter destruction onto fresh green grass. I hang my head as I climb up my front porch steps. Why can’t he just leave well enough alone?

Chapter 7
    Kegan
    I almost followed Lexi back to her house, but she seemed genuinely pissed. I avoid