Man with a Past Read Online Free PDF Page A

damage her attempt at do-it-yourself home improvement had wrought. Broad hands settled on his hips, fingers splayed, and his smile rapidly turned into a disgruntled frown.
    If he opened his mouth and said a word, so help her, she’d—she’d—
    Splash him?
    She shook with frustration and embarrassment. She didn’t need any more I-told-you-so’s. She’d get plenty of those from better-hire-a-plumber Wilson.
    Ashley shoved herself to her feet and attempted to ignore the way gravity took effect when water ran from her clothes in an undignified surge.
    Wilson snickered, the man smirked, but she forced her chin high anyway. Attitude is everything . How many times had Mac told her that?
    She spared a glance at Wilson only to note with no small amount of irritation he looked relieved, as though the cavalry had come to the rescue.
    Chauvinistic old geezer.
    She’d read the book on how to repair the sink. Done everything the so-called expert said. Itwasn’t her fault the pipe had sprung a leak when she’d gone to check on Max.
    â€œAre you all right? You banged your head pretty hard.”
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    The man’s expression tightened at her rudeness and given his help earlier in the day and his supposed concern now, her guilty conscience forced a mostly sincere apology from her lips.
    â€œSorry.” She indicated the mess around her. “It’s been a bad day.”
    â€œYeah.” The man hesitated before he stuck out his hand. “I’m Joe Brody.”
    She transferred the wrench to her left hand so she could shake his right and noted how his gaze darted away from her. “Ashley Cade.”
    â€œJoe turned off the water and saved the day,” Wilson informed her, a gleam in his rheumy eyes.
    â€œRight place, right time. I, uh, saw the flyer posted at Meenick’s Garage. You still looking for a handyman?”
    â€œAre we ever.”
    Ashley glared at Wilson and wondered for the millionth time how wise she’d been to agree to Wilson’s stipulations for selling her his house. Despite the hugely discounted price—and it was huge—she’d agreed to let him live there for as long as he was able to take care of himself. She’d felt sorry for him, alone, no family. She knew whatthat felt like and now she couldn’t imagine life without the old man.
    Except on occasions such as this.
    â€œAshley cain’t fix a darn thing and with my new hip, I cain’t, either. Whole house’ll fall in soon if we ain’t careful.”
    Their visitor acknowledged Wilson’s words with a slow nod. “We’d better get these plank floors cleaned up before they turn and warp.”
    â€œWe?” Did she want a complete stranger walking into her house and immediately making himself at home? After she checked his references, maybe, but—
    Hellllo? What is a B and B, if not strangers coming in and making themselves at home?
    She fought off a wave of unease. Doing this with her husband at her side was one thing—Mac was one of those guys who’d never met a stranger—but…could she do this?
    â€œI, uh, came to pick up the things my father left with you,” the man murmured, his blue eyes focused intently on Wilson.
    So intently Ashley got the feeling she was being deliberately ignored.
    â€œBut I’m also looking for a job and I’m good at work like this.”
    She tried not to be irritated by the fact he obviously thought Wilson still owned the house and was responsible for contracting the work.
    Ashley’s hands settled on her hips and the independent woman in her bristled as she took in his all-male appearance of scuffed work boots, old, well-worn jeans that molded his long legs and thighs with indecent familiarity and an equally faded black T-shirt that stretched across impossibly broad shoulders and arms any bodybuilder would envy.
    The man’s nose had taken a beating and