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Bess tapped her lip. Being involved with the construction side would be fun. “I’d love to work with Samuel.”
“Excellent.” Abby’s strawberry-blonde ponytail bounced as she nodded. “You’ll make Carleton House shine.”
“Thank you.” She swallowed. Her sisters were the best. “I had one other idea.”
“What?” Abby asked.
“There’s a foundation for Carleton House’s greenhouse on the property. Instead of tearing it out, I think we should rebuild it.”
Dolley frowned. “Will it be expensive?”
“I’ll get the costs.” Bess sat forward. “I could grow more of the B and B’s flowers and reduce our decorating budget. I’d make orchids the B and B’s signature flower.”
Dolley frowned.
Abby tugged on her ear. Not a good sign. “I like the idea, but we need to get Carleton House finished so we can open the rooms.”
“I think we should give it a try.” Bess looked over at Dolley, hoping for support.
“Gather the costs,” Dolley said. “But we shouldn’t add more to our plans than we’ve already committed.”
Bess tried not to sigh. A greenhouse was a great idea. But she didn’t want to fight with her sisters.
She would gather the information and hope the numbers proved her point. Losing her home and job and being stupid enough to sleep with Daniel Forester was enough humiliation for now.
* * *
TUESDAY MORNING, BESS walked into Fitzgerald House’s kitchen, eager to sit in on the first Carleton House renovation meeting. She’d always envied Abby spending so much time with Samuel.
When Bess was eight, Mamma had started turning their home into a B and B. Samuel had always been around. It had taken almost twenty years to finish all the rooms, and in that time he’d become a fixture in the house and the families had become close friends. The sisters thought of him as their surrogate dad, especially since he always called them his girls.
Of course, she’d followed Daniel around for the first nine years and then ignored him for the next ten.
Samuel sat at the head of the table, looking at blueprints. Abby and Gray were next to each other, their shoulders touching. Filling out the table were Daniel and Nathan.
“Am I late?” she asked.
“We were early.” Samuel waved her over.
“Bess, you look gorgeous.” Nathan stood and gave her a hug.
“You’re still home?” she asked.
Nathan squeezed her shoulders. “For a few more days.”
Daniel called, “We’re working here.”
“Let the girl go,” Samuel added.
Bess hurried over, miffed that they’d started without her. She sat across from Daniel and stared at the blueprints. Better than looking the jerk in the face. “What did I miss?”
“We’re walking through the architect’s plans,” Abby said.
“Bess will represent the sisters, Samuel.” Gray patted her hand.
Samuel nodded. “Good choice.”
Heat moved across Bess’s face.
Daniel frowned. “Abby, you’re on-site.”
“I’ll be on-site.” Bess avoided his piercing brown gaze.
“I don’t understand.” Daniel slid back in his chair and crossed his arms. Muscles she’d hung on to three nights ago bulged under his T-shirt.
“I’m working full-time on Carleton House,” Bess said.
“But you work at King’s Gardens.”
Why couldn’t Daniel let it alone? “Not anymore.”
Daniel’s mouth dropped open. Fly catcher, Mamma would say.
“Great.” Samuel flipped to the blueprint of the basement. “Let’s get to it.”
They walked through each floor. Bess took notes of things she wanted to change. She would discuss them with Abby and Dolley—later.
“Any reason I can’t work on the gardens?” she asked as they looked at the exterior prints.
Samuel rubbed his neck. “Give me the quick and dirty of what you’re planning.”
“I’ll take down this wall.” She pointed at the exterior layout. “And reuse the flagstone for walkways and patios.”
“Will you need our help with the wall?” Daniel asked.
She glanced at him and looked away. “Maybe.”
“Okay.” Daniel made a note.
Gray also made a note.
Jeez, everyone needed to be included on work-plan issues. Something to remember.
“I’m building raised beds. I’ll add more hedges. Interesting shrubs here and here. I’m thinking about a fire pit, or maybe a fireplace. Or pizza oven.” Bess sketched on her pad. “I haven’t decided what to do around the carriage house or the front of the house.”
Abby’s hand shot up. “I vote for a pizza oven.”
