by H. B. Stumbo
Great, not only would I do be heading up a full garden remodel, but it would be completed in the summer. I plastered the best fake smile I could on my lips and nodded. I enjoyed landscaping projects however I enjoyed them more in the spring, before the heat and the threat of Alabama’s hottest three months took over.
“I can get you the mock ups for the gardens and the dock within a few days if you’d like. From there I’ll go about getting the necessary tools and people to get the job done. The dock will probably take the longest, but I’d say weather permitting we could have the whole thing done in a month.”
Vance eyed me warily, “A few days?”
Shit. This is what Rick warned me about. He said the Wait family didn’t match up to their name, they hated waiting. He also said that’s one of the reasons Vance never contracts out with anyone even the company he owns part of; he always assumes he can get it done quicker. Cue the moment for the asshole to come out and play again.
I swallowed hard and nodded, “Two or three at the most.” I could feel my voice breaking.
He took another sip of his tea and sat the glass down on the counter, he swirled it against the cool marble and looked back up at me, this time his eyes were calm. “Pardon my boldness Charlotte, but its Friday. You’re telling me you could have the whole thing drew up and ready to go by Monday when there’s a weekend approaching? You do have a life right?”
I instantly felt both embarrassed and offended. At least the asshole wasn’t mad that it was going to take a few days but I wasn’t sure where he was going with this. “You are bold indeed, Mr. Wait. And not that it’s any of your business but yes, I do have a life, but I also value work and what I do. I know Rick told you we would get on this quickly, and as a share-holder in Rick’s company, he didn’t want to let you down. So I told him I’d get right on the job and that is exactly what I intend to do. I don’t mind sparing a weekend to get my job done.” I suddenly felt bad for some of the things I said. I hope this wouldn’t put me in hot water with Rick.
Vance’s eyes grew wide and he looked like he was trying to suppress a laugh which didn’t aide in my embarrassment.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just, women like yourself usually spend their summer weekends at the beach, or with their friends or boyfriends. Most of them don’t like to give up their free time.” His voice trailed off as he regarded me closely. The way his voice lingered around the word ‘boyfriend’ made me feel uneasy.
I sighed and took another long sip of tea. “I don’t know what you meant by women like myself, but I like my alone time, and I like to work. I’m good at it, I take pride in it. I’ve already done the beach and weekend thing, I’m over it at this point in my life.”
He continued to focus directly on me, and God Damn it made me uncomfortable. His deep blue gaze was almost hypnotizing and seductive. If he wasn’t such an asshole, I’d probably be lunging myself at him. I couldn’t shake those thoughts from my mind quick enough. Pull yourself together, you just met him, and besides that he’s a dick.
“A few days’ sounds…better than I expected.” He scratched his chin as he pondered over my words. “So you’re done with that part of your life…what exactly do you mean?”
I sighed and rubbed my temples. “It just means I’d rather work than not work.” My tone was clipped but I was annoyed. I hardly knew this man and I was suddenly feeling bold myself. I asked the question he never answered from before. “Why do you need so much space?”
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “I like my space.”
I scowled at him as neither of us spoke and just eyed each other oddly. This man was one of the most cryptic, arrogant men I’d ever come across and I could understand why he preferred to work alone, he probably offended everyone he worked with anyway. He reminded me slightly of Jackson, just in regard to his level of confidence. The creeping memory that was Jackson lingered too long in my mind and I shook my head and looked down at the wooden floor.
I could sense the silence growing thicker between us and I suddenly just wanted to go home and dump myself in a pile of work. One thing I was good at was knowing when it was time for me to leave, and right now I felt like I needed to run home. It’s not that he was making me feel unwelcome; it was just that I knew it was time to go home. Solitude called to me and I always answered. I finished the tea and sat the glass on the counter. “Well Mr. Wait, I’m going to get going and start working on the designs. I’ll email you and arrange a meeting for Monday or Tuesday to go over logistics.”
“I’ll see you out.” His tone was now clipped, too. All the sarcasm from earlier was gone and he was back to the stone faced and tight lipped man I met a mere forty-five minutes ago.
He rose to his feet at the same time I did and I made my way towards the foyer. I slung my camera bag over my shoulder and pulled my keys out of the inside pocket. He followed closely behind me, still regarding me closely.
I opened the screen door and stepped welcomingly into the hot Alabama sun. It seared through my now chilled body and calmed me down. I suddenly couldn’t wait to be back home, in the comfort of my own house working peacefully. I turned before I started down the porch stairs and looked oddly at Vance who had followed me outside.
“Thank you for allowing me to come out and meet with you, Mr. Wait.” I extended my hand to him and he reached for it and shook it gently. The same weird sensation from when we first met fired through me and I retracted my hand almost immediately.
“For the last time, Charlotte please call me Vance.” He smiled and eyed me up and down. “After all, we must be nearly the same age, don’t make me feel older than I do.”
I smiled back to be kind and nodded. “We’ll be in touch, Vance.”
