Bone Frog Bachelor (Bachelor Tower Series)

by Sharon Hamilton

  “It isn’t about the money, Marco. It’s that you backed out on your promise, man.”

  I could see we had more of a problem than I’d calculated. I knew I should have been on it sooner. “But I didn’t do it, Rebecca did.”

  Rhea had a small contracting company doing small remodels and hired mostly women carpenters, plumbers and electricians. It made it so much easier that I didn’t have to worry about plumbing issues at the space, because Rhea and her ladies could fix anything. I was counting on some grant money for having such a large female staff and hoped I could award the buildout to them. Rhea could also do material takeoffs faster than anyone I’d ever met since she knew how to read plans.

  “I’m not abandoning the project. I can’t battle everything at once, guys. I’ve made a promise. It isn’t going back on my word. I have to do this strategically.”

  She didn’t like it, but she seemed to accept it. I caught her eyeing Shannon several times and knew I’d have to make a private, formal introduction or there would be gossiping going on all over the place.

  One of the new hires I didn’t recognize, who was wheelchair bound, added, “We do appreciate the extra, but I gotta get a job. I can’t wait around to find out if I got a permanent job.”

  Rhea pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. “He’s reception.”

  “I may not have legs, but I’ll bet I can climb a ladder faster than you!”

  The group laughed and I was grateful for the lightheartedness.

  “Look guys, I got it.” I was truly sorry for having brought them together, gotten them so excited about what we could do, even with the divorce raging, that it hadn’t occurred to me that my personal life would affect theirs. I fully intended to make it up to them and told them so. I asked for their patience and to trust me.

  Almost no one believed me. The groans and whispered swear words were frequent and disturbing.

  “I thought you had the financing all set up, Marco,” someone asked.

  “It got pulled. I had a note called, part of my divorce attorney battle, and it caught me completely off guard. But I’ve secured the replacement, so all will be good.”

  “Except she’s going around town telling everyone she’s in charge. So what are we?” someone else commented.

  “We’re the barnyard animals,” countered Rhea.

  It bothered me that these people, who had so little, had shown their loyalty to me and I was in danger of letting them down. Somehow, I’d get this thing back on track and turn it into the flagship I knew it could be.

  “And that’s the problem. I can’t stop that as fast as I can make sure you get paid,” I added.

  “For how long?” one of the big guys asked. I knew he’d also been a Marine. “I got a kid and a wife. I gotta get a job, Marco. Unlike you, this isn’t a hobby.”

  I did understand, but they obviously felt like the little guys, the ones who always got the shaft. I was going to make sure that didn’t happen.

  “I’ll promise you’ll get paid for at least two months, maybe three. We still have work to do. We collected a pretty sizeable list of possible donors. Those people have to be contacted. And we have the suggested recipients. Rhea, you said you wanted to work on the standards. Everybody’s needs will be different, depending on their situation. Most of the project will be guys, but we had a family unit set up. I don’t know what she’s doing about that, since she’s having some changes done. But our work isn’t done.”

  More groans erupted from my group.

  “Someone is going to have to go over to the Design Review office and find out what changes they are proposing. I understand they aren’t approved yet, and I guess I’ll be forced to speak with Rebecca, through her attorney, of course.”

  I didn’t see much hope in their eyes.

  “Why doesn’t she ask her?” Kevin, a twenty something with full sleeves said, pointing to Shannon. “They’re buddy buddy. She’s the weather girl, Shannon Marr.”

  “Not really,” corrected Shannon. “It was just an interview, and probably a one-off at that.”

  “But you could ask,” suggested Rhea, giving her a respectful wink. I could see Shannon wasn’t entirely comfortable with her.

  Shannon looked at me and I gently shook my head. It was a bad idea.

  “I’m not sure she’s still in town, anyway,” she answered. “But I’d be willing to try, if you think it would help, Marco.”

  God dammit. This is the last thing I need.

  “I don’t want you anywhere around her.” I stopped all the crosstalk that had erupted with my voice rising over their chattering. “The checks will be couriered here tomorrow—for all of you. You’ll get checks every Monday for at least two months. You can count on that.”

  I asked Rhea and her partner to meet me in the back, out of earshot of the rest of the group. Shannon joined us.

  Rhea looked her up and down. “Hey boss, do I have to train my replacement?”

  “I couldn’t replace you, Rhea.” I pulled Shannon over to my side, wrapping my arm around her waist. “This is personal. Very personal. And none of your goddamned business, either.”

  Rhea chuckled and Dax looked relieved. “Nice to meet you, Shannon,” she said.

  “You ladies are in a perfect position to try to get yourselves hired over on Rebecca’s crew. If you do, and you report back to me, you’ll still get your salary here, too. But I want just the two of you to go first. I need to know if she’s really serious about the buildout.”

  “Boss, I don’t understand why you don’t just talk to her. Work something out,” said Rhea.

  “So she can screw me again? I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. I’m going to be gone for about two weeks. During that period of time, divide everyone who’s staying into groups and put someone in charge of each one. One group can contact donors. Another can interview the vets who responded to the interest post card. I want the team leader of that one to interview every single one of them. Go to their houses. Get a sense of what they really need. We’ll start with this group, make a list of their needs, and then adjust from there. I need to know what handicaps we’re building for.”

