LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER FOUR

      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.

      Daniel scrubbed his hand over his face. He had work to do. Then he’d design a system to manage the projects filling his plate.

      Pulling out his phone, he checked the day’s tasks. He ran his finger through Meet at Fitzgerald House, striking through the text. Done. He skipped ahead two days and added Contact Bess re: Final Drawings CH.

      Time to work on the carriage house. Later he would swing by a couple of projects and check in with the job leads.

      With the blueprints and his tool belt in hand, he headed to the gate between Fitzgerald and Carleton Houses. As he entered the carriage house, the calming scent of fresh-cut wood greeted him. A saw screeched as Quint trimmed a stud.

      The renovation was coming together. He let out a breath. This was his area of expertise, repurposing old buildings to be useful again.

      Quint pushed his safety glasses to the top of his head and shut off the saw. “Meeting done?”

      “Yup.”

      “When do we start on the main house?”

      Daniel moved with Quint, nailing the stud into the framing. “Hopefully, next week.” If Bess got back to him with her changes.

      He strapped on his tool belt and began framing in the stairs to the second floor, tricky because Gray and Abby had chosen a curved central stairway. If he’d designed the staircase, everything would have been clean right angles, but he wasn’t the client.

      He worked until his phone buzzed. Time to check on the Tybee crew. He stood by his car, unstrapping his tool belt.

      The gate between the two properties jangled. The sisters came through, their fiery heads tucked together. Abby elbowed Dolley. Bess tipped back her head and laughed, a clear, sweet sound.

      Seeing Bess made his mouth water. He could still taste her kisses—champagne and cake. Her breasts bounced as she walked toward him, and his fingers flexed. He’d had his hands and mouth all over her silky skin.

      These thoughts had to stop. They had to work together.

      His tool belt clanged as he tossed it in the truck bed.

      Bess’s head popped up. Her grin withered on her face.

      “Been touring Carleton House?” he asked, hands on his hips.

      “Yes.” Bess stopped in the parking area. Abby and Dolley waved and headed into the kitchen. “I’ll get the changes back to you tomorrow.”

      He opened his door. “What time?”

      “Oh. Um.”

      He pulled out his phone. “Ten suit you?”

      “Sure.”

      “I’ll meet you at the house.”

      “Good.”

      A couple of B and B guests wandered into the courtyard. By the fountain, the man pulled the woman into an intense kiss. Daniel turned his back on the pair.

      Bess cleared her throat. Her cheeks were flushed. “Did you...know your father wanted you to manage Carleton House?”

      “Why?” He moved to a table shaded by a palm.

      “Your expression. It went...well, let’s say they could have chiseled your face on Mount Rushmore.”

      “That obvious, huh?”

      She sat. “So you didn’t know.”

      What should he tell her? “Apparently, Pop hasn’t been feeling well.”

      “Oh, no.” She touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

      He wished he knew. “He’s tired.”

      “He’ll be fine.” She chewed on her bottom lip.

      Heat shot through his groin. He’d nibbled on that lip. “Yeah.”

      She stared at her hand on his arm and snatched it away. “Can we do this?”

      He rested his fists on the table. “Work together?”

      She raised an eyebrow.

      “We’ve got the same goal,” he said.

      She nodded, her ponytail bouncing. “Opening Carleton House by the beginning of February.”

      “I’ll make it happen. I don’t want Pop worrying.” He took a deep breath. “I need you to—behave. I don’t have time for any of your shenanigans.”

      Her head snapped up. “Behave? Shenanigans?”

      “You know what I mean.” He waved a hand at her.

      “I don’t.” Flashing green eyes glared at him.

      “The stupid pranks you pull.”

      “I’m not a teen. I’m a professional.” She straightened. “I outgrew pranks years ago.”

      He didn’t believe her. “Then how did we end up in bed together?”

      Her eyes went wide.

Скачать книгу