Gray pulled her hand down and laced their fingers together. “Will you need help with any of those options?”
“If we go with a fireplace, I might need a strong back or two. Otherwise I’ve built the others.”
“I still vote for the pizza oven.” Abby tapped her finger on the plan.
“Add it in,” Gray said.
Daniel nodded.
“Do these plans work?” Samuel asked.
Abby opened her mouth to answer, but Bess interrupted. She was in charge. “I’d like a day to look at them in depth and discuss with my sisters.”
Daniel frowned.
She raised her eyebrows.
“We’re hoping to have the first-and second-floor rooms available by early February,” Abby said.
“In anticipation of Saint Patrick’s Day?” Daniel asked.
“No.” Abby and Gray grinned at each other.
“Wedding guests,” Abby added.
Bess smiled and sighed. “You picked a date.”
“The second weekend of February.” Gray swept a finger along Abby’s cheekbone. Her sister’s eyes sparkled.
Bess’s chest tightened. What would it be like to want to spend the rest of her life with someone?
It wouldn’t happen to her. If she loved something, she lost it.
“The ballroom wasn’t booked. Mamma’s on board.” Abby’s grin lit up the room. “We’re getting married.”
Nathan slapped Gray on the back. “You’re a lucky man.”
Gray nodded. “The luckiest.”
“I’m happy for you.” Samuel took Abby’s hand. “We’ll complete everything by the end of January.”
Daniel’s jaw muscles flexed. He made notes on his tablet-size phone without commenting.
“One other thing.” Samuel pushed back a shock of white hair.
Bess frowned. Samuel looked pale under his tan.
“Daniel will be taking lead on this project,” Samuel said.
Daniel’s mouth hung open. “But—”
No! “I wanted to work with you, Samuel.” Bess’s stomach twisted. Daniel couldn’t be in charge of this project.
“Daniel’s the best person to handle large projects like these.” Samuel nodded to his son. “It doesn’t mean I won’t be around.”
“Bess, let me know when you’re ready to finalize the blueprints. Soon.” Daniel scowled.
She wanted to scream. Instead, she affected a businesslike tone. “Absolutely.”
Chairs scraped against the tile as everyone said goodbye.
Three days ago she’d slept with him. After he’d humiliated her, she’d thrown him out of her apartment. Panic had her breath backing up in her chest. How would they work together?
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_d047c8f4-b81f-5562-a5d8-0163c05df3f5)
The Earth laughs in flowers.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
WHAT THE HELL just happened? Daniel followed his father and Nathan out of Fitzgerald House. Pop had never talked about him taking point on the restoration. The announcement had floored him. He’d tried not to show his shock in front of their clients, even if they were friends. And a woman he’d slept with—twice.
This sucked. He and Bess had to work together. Didn’t the sisters know how reckless Bess was? He could spout example after example. How could they trust her with such a massive project?
He’d have to be extravigilant to keep everything on track. But first he had to find out why Pop had dropped this project on him.
“Why am I managing Carleton House?” Daniel spit out. “What’s going on?”
“I’m wondering the same thing.” Nathan crossed his arms.
Pop leaned against his truck. “Doc’s trying to figure out why I’m so tired.”
“You’re sick?” Nathan’s voice squeaked as if he was going through puberty.
“Your mom made me go in. Doc Kramer drew a couple of gallons of blood and is running tests.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Daniel, you’re great at managing big projects. Better than me.”
Nathan shot Daniel a cutting glance. His brother hated when he received any praise from Mom and Pop.
“I don’t mind managing the project.” Other than the fact he’d have to work with Bess. “It’s learning about it in the meeting.”
“Sorry. I came straight from the doctor’s office. Your mom made me promise to take things easy until we know what’s up.”
“What does Doc Kramer think is wrong?” Daniel asked.
“Nothing yet. Just acting like a bunch of vampires.” Pop clicked his door open. “You keep my girls happy.”
“I will.” Although keeping Bess happy would require jumping in the Wilmington with an anchor chained to his foot.
Nathan left with their father.
Daniel slumped against his truck. Pop was just tired. They’d been busy and Pop had made a big push to get Fitzgerald House done before Mamie’s wedding.
