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Her eyes flared open. “What?”
“You were gnawing on your thumb.” His words rasped out. His eyes locked on her mouth.
“Bad habit.” She tucked her hand into her back pocket.
He turned, but not before she caught the flicker of heat in his gaze.
“Is there a way to put a connecting door in?” she asked, trying to stay on task.
He assessed the plans. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”
She frowned. “We’ve got a couple more adjoining-room requests.”
Daniel determined only one was possible. Then they looked at the tub and shower placement changes Bess and her sisters wanted.
In the master bedroom, she asked, “Can you create a larger balcony here?”
He opened the door. They peered out at the rickety wood floor.
“When we tear off the old balcony, we’ll assess whether there’s enough support to expand.”
“Good.” She brought her thumb near her mouth.
He shook his head.
“You’re as bad as my sisters.” She frowned. “We want French doors and balconies on all the courtyard bedrooms.”
Daniel smiled again. “This project will keep our staff and subs busy. I’ll check with the architect and engineer.”
Would it cost more money? “Thanks.”
On the stairs, Daniel set his hand under her elbow. “I don’t trust the railing.”
She didn’t know what was more dangerous to her health, a loose railing or Daniel. If he kept touching her, she might burst into flames and burn the place down.
“So how’s the job search?” he asked as they headed down the next flight of stairs.
She shrugged. “Nothing yet.”
“Did you do something impulsive like quit?” he blurted out.
“I loved that job!” Why couldn’t he see that she’d changed?
He raised one eyebrow. “Then what happened?”
“I was laid off.” Her face grew warm. “Mid-August. Not the optimum time to be searching for a job in my field.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, kid.”
“Kid?” She wanted to poke him, but he held her elbow.
“If you need to delay your rent payment, let me know,” he said.
“I’m fine.” Now her face was on fire. She hated Daniel’s sympathy. “I need to work on a wedding consult.”
“I thought you didn’t have a job?”
“I have a supply agreement with Cade.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No.”
“He fired you.”
“Laid me off. And I worked for him for almost five years,” Bess said.
“He betrayed any loyalty you owed him.”
She headed to the door. “Don’t you lay off crew members?”
“Not if I can help it.”
“But you do,” she pressed.
“Yeah.”
“And do they feel betrayed?”
Daniel ran his fingers through his cap of golden hair. “That’s different.”
“I’m not burning any bridges with Cade.” She tipped her head at him. “Are we done?”
He nodded.
She stepped outside, finally able to take a breath without catching a whiff of Daniel’s aftershave.
Two days down of working with Daniel. Only five months more. It had to get easier.
* * *
“OVER HERE,” DANIEL CALLED.
Gray moved from the entrance of Kevin Barry’s pub. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” Daniel didn’t plan to tell Gray about his father’s health or his problem with working side by side with Bess.
For the walk-through, she’d worn her normal working uniform of hiking shorts and a tank top. His body didn’t know what was good for him. All he could think about was how good she looked naked. When she’d put her thumb to her mouth, he’d gotten hard. He couldn’t tell Gray about that.
He wished Gray would take an active role in Carleton House and keep Bess out of it. They’d worked well together on Gray’s condos here in Savannah.
A server swung by and they ordered beers.
“Here’s the condo build-out estimate.” Daniel handed Gray a folder. Forester Construction handled all the build-outs on the condos Gray owned in Savannah. Daniel walked him through the numbers.
“That was fast.” Gray tipped his beer at the estimate. “I’ll let the couple know, but this is in their price range. They’re hoping to be in by the end of October.”
Daniel made a note on his phone. He’d have to rework the crew schedules. “The only challenge will be getting the Brazilian cherry flooring they want. I’ll make some calls.”
“Let’s lock this down before I head back to Boston.”
“How’s your renovation progressing in Boston?” Daniel grinned. “As smooth as your Savannah rehab?”
“I wish you could work on that project.” Gray shuddered. “I trust you.”
