Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Yo, grab the other end of this,” Tyler says, pulling my attention back to the present. He’s got one end of the large tool chest. It’s on wheels and makes packing tools in and out of jobsites so much easier, but the damn thing is heavy as hell and takes two guys to get it in and out of the truck.
Without a word, we carry the chest inside and get to work on the demo of the master bathroom. Ridge decided to start there to give the family member a suite of her own while we work. That is until it’s time for flooring and paint. That all comes last. I’m lost in my head for the rest of the morning. The guys seem to understand that I’m trying to work something out because they leave me alone for the most part. Although they won’t stay quiet forever. Especially when their wives find out. That’s both the blessing and the curse of our tight-knit group.
* * *
It’s just past one, and we’re back at the jobsite after a quick lunch at the local diner in town. I expected questions from the guys, but all I got was an “Are you good?” from Ridge once we were seated. I answered him honestly with a “No, but I will be.” I’ve learned from my past and know what not to do in the future.
“I’m heading out for the day, but I wanted to introduce you to the homeowner,” Mr. Garcia says. “Oh, Ms. Nottingham,” he says, looking behind us. I freeze. My heart stalls in my chest. I want to turn, but I can’t seem to make my feet move. He said Ms., not Mrs. Is that because Mr. Nottingham passed? No, it can’t be. It has to be her. She was an only child in this big, lonely house.
“Hello, Mr. Garcia,” a smooth sexy voice answers.
It’s her. It’s Delaney. I would know that sweet voice anywhere. Swallowing hard, I turn to face her. She doesn’t make eye contact with any of us; her eyes are on her attorney. “This is the construction company that’s going to be updating the estate.”
“Ridge Beckett.” Ridge steps around us and offers her his hand.
I hate it. He’s touching her and I’m not. What’s worse is I should have been the one to introduce them. She’s my girl, and I never did let them meet, and I should have and I hate myself for it. I hate that I kept her a secret.
“Delaney,” I croak. The room falls silent and her attention turns to me.
She tilts her head to the side. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?” Her eyebrows are furrowed as if she’s concentrating really hard to decide if she knows me.
What. The. Fuck?
“Really, Delaney?” I ask, not bothering to hide the frustration in my voice. Damnit, I don’t want to be a dick to her, but pretending not to know me? Really?
“I’m sorry,” she starts, but her attorney jumps in.
“As I was saying, Ms. Nottingham will be the point person. If she is unavailable, by all means, contact me,” he says again. “Any questions, I will pass them on to Ms. Nottingham.”
“Can we talk?” I ask her, ignoring him. My hands are fisted at my sides, fighting off the urge to pull her into my arms. It’s been too damn long. I take one small step toward her.
“I’m sorry. I need to go,” she says, backing away before turning and rushing down the hall.
I move to go after her, but Tyler places a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “Not now,” he says, low enough for only me to hear. I try to shake him off, but his grip is firm. It’s probably better this way. I need to calm the hell down.
Dutifully, I stand still while Ridge and Mr. Garcia finish their conversation.
“Any questions?” Mr. Garcia asks.
“No, sir. We’ll let you know if we run into any issues, and will seek guidance from Ms. Nottingham on the look she wants. The flooring will be replaced last in order to keep it free of damage during the construction phase,” Ridge explains.
“That’s quite all right. We’ll provide you with weekly draws for payment every Friday.”
“That’s great. Thank you.” Ridge shakes his hand and turns toward us. I feel a heavy hand on each shoulder as Mark and Tyler flank me, while Mr. Garcia moves around us and out the front door.
“What the fuck was that?” Ridge asks.
“Nothing.” I shrug Mark and Tyler off me.
“That wasn’t nothing,” Seth says.
“Fine. We hooked up.” It’s wrong that I’m demeaning what she means to me, but fuck, she acted like she didn’t even know who I was.
“And?” Ridge asks.
“And nothing. She wants to play games, I’m done.”
“How long ago?” Tyler asks.
“Five years. Right before we went out of town when Ridge met Melissa.”