Title: Nailed It
Author: Cindi Madsen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.75 Stars
Release Date: October 23rd, 2017
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ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
I’m Ivy Clarke. Bartender, best friend, and disbeliever in love.
And now I’m in over my head, trying to flip a house all by myself.
Thanks, HGTV.
I’m not too proud to admit I need some help. Too bad the only one who can help me is the same man I want to throw out this house’s second-story window.
Jackson Gamble and I can’t be in the same room together for more than a minute without devolving into a sparring match.
Except for that one time…
But enough about that. Jackson’s looking for forever, and I don’t believe in love, remember?
Get in. Renovate. Get out. Keep my heart firmly in tact.
Because it’s much easier to fix up a house than a broken heart.
Full of humor and dripping with delicious tension, Nailed It proves that every heart can be ready for a little rehabilitation, if only you’re willing to open it up.
Jackson took a step toward me, closing the space I’d put between us. He swept the hair off my face and trailed his finger down and across my jaw. “I thought we took care of that thinking problem the other night.”
“Jackson.” Man, he was making it so hard to hold onto anything resembling resolve.
He leaned closer, his lips a mere breath away. “Ivy.”
My heart thumped harder and harder in my chest. Am I really going to do this? Say something that might stop our sexytimes fun in its tracks before I get my fill?
Yes, damn it, it looks like I am. I really should’ve come up with a more solid plan so I’d know exactly what to say.
“While the other night was fun, I know that you’re looking for something”—my throat tightened, and I had to force the words out—“more long term.”
“You’ve obviously been talking to my meddling family—my money is on Savannah.”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t make it less true, does it?”
“I told you the other night that I knew we were only having fun, and I meant it.”
“But you’re dating someone.” Guilt flooded me as I said it. I’d been so focused on how upset Savannah would be that I’d managed to forget that I had even more to feel guilty for.
“I’ve been on a few dates recently, yes, but I’m not in a committed relationship, or I never would’ve carried you to bed. You really think I’d do that?”
Now that I thought about it, no, but I still wondered if Caroline thought they were more serious. His family certainly hoped it would go in that direction. “I don’t want to get in the way.”
Jackson’s intense gaze bored into me, making my heart skip a few beats altogether. “You’ve been in the way since the moment I walked through the door of this house—hell, maybe even since the engagement party. I tried wanting what’s good for me, but wanting you is stronger.”
Every ounce of air whooshed out of my lungs at once. “Then maybe we need to rethink our business arrangement. I can hire someone else to help me fin—”
“No.”
There was the familiar irritation, leaking in and spiking my blood pressure. I tossed the roller down in the vicinity of the tray. “Okay, let’s at least talk about it, because if—”
“No. We made a deal, and I plan on seeing it through. I’m also a grown man, and I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions. I understand that this thing between us is temporary, and I don’t care.” He hauled me to him, his arm coming around my waist to secure me against him. “I’m not quite done having my way with you yet.”
He crashed his mouth down on mine, and all my pent-up energy surged forward at once, common sense taking the backseat as lust took the wheel. I parted my lips, diving headlong into the kiss. I ran my hands up his firm arms, not realizing my left hand was still wet with paint from catching myself until I’d dragged it most the way up.
Jackson glanced at the smear of blue covering his biceps and the sleeve of his T-shirt, arched an eyebrow, and then backed me up against the wet wall, his hips bumping into mine.
I moaned as he ground against me. He felt so good I didn’t even care about the paint or the fact that I’d need to redo the wall. I just wanted more of him on more of me.
Oh Jackson Gamble, you have stolen my heart!
This is the story of Ivy and Jackson, two people who can’t stand to be around each other, yet find themselves flipping a house together. Which means working together. Relying on each other. Spending a lot of time together. But that doesn’t mean anything will happen between them.
Again.
Yep, Ivy and Jackson have a bit of a complicated past. They had a week long fling followed by a break up (is it a break up if it’s just a fling?) initiated by Ivy. However, the two can’t completely cut each other out of the picture, since Jackson’s sister is Ivy’s best friend. Maybe that is why that rule about staying away from your friend’s brother is around.
But Ivy needs help, and Jackson is really good with his hands. Doing repairs, of course.