It was nice to hear. While working together, he and Gray had become friends. “I’m a Georgia boy. Plus, we’ve got enough going on with Carleton House.” And whatever was happening with Pop.
Gray bounced his project issues off Daniel. It was great to talk with someone as an equal. Talking to Bess had been—difficult. She had a vision, but it didn’t allow for structural limitations.
When Gray stopped asking his opinion on his Boston problems, Daniel asked, “How do you want Carleton House to work?”
Gray frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Bess doesn’t have your knowledge, but she’s spending your money. I’m hoping you’ll stay active in the project.”
Life would be simpler working with Gray. Unlike Bess, Gray would never pull some prank. And Daniel wouldn’t fantasize about kissing him. He rolled his shoulders.
“I’ll be too tied up in Boston.” Gray raised an eyebrow. “Are there problems?”
“Let me show you the changes Bess requested.” Daniel unrolled the blueprints and walked through Bess’s list. “I suggested they use single French doors in the library, but the doors will still be custom.”
“Good idea,” Gray said.
“And they want balconies on all the courtyard rooms.”
“That works.” Gray tipped back his beer. “Want another?”
“Sure.” Daniel had work to finish tonight, but he needed to know how to keep Gray in the loop.
Gray flagged the server and they ordered beers and food.
“I like the idea of adding more balconies.” Gray pored over the exterior prints. “You’re sticking with the black wrought iron, right?”
“That’s what Bess wants. And Pop would have my head if we didn’t.”
“What’s with your dad?” Gray asked. “Everyone assumed he would run this project.”
“Something’s...off.” He didn’t want to tell his friend he was as shocked as everyone else. “Mom made him go to the doctor. I assume they’ll figure out what’s wrong and he’ll be back on the job soon.”
“Good.” Gray nodded. “So back to Carleton House. This will be the Fitzgeralds’ B and B. Bess is in charge. I’ll be in Boston on a pretty set schedule. Let me know whenever the changes total two percent.”
Two percent. Daniel did the math. “We might be there with the balconies. The wrought-iron bids will be high.”
“Let me know what the total cost will be. After these changes—go with the two percent.” Gray raised his eyebrows. “Are you worried about working with Bess?”
Not that he would tell Gray. “You know construction.”
“And she’s a landscape architect. There has to be crossover.”
“I don’t need help with the drainage and what bushes to plant where.”
Gray tipped his head and didn’t say anything. The server dropped off their food. While Daniel dug into his grilled shrimp, Gray stared at him as if he’d stepped in something.
“Yeah, yeah, Bess is good with flowers,” Daniel admitted.
“She’s smart, too. And hardworking. And the sisters know what works for a B and B. They all lived through the Fitzgerald House restoration.” Gray aimed a finger at him. “Don’t be dissing my future sister-in-law.”
Daniel swallowed. “I won’t.”
“Bess has authority to sign change orders for Carleton House.”
“Good to know.” Daniel wanted to scream that this was not a good idea. She was an accident waiting to happen.
But that wasn’t the real problem. Bess was basically his boss.
He needed to stop thinking about her naked.
CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_57fbaf23-8497-51bc-bf3e-2baef758047a)
Don’t let the tall weeds cast a shadow on the beautiful flowers in your garden.
Steve Maraboli
“BOUQUETS ARE DONE.” Bess flexed her fingers before wheeling her cart back into the King’s Gardens’ coolers.
“I’ve got one more table arrangement.” Molly leaned close. “Are you uncomfortable working here?”
“Cade and I have a good agreement.” Bess was uncomfortable, but she’d survive. “Plus, he lets me use his delivery van.”
“He should. Done,” Molly said, stretching out her back. “Do you have time for lunch?”
“Sure.” Then she was heading over to Carleton House to pin Daniel down on when she could start in the gardens.
After cleaning up, they met at Lenny’s Diner and grabbed their usual booth.
Molly asked, “Any job prospects?”
Bess was tired of answering this question. She drew pictures in the sweat on her glass. “A nursery up in Beaumont called. They like my résumé but don’t have any openings.”
