Stay (Healing Springs, Book 2)
Page 17
Lost in torment and—she couldn’t lie—panic, Reed didn’t notice Rogan’s appearance until he was looking over her shoulder.
“Tim, are you the new welcoming committee?”
The unwelcome visitor tightened his lips and nodded a greeting to Rogan. “I’m here on business.”
“I can see that. What dirty tricks are the old biddies on the Board up to now?”
“They aren’t tricks, Rogan. You know yourself the hot button this property has been.”
“Isn’t it great that such a successful business person has bought it? She’ll have it up and running in no time.”
How did he know she was a ‘business person?’
“Yeah, I guess.” Tim pulled his cell phone from his pocket and flipped it open. “Gotta run. I’ll be back same time next week to check on your progress.”
Reed clenched her jaw. “I’ll be in touch once I review the law.”
“It’s all binding, Ms. Peterson. We ran it by legal.”
“I’ll be running it by my own attorney, sir.”
“Do what you want.” The man pulled the visor of his baseball cap down, probably attempting to hide his scowling eyes. He nodded again to Rogan before huffing his way back to his car.
He pulled out of the driveway, but stopped to talk to a passing car as soon as he was on the street.
“Huh,” Rogan said, watching the exchange. “Looks like he’s chatting it up with Nicholas Bonadello.”
“Who’s that? And should I care?”
Rogan tightened his lips.
“He’s your neighbor. Wouldn’t trust him if I were you.”
“This is a lovely way to start.” Reed moaned.
“Mind if I take a look?” Rogan reached out for the papers.
“Have at it. Guess we’ll have some additional items to add to our list.”
“Eh, you already had this stuff on there. Don’t worry about it. I can commit full-time until we get this place in shape.”
His soft, soothing tone warmed her belly like a cup of freshly made chicken soup.
She didn’t need any soup.
“Please get me your written estimate and we’ll go from there.” She started to walk toward the house. She’d put a call into her sister, a high-powered attorney, if needed, but for now she’d come up with a strategic plan.
“Good day to you, too.”
She turned around. Why the sarcastic tone?
“Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. But now that you’re living in small-town USA, you might want to dislodge that stick from your—”
She held up her hand to ward off his insult.
“I get it. You’re intimidated by a powerful woman. I see this all the time.”
She couldn’t lie—he was a strange combination of intimidation and eroticism as he narrowed his eyes and deliberately closed the distance. She barely even noticed his limp.
He didn’t stop until he was close enough for her to smell honey on his breath and the crispy clean fabric softener on his shirt. Guess he did his laundry, after all.
He leaned in. She swallowed, then raised an eyebrow.
“Intimidated by your power? No. Pissed off because you’re being a bitch? Maybe a little.”
Fire gathered in her gut and she opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort.
“Dad!”
“Be right there.”
With one raking gaze, he took her breath with him as he limped away toward his kids, who were now gathered by the car.
“Ivy has a really yucky diapey!”
Oh, the things she wanted to say to him. How fortunate for him that his kids had saved his skin.
She’d find another contractor. Maybe she’d have to extend the calling perimeter, but she’d get someone reliable. Someone trustworthy. Someone who could follow orders without offering an opinion on every single flipping thing.
Someone whose blue eyes and broad shoulders made her not care that he didn’t like her, but made her wish she were better suited for family life.
More From Amanda Torrey
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Books by Amanda Torrey
Teen Fury Trilogy (Young Adult Paranormal)
Unleashed (Book One)
Embraced (Book Two)
Atoned (Book Three)
Teen Fury Trilogy: The Complete Collection (Boxed Set)
Healing Springs Series (Adult Contemporary Romance)
*Books in this series can be read in any order*
Not Over You
Stay
A Heart to Call Home
Two Is A Lonely Number
Loving a Wildflower
So Complicated
Paisley's story - Coming Soon!
Also by Amanda Torrey
The Immortal Contract (Adult Paranormal Romance)