  “Did you have the trees cut down?” Rhea asked.

  “I did not.”

  “So she’s started spending her own money, then. Or has a loan in place?”

  “Yes, unfortunately she has a lot of money, and all of it was mine.

  “What if she really wants to help, Marco?” asked Shannon.

  “She’s uncontrollable. She wants to be in charge and she has no experience with building things.”

  Shannon spoke up again, objecting. “She told me in the interview she had a new project manager helping her run things.”

  “Yeah, I feel sorry for the guy,” I added with a chuckle.

  “What if her plan is a better one, Marco?” Rhea’s partner asked.

  “It’s expensive getting a subdivision re-drawn. I can’t imagine anything we missed. That’s about thirty thousand dollars right down the drain. But, you’re right, we need to see what she’s got up her sleeve.”

  “I’ll go see what’s been turned in, and then I’ll look her up from the City file. I can send the redraw to Boston, if there is one?” Rhea asked.

  “If you can get a set of plans, that would be awesome,” I answered. As an afterthought, I added, “You guys get in there and dig around. I think you’ll make the best spies. If it works out, I might be able to use you somewhere else.”

  “Where?” They both said in unison.

  “Either of you ever been to Africa?”

  We drove back to Shannon’s place, where I dropped her off. Before she went inside, she stopped and asked, “While you’re gone, can I have a set of your old plans to look over, just for giggles.”

  “Sure, I can get a set sent to you.”

  “Would you mind if I hang around the office in my spare time? I’m good with the phones, and a lot of people know who I am.”

  “I can’t see that it wo
uld hurt. Let’s talk about it tonight at dinner. What time, and do you need anything?”

  “Just you. I even have more wine than I know what to do with. See you about five thirty or six?”

  “Or before.”

  “I’d like that too. You can pick up something sinful and cholatty for dessert, if you like.”

  I had some great fantasies about chocolate syrup and whipped cream, but decided I’d leave that for another time. This was going to be our good-bye dinner for now. I was grateful I’d have a few hours to myself to make some calls and check out of the hotel. I might even need a nap!

  I needed to think about where we were going as a couple. She was being very good about not bringing it up, but I could tell it was on her mind.

  The sex was great. We had fun. I loved surprising her. But all that would not hold up forever, if there was no future.

  It was kinda dangerous to be jumping head-first into a relationship again. I hadn’t exactly been the poster boy of success in that arena. But I knew deep down that if I walked away from this one, maybe there wouldn’t be another.

  Emily had taught me that.

  “You gotta grab what happiness you can and hold onto it with all your heart. No regrets, Marco. We jump in without hesitation. If you need to do your deployment, go do it this one time, and I’ll be here for you. But after that, I get the white dress, the flowers, the party and the honeymoon and you’re gonna wear your dress blues. Because when you come back, your ass is mine.”

  Those were the last words she’d told me. I wore my dress uniform at her funeral for the first time. I’d wear it a lot during the years as I lost people. Funerals, always funerals. So many men and women who didn’t come home.

  I’m still here. I guess so I can get it right this time.

  Chapter 18

  Judie popped in unexpectedly. Looking over the mess in the kitchen, she knew something big was happening.

  “Fresh pasta? Boy, I must have missed a whole lifetime. What in the world have you been up to?”

  “It’s too much to explain.”

  “Try me.”

  I pulled my hair off my forehead with the back of my hand. I could feel the flour trickling into my scalp, which meant now I had to make time for a shower and shampoo. I nearly burst into tears, which really surprised me. But the change between where I’d been when Judie and I last talked and where I was floating around now was so dramatic, it was just a bridge too far.

  “Uh oh, Shannon. Now you’ve got me worried,” she gasped. “Your lower lip is protruding. What have you done?”

  I didn’t try holding back the tears. I placed my hands on the floured countertop and looked directly into her eyes. “I’ve gone and fallen in love with Marco Gambini.”

  “No! Say it isn’t so!”

  “I’m afraid it’s true.”

  Judie gave me a puzzled look. “But, most people, when they fall in love, they’re like dancing around the room, hugging babies and old men. They’re whistling in the grocery store. Life is suddenly beautiful.” She carefully delivered her kill shot. “You don’t look that way.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “How could it be complicated? He’s gorgeous. He’s got a ton of money.” She frowned and tilted her head slightly. “Unless…he’s not in love with you. Tell me that isn’t so.”

  “We haven’t talked about it. But I think so.”

  “Ouch! Boy, he’d be off my list.”

  “He’s worth it.”

  “Ew. I don’t like the sounds of that. Shannon, it’s not that complicated. Of course, I’m the one who never takes her own advice and has sex before there’s a commitment. Like the Love Vixen lady says, get a ring and date first.”

  “I don’t think she’s ever fallen in love with her older sister’s fiancé, who was a billionaire, and is now struggling to survive. He’s got a lot on his plate.”

