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Chapter 3

Jalen pulled into the small parking lot of Wellness Georgia, shutting off his truck and taking a deep breath. It was Monday morning, and he was here to survey a potential renovation project for a nonprofit that focused on providing healthcare for low-income residents. This was exactly the kind of project he liked--something meaningful, something that actually helped people. His contact, 29-year-old Kristen Stanley, had found him through his website and had been impressed enough to recommend him to her boss. She had seemed polite and professional over the phone, but Jalen had also caught something else in her voice--a warmth, a curiosity. And he had to admit, she had a sexy voice. Now, it was time to put a face to the name. Jalen stepped out of his truck, adjusting his work boots and tool belt, wearing fitted dark jeans and a crisp navy polo that hugged his broad shoulders and strong chest.

As he approached the entrance, the glass door swung open, and there she was. Kristen Stanley. And she was gorgeous, with a natural understated elegance. Jalen had expected her to be attractive, but damn. Her long, wavy dark brown hair framed her soft yet striking features, her cheekbones defined, her lips painted a bold, bright red. Her eyes were almond-shaped and accentuated with dark eyeliner and neutral-toned eyeshadow, giving her a subtle smoky-eye effect, and her eyebrows are well-shaped, enhancing her expressive gaze. Her nails were well manicured and painted a violet color. Her blouse was tucked neatly into a tight, black pencil skirt, hugging her curves perfectly, and on her feet were sleek black patent leather high heels with red bottoms.

For a moment, Kristen just stared at Jalen. She had heard his voice before, and that had already intrigued her - deep, smooth, effortlessly confident. But she wasn't prepared for the man behind the voice. Jalen was tall, broad-shouldered, muscular, and light-skinned with a chiseled jawline and short, fresh-cut hair. She felt her stomach tighten involuntarily. For a second, she actually forgot to speak. Jalen smirked slightly, noticing her hesitation.

"Kristen Stanley?" he asked, extending a hand.

Kristen blinked, snapping out of it, before plastering on a professional smile and taking his hand. "Yes! Sorry, I--" she cleared her throat. "It's nice to finally meet you, Jalen. Thanks for coming in."

Jalen nodded, his grip firm and warm, and Kristen was acutely aware of how strong his hand felt around hers. She pulled away, brushing a stray hair behind her ear, mentally shaking herself.

"Get it together. You have a fiancé." Her mind raced.

She stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. "Come on in. I'll show you the space we need renovated."

Jalen followed, his eyes subtly taking her in from behind--the way her hips moved in that tight skirt, the confident click of her heels against the floor. He exhaled slowly as he followed her. Kristen led Jalen through the halls of Wellness Georgia, her heels clicking against the tile floor as she tried to keep her focus on the task at hand. The storage space. The renovation plans. The funding. That's what she was supposed to be thinking about. Not about how damn good Jalen Moss looked standing next to her. Kristen could smell his cologne--something clean, masculine, subtle but powerful. And every time he responded to one of her explanations with that deep, steady voice, she felt an unexpected tingle run down her spine. She led him to the bottom floor in the building and towards the end of the quieter hallway. "So, this is the current storage area." She said.

She pushed open the double doors, stepping inside. The space was cluttered but functional, with shelves stacked high with medical supplies, equipment, and outdated storage containers that would need to be completely reworked. Jalen stepped forward, taking it all in with a professional eye, nodding slightly. Kristen crossed her arms, watching as he moved through the space, his broad shoulders flexing beneath his fitted polo, his jeans hanging perfectly on his muscular frame. She had worked with contractors before--but none of them had looked like this. None of them had made her feel... distracted.

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