Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 by Sara Hess Page B

it’s
a four year program?”
         “I started when I was sixteen. Thankfully, I live in a
state where you can start apprenticing when you’re sixteen instead of
eighteen.”  
         Seth’s eyes narrowed contemplatively. “Why thankfully?”
         I realized my poor choice of words too late. “Someone
mentioned apprenticeship programs where you could work to earn a degree and
that they even paid for schooling. It seemed the best way to go.”  
         He continued to watch me thoughtfully. “You’re parent’s
couldn’t help you?”
         My heart clenched in pain. I didn’t mind answering some
of his questions but I did not want to talk about my parent’s. “They died.” Bending
down I tossed the old coupling into the tool box and grabbed the new one along
with a roll of Teflon thread tape.
         “I’m sorry.” He offered genuinely.
         “ Spasibo .” I replied softly. Knowing he didn’t
know what that meant I translated. “Thank you.”
         He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking
again. “So you’re a journeyman plumber, proficient poker player, and hard core
vodka drinker at twenty?”
         I appreciated that he dropped the parent topic but shook
my head at his inventory. “Which one surprises you more?” I stood and headed
back up the ladder without looking at him.  
         “I’m incredibly impressed by the first two, but twenty’s
pretty young to be drinking hard core, and you are under twenty-one.” He observed
with a sardonic brow lift.
         I returned it with a look of derision. “Seriously! Have
you seen the number of underage drinkers at the parties we go to? At least I
leave standing and walking straight.”
         “Yeah, you do, and I was wondering about that. A half
pint of vodka is a lot of alcohol for someone with such a slender frame. How
are you not stumbling around after consuming all that?”
         That was a very valid question and something he’d shown
an interest in last time. If it had been a true half pint of vodka I would be
flat on my face, but that was between me and my vodka bottle. I sensed that
he’d set up me up with those questions.
         “I grew up on vodka, it’s like drinking water.” I smirked
at my hidden meaning as I wrapped the tape around each of the pipes ends.  
         “Water, huh?” He repeated.
         His thoughtful tone had me glancing down to see him
looking at me as though he were trying to solve some new-fangled puzzle. My
eyes locked with his intense navy ones and unexpected tingles of awareness quaked
throughout my body. This startling reaction had me losing my balance and I
wobbled slightly on the ladder. Seth’s hands instantly latched onto my thighs
which only amplified the quivers further.
         Grasping the ladder I steadied myself. “I’m stable now,
zank you.” I said breathlessly wanting him to let go. Only he didn’t.
         “Are you sure?” He asked his eyes a turbulent blue as
he stared up at me. It only escalated things further inside me.
         I nodded quickly and swallowed. “ Da , you can let
go.”
         His hands moved off me…slowly… until he was back to
holding the ladder. Our eyes stayed connected the entire time and I saw the
heat in them telling me he was just as affected as me.
         Derr’mo ! This was not happening. Taking the new
PVC coupling I began affixing it hurriedly to the pipes.
         “Is that a half inch galvanized coupling?” Seth asked
gruffly.
         I stopped twisting the wrench to stare down at him in
astonishment. “You know about plumbing?”
         “I’ve worked construction for years. I know about all
the aspects of building a house.” He stated with a smirk. “I’m not some
pansy-ass rich boy.”
         I found myself grinning. So, he wasn’t some idle rich
kid. It was somehow good to know that. I returned my attention to the pipes.
“Yes, it’s a half