Their bodies touched and a groan of desire escaped him. Bright eyes met his and she lifted her chin in invitation before drawing their mouths together.

The taste of her shot through him like one-hundred-proof whiskey. His senses spun and his tongue darted out to dip again into the sweet nectar of her mouth. She kissed back, their tongues dueling, hands tugging them tighter together until there was no way she could be unaware of his erection swelling against her belly.

He clasped her close, feasting on her mouth, unable to stop the driving desire to consume her that raced through him. She stepped backward and he followed her siren call, falling together onto the overstuffed sofa. She hummed with approval, nipping at his chin, licking his earlobe.

Jamie dropped his teeth to her neckline, sucking, biting, feeling the urgent need to mark her. He tugged at the waist of her shirt, his fingers brushing skin that seared him with heat, the compulsion to join with her growing sharper, pulsing throughout his entire body.

"Chelsea!" Braden barked from across the room.

The outburst broke through the sexual haze enveloping him, and Jamie shot upright. He yanked his hands back, scrambling away from where Chelsea sprawled on the sofa, her hair rumpled, her top crawling up her belly to expose where his hands had slipped under the soft material in an attempt to cup her breasts. His mind swirled with confusion and a healthy dose of lust.

What the hell was he doing? "I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me. I'm—"

"It's okay, Jamie." Braden clasped his arm and dragged him into the kitchen, muttering curses under his breath. When the door slammed shut behind them, Braden continued in a far calmer and gentler tone. "I found you on the calendar. How about you start tomorrow? I know Alexia hoped you'd be able to sort out what's valuable and what can be given away before she gets home. While her Gram didn't mind living in the chaos, Alexia is more organized."

Jamie heard all the words, but they jangled in his mind, twisted and confusing. What had just happened?

Braden held out a glass of water, watching him with a piercing gaze. "Here, have a drink. You must have gotten too much sun en route. Jaffrey's Cove is a bit off the beaten track."

Jamie accepted the glass and sipped slowly. He didn't think there was anything physically wrong with him, except for wanting the woman he'd met only moments before. Wanting her badly enough he was tempted to return to the other room and take her, kissing the mouth that had pouted at him and Braden as they retreated. Rip up her tank top to suckle the breasts that arched against him as they'd tumbled onto the couch. Bury his face between her legs and…

Shit. Maybe there was something wrong with him—this was not his usual behavior. While he liked the ladies well enough, he was a reasonable man. Attacking a woman at a potential job site was not his modus operandi, especially not in front of an obvious guardian the size of a tanker.

He rubbed a hand over his forehead then gave a tentative shrug. "I'm really sorry. There's no excuse for my behavior. I'm thankful you didn't throw me out of the house. I have no idea what came over me."

Braden gave a wry smile. "Seriously, forget about it. No harm done, and trust me, it wasn't your fault. I'll make sure Chelsea behaves herself while you're around."