  “So you won’t be the focus of his world, then. I’ll bet right now all he wants to do is screw, am I right? He probably doesn’t go calling his board meetings and signing contracts when you guys are working on the birds and the bees, fulfilling yourselves to your highest climax.”

  I felt a little guilty. She was right, or at least from what she knew she was right. I’d had more sex in the last three days than I’d had in three years.

  I checked my timing. I needed to clean up the mess and start making the seafood alfredo topping for the fresh pasta I’d made, and the green salad. And I needed a shower.

  I began wiping down the countertops.

  “Oh, Shannon, here. Let me do that. You get yourself into the shower.”

  “No, I have to make the sauce!”

  “Okay, but let me do the clean up here. You take that side of the kitchen while I clean up this one.”

  “You got it.”

  I was ruminating about all her questions. I hadn’t even gotten to the part where I was going to accompany him to a real sultan’s palace in five days. That I was taking a whole ten days off work, and I had to promise I’d do all kinds of things to get that favor, too. I hadn’t told her I’d gotten drunk with his ex, either.

  The tears were threatening to spill over my lower lids again as I added the butter and flour into one pan while sauteing the salmon and fresh scallops in another. I added some coriander and then some cheese until it melted into the butter mixture, then added the cream and stirred.

  Judie put her arms around me. “What a problem to have, right?”

  I chuckled, adding the fish mixture to the pan. I handed her the wooden spoon to stir since she’d cleaned up everything. I began rinsing vegetables for the green salad.

  We worked in silence for about five minutes. Her mixture had begun to thicken, and I was done with the salad fixings, placing them in the refrigerator to chill.

  I poured two huge glasses of red wine and handed her one. “We need to talk.”

  “You want to go out to the beach?”

  “Not today, Judie. Maybe you can help me figure out something.”

  We sat in the living room, across from each other.

  “Shoot,” she said.

  “I’m going with him to an island in the Indian Ocean, some sultan’s pink palace. Supposed to be a really beautiful place. We’re flying by private jet, and then helicopter. This sultan has like five or six wives, maybe more, he doesn’t know. I’m to meet him in Boston in five days and we leave from there.” I gulped down the whole glass of wine and gasped. Judie watched me with eyes as big as saucers. “And, he doesn’t know who I am.”

  There. I’d told her everything.

  She had barely touched her wine, which wasn’t like her. Her gaze was focused on something on the floor because she was thinking about something. I diverted my focus to the side before she could make eye contact.

  She took a sip and whispered, “I can’t fix this.”

  I barely had my clothes on when Marco was at the front door, bringing me some of the roses from his room. He had something in a bright pink box tied with candy striped string. I could smell it was going to taste divine.

  “Here, take these and I’ll get my things from the car.”

  I added the roses to another vase, placing them at the table, and moved the spring bouquet onto the countertop. He entered with his leather bag, leaving it by the door instead of putting it in the bedroom. I began to get nervous.

  He came to me and I melted into his arms, feeling safe and loved. I inhaled the heady scent I never wanted to be without and steeled my heart for whatever was to come next. His fingers laced through my hair.

  “You want some wine?” I asked.

  “Sure.”

  He was watching me carefully as I poured from another bottle. I was a little tipsy. Maybe that’s what he was noticing.

  He toasted my glass and remarked how good it was. I already knew that. I wanted to hear what was on his mind because his mood had changed.

  “You want to eat?” I asked. “It’s all ready.”

  “Smells wonde
rful. I’m starved.” But neither of us moved.

  If I wasn’t careful I’d be bursting out in tears and nothing had really happened. I was just so sad all of a sudden. I had no basis for coming to that conclusion, but I felt like I’d blown the opportunity of a lifetime.

  “Let’s sit down,” he said.

  My knees stiffened. My stomach began to clench. It wouldn’t be cool if I threw up in front of him, but I was headed there. I left my wine glass on the counter and took a seat across from him, just where I was when I talked to Judie this afternoon. I liked looking at Marco better.

  “I have to tell you something, Shannon.”

  Oh here it comes.

  “I think I’ve taken advantage of you, and I’m so sorry I did that.”

  “I don’t feel that way.”

  “But I do, and that’s important to me. I just burst into your life, upsetting everything. I asked a lot from you.”

  “Nothing I wasn’t willing to do. I’m a grownup. I didn’t feel put upon. I’ve enjoyed being with you.”

  “But, like you said, this world of mine. It isn’t your world, and I wasn’t being sensitive to that.”

  “Okay. It’s a lot to get used to, don’t you think?”

  “I totally agree. And that’s not my point.”

  “Okay.” My heartbeat was still racing from the dark wolf in the forest.

  “Remember when I talked about the woman I’d been in love with all those years ago? My first love?”

  My veins turned to ice water. This was becoming a horror film. They found Emily, dug her up and she was now a vampire, and she’d bit him and taken him back. Something like that.

  “Her name was Emily. She was a lot like you. And it’s got me thinking…”

  He’s figured it out! OMG, he thinks I’ve lied to him!

  “Marco, I know what you’re going to say. I’m so very sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. Can you forgive me?”

  He suddenly looked confused. “Nonsense. You haven’t done anything.”

  “I should have told you sooner, is what I meant.”