With that I headed back to the comfort of my car and as I opened the door to climb inside I heard him call my name.
When I turned around he was standing on the porch leaning against one of the pillars with his hands in his pockets. My gaze met his and I nodded towards him bidding him to say whatever it was he wanted to.
“Beautiful. That’s the kind of woman you are.” He looked pained after he said it and I instantly felt my cheeks burn. I smiled quickly and climbed into my car. Allowing one last glance at him, I noticed him smile and shake his head before he headed back inside his castle. My head was spinning as I headed for home. What a fucking bi-polar creep. A good looking bi-polar creep though, too good looking. But above all he was a creep; I just needed to keep telling myself that.
Chapter 4
By the time Sunday morning rolled around I was ready to get out of the house. The rain had held off the rest of the weekend but being true to my word, I worked endless hours on compiling the photos I took of the Wait Plantation and working on computer layouts and designs for the new garden and the dock.
The only thing I had left to do was go into the office and print off the layouts and throw them into a binder, after that I’d just have to email Vance and let him pick a time.
The thought of seeing him again sent shivers through my spine. There was something off about him. He was gorgeous and his attitude had been asshole of the year worthy until the tail end of our meeting when he switched to a white knight. I replayed the scene over and over and him calling me beautiful and as flattered as I was that he thought that, I was confused and also a little embarrassed. Ha, and I thought I crossed the line by telling him straight up why I was there, apparently the man knew no boundaries.
I pulled into the office around eleven on Sunday and as I was printing off the pages I designed I heard Rick come out of his office. It was rare for anyone to be at the office on a Sunday, and he looked surprised to see me.
“Charlotte, what are you doing in here on a weekend?”
I smiled as I clicked ‘print’ on one of the final pages and turned my attention to him, “Just printing off some designs for the Wait place.”
He blinked a few times at me and then made his way to my desk. “It went good then?” His ey
es were glistening with dollar signs. Although Vance Wait and half of his family had been shareholders in Rine’s Designs, he was still going to fork out quite a bit of money for the actual landscape remodel itself. The plants, the building supplies, the builders, would all cost him a pretty penny, and Rick would reap in a big percentage of those benefits.
I nodded ignoring the money hungry gaze of my boss. “It seemed to yes, I have to email him to set up a meeting within the next few days and then I’ll get a crew out there shortly after if he accepts everything.”
“Ah excellent,” Rick clasped his hands together and smiled. “I knew sending you would be the best bet. You’ve got the best work ethic of anyone here.”
I thanked him and pulled my flash drive out of my computer and began to shut it down. I pondered over whether or not to delve for information, it couldn’t hurt. After all, Rick always wanted us to know our clients.
“Can I ask you something, about the Waits? Well about Vance really.”
Rick turned on his heal and smiled. “Ask away.” The man was full of gossip and information, he knew everything about everyone. If I didn’t know him, I’d assume he was gossip columnist for a local paper or the kind of guy who spent all of his free time watching reality television and blogging about who wore outfits better and which celebrity was dating who.
I cleared my throat, I didn’t want to offend him, and after all as one of the owners of the company he could take anything I say completely out of context and kick me off this project. “Do Vance and Riley live in that house alone?”
He nodded and removed his glasses and cleaned them with the hem of his shirt. “Yes they inherited the house when they were just children and their parents died, but because they were so young they went to live with a relative in North Carolina. Vance’s Dad was the original shareholder in the business, so obviously when he died it went to Vance. You already know he is a silent partner, just like his father was. The house sat empty for about eleven years, until Vance decided to fix it up. He didn’t move back here until just a couple of years ago.”
I felt sad. If they were young when their parents died, that could explain his ability to be so standoffish. The thought of two young boys being shipped off to live with a relative hit home with me and I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. No wonder Vance had such a hard exterior, he had to in order to get through this big world. Micah and I had coped the same way, Micah reminded me somewhat of Vance even and it now made sense why I felt that way.
“It’s such a big house for two people.” I whispered.
“Yes it is, but they won’t sell it. It’s a family home, meant to be passed down among the children. I doubt they ever leave again, they probably never would have left if…well, if things had been different.”
I swallowed hard as I tried to think how to ask the next question. “I met Riley, too. He is very nice and outgoing, nothing like Vance.”
Rick shifted uncomfortably in his seat and smiled. “I’ve never done business with Riley but I do know him. He’s a good kid, smart kid and kind as can be. Vance is good, don’t let his attitude fool you; he just had a rough time with his parent’s passing. He apparently didn’t talk for a while after it happened, and from my understanding he was a little rebellious throughout his teen years in North Carolina, but he came around. He took care of Riley for weeks before anyone even knew their parents were dead. Kid’s had a rough start but turned out pretty damn well.”
I felt the blood rush from my face as I let his words process. The idea of Vance caring for a small child when he was just a child himself tugged on a piece of my heart. I cleared my throat as I noticed Rick seemed to be focusing on a memory and lost in his own story. He glanced up at me and smiled. “Don’t let Vance intimidate you, under that exterior is a good man, just do as he asks and don’t question it.” He winked at me and rose to his feet. I had so many questions for him, I wanted to know more about Vance and Riley but I could tell Rick was ready to go. I waved goodbye to him and gathered my things before locking up and heading to the supermarket. I was low on groceries and I needed to stock up. Kim was coming home next week and I wanted to have her over for dinner so she could fill me in on her trip.
It was Sunday evening and I had just finished the dishes from my stir-fry and had sat down with a glass of tea in my large bay window. Curling up I watched as the pink hues from the sunset reflected on roofs and windows of the houses below me, I pulled my tablet out and pulled up my email. I had been putting off emailing Vance just because he intimidated me so, but I knew if I didn’t get on it I would look like an idiot, especially when I told him I would email him in a couple of days.
Rick had given me all of his information and I began typing the email quickly.
Sunday, June 1st2014
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Dear Vance,
I’ve finished your designs and wondered when you would like to meet to go over things? It shouldn’t take too long; it just depends on what plants and materials you choose. Once your decision is made, I can have a crew at your house within the week to get started. I’m available anytime Monday or Tuesday, just let me know what works for you.
Thank you,
Charlotte Lyons
Regional Designer & Contractor for Rine’s Designs
I sighed to myself. See, that wasn’t so bad.
I sat down my tablet and wandered into my kitchen. I glanced down at my phone hoping to see a message or missed call from Kim but I knew that she was busy. I missed her and her craziness so much. She had been my rock for the last few years, especially this last one when things went to shit with Jackson.
I hated that my mind always wandered to him and I hated that no matter what I couldn’t seem to wipe him from my memory. Everyone said it was because I loved him so and the fact that I clung onto him so deeply made it hard to forget him. I wanted to hate him and I should hate him. I should hate him for everything he did to me and everything he put me through, I should hate him for what he did to the woman before me. I should hate him for hurting me over and over, not remember him and sometimes miss him. I shook my head and tried to once again rid Jackson Greene from it, the ping of my tablet startled me and I grabbed it and opened my email.
I was stunned that Vance replied so quickly but I shook it off when I remembered we lived in an age where people received emails like they received text messages.
I opened up the email and sighed.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Charlotte,
Wow – that was quick. You weren’t lying when you said you enjoyed work. I’m free tomorrow evening or Tuesday afternoon, what works better for you?
Vance
I exhaled and now faced the tough decision of when I would see him face to face next. I wanted to get it over with so we could get started on the work and get finished and then I could be done with this whole thing. Tomorrow seemed so close though and I didn’t know how I felt about seeing him that soon. I groaned and typed my response.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Tomorrow evening works fine. What time would you like me to be there?
Charlotte Lyons
Regional Designer & Contractor for Rine’s Designs
The answering ping of is email was quick, too quick almost. Was he waiting for a response like I was from him?
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
5:30 sharp. Come hungry if you would please. Also from here on out it’d be better if you texted or called.
I believe Rick gave you my cell.
Looking forward to seeing you again.
-Vance
I stared at the screen for a few moments and dissected his words. Come hungry? So he was planning on feeding me while I am there? Great, let’s make an awkward situation even worse.
I tur
ned my tablet off and grabbed my phone and the contact information Rick gave me for Vance. Plugging the numbers in, I sent him a quick text.
Hi, it’s Charlotte. 5:30 will work fine. See you then.
I waited in the window for a few moments and continued to stare at the now darkening pink sky as my phone buzzed.
Hi. And good.
I smiled at his response and wondered if I should respond. After debating for a few moments I thought I’d be brave and ask him the one question that had been on my mind since Friday.
Why did you call me beautiful?
As soon as I sent it I instantly smacked my hand against my head. Shit, shit, shit! Why did I have to say or type things before I let them process? God damnit, I was going to screw this whole remodel up before it even started.
The buzz of my phone spiked my heart-rate and I opened up the most recent text message from Vance Wait.
Because you are.
My heart plummeted into my stomach and I felt myself blush. This was crossing the line, I couldn’t flirt with the clients, or rather they couldn’t flirt with me, and I didn’t even know this man. I didn’t want to respond but I didn’t want to be rude either.
Uhm…thanks.
I instantly regretted even asking him why he thought I was beautiful, now tomorrow was going to be even more awkward than it needed to be. Instead of waiting for his response, I shut off my phone and retreated to my living room to catch up on the shows I had missed earlier in the week. Try as I might I couldn’t get the arrogant, good looking, confident man out of my head. When television didn’t work I retreated to my bed and popped two sleep aides to help me fall asleep quicker.
I laid in the dark for a few moments before sleep overtook me. My final thoughts were of Vance shirtless and calling me beautiful, and two young boys huddled together on the large porch staring at me with wide eyes.
Chapter 5
