“I know, right?” Mari said. “We can’t exist without it. They have the strongest coffee in town, and they use fresh cream. So good. And good to know you’re one of us. Some folks can’t handle it.”
“Oh, I’m of the stronger the better persuasion when it comes to coffee.”
“You said it, sister.” Abbott grinned. “So how did you end up here?”
Chelly bit her lip. “That’s kind of a long story. None of it shows me in a great light. Wrong man, dead-end job and I needed a fresh start. Got here and my friend I was supposed to stay with ran off and got married. I ended up meeting Matt and, well, his house is a gold mine. I’m in the process of starting a repurposing and design business—and wow, I’m blabbering.”
“Brody’s my fiancé and he says Matt can’t stop talking about you. How good your ideas are.” Mari smiled.
Did he? That was sweet.
“Hmm, he’s the same guy who thought a Chippendale étagère was a twenty-dollar bookshelf, so you might not want to put too much into that.”
They laughed again.
“Men.” Abbott shook her head. “Did he really?”
“Yep. I ended up selling it for five hundred, but I could have gotten more for him if we’d gone to an auction.”
“Thank goodness you showed up when you did,” Mari said. “Brody told me how much money you made him. I’d emailed him a couple of good estate sale companies but he was determined to do it on his own.”
“I know. I’m trying to get him top dollar to help with his renovations and with his other house.”
Mari nodded. “So tell us what you need.”
“Being new to town, like really new, I don’t know anyone when it comes to tradespeople. I don’t expect you to share yours. Designers can be proprietary about that sort of thing. But I made up a list, and I was hoping maybe you guys could go over it with me?”
“Oh, hon. We’re happy to share all of our secrets with any friend of Matt’s,” Abbott said. She waggled her eyebrows. “That Marine is jaw-dropping. He’s got the best bod ever.”
Chelly smiled, but there was a slight stab of jealousy. How dumb was that? Matt was single and free—and a client. She had to stop thinking about him that way.
She agreed. “I can’t argue with any of that.”
Mari was eyeing her in that so is it more than business look.
Chelly held up her hands. “I’m so not in the market for a new man. This is a job, a welcome one. I’m not going to complicate it with that sort of thing. I can appreciate a hot guy without touching. It’s my new superpower.”
It had taken all of her strength to keep her hands off his abs.
“I look at Matt as kind of a little brother, even though we’re almost the same age. He’s been really great about helping with Brody’s classes while he’s going back and forth for his dad’s cancer treatments in Houston.”
“Oh. How’s his dad doing?”
“So far, so good,” Mari said. “But Matt’s been terrific filling in. And he comes over to the house a lot for dinner when Brody’s in town. So we’ve gotten to know him pretty well. Why don’t you show us what you’ve done up till now?”
A while went by and eventually Mari stood. Abbott did the same. “Chelly, I’ve got to head out for a final run-through with some clients,” Mari told her. “But you should be all set, and if you have any questions let me know. Tell Matt to bring you to the mixer at the CO’s on Saturday. You need to meet people, and that whole crew is really nice.”
“I’ll be too busy with the job, but thanks.” She shouldn’t spend more time with Matt, especially if it wasn’t job related. The attraction was already too strong.
Mari laughed. “We’ll see. No matter what, you’ve got my cell number and Abbott’s. If you need us, call, okay? And when you talk to Rafe about the tile, tell him you want the Mari McGuire special. Don’t be shy. You can pass the savings on to Matt. I always look out for my friends.”
“Done,” Chelly said as she waved goodbye to the women. Her head was whirling with possibilities. She had several more calls to make, but she wanted to grab some groceries for dinner. While she wasn’t the best cook, she could make a mean shrimp scampi.
And she wanted a swim. She thought about heading to the beach, but maybe she could work by the pool at Matt’s and kill two birds with one stone.
It wasn’t long before she had the tradesmen set for the project. Work would begin a week from Tuesday. Well, once Matt approved everything. It was time consuming making up his lists, but she did it. And she drew out all the plans. And the project date would give them time to clear out some of the space, and she would have time to repurpose some of the furniture and figure out the storage situation.
She turned on the radio and pushed the button for the music to play out at the pool. Then she changed into her red and white polka dot bikini. It was superrevealing, but she’d always loved the suit. And Matt wouldn’t be home for a few hours.
After swimming several laps, she dropped down onto one of the lounge chairs with her notebook and started writing her thoughts regarding the kitchen, dining area, family room and formal living area. She drew the entry three different ways and then wondered if she could convince Matt to open up the wall off the stairs. It would make the entry a lot more inviting.
While she’d been nervous before, she was now getting excited. This was coming together. And she could do it for a lot less than she’d thought in the beginning.
Though she’d worked at many design firms, she’d done all of this as an assistant. Until today, she’d never had the chance to manage a large project on her own.
Stay focused. Take one step at a time.
For the first time in months, Chelly’s confidence was back. It didn’t hurt that Mari and Abbott had thought her design plan was solid and even innovative. “It’s so fresh, exactly what that old house needs.” Mari had used those exact words.
She could do this. And start her business, as well. She had a habit of taking on too much at once, but it would be different because this time she loved what she was doing.
This time things will be different.
* * *
FOCUS WASN’T SOMETHING that was ever a problem for Matt. When it was time to get the task done, he was the man. He was a Marine. But even the toughest Marine would be distracted by the sight before him.
Chelly in a red-and-white bikini, her ass firm enough to entice him to want to touch. It was fine. And just like that he was hard again.
He’d been so determined to keep this friendly between them. Would it be the first mission he’d fail?
It should help that she wasn’t his type at all. Well, she was every man’s type. She was gorgeous, had a great sense of humor, was creative, had a good heart...but he was ready to settle down and have a family. To train helicopter navigators and mechanics and lead a quiet life.
She was all about chasing rainbows and getting her business going. Not that he didn’t want a wife who had her own interests, her own mind, her own likes and desires.
He did. He appreciated strong women; he was attracted to strong women just like Chelly.
But ones who were ready for the kind of life he wanted.
She was a free spirit. He respected her independence and would keep his distance. They had a work relationship only.
But damn, the woman was fine.
His phone started ringing and he almost dropped the thing in the pool. “Hello?”
Chelly’s head whipped around and she waved at him.
She’d caught him looking, but she smiled so maybe she wasn’t too mad.
“Hey buddy, it’s Mari.”
“What’s up? You ready to give up on the old man and see what it’s like on the dark side?”
Chelly frowned. Had she heard him, and why would
she care?
Mari laughed.
“You know I just can’t quit him. But if ever I do, you’re the first one I’ll call. Right after that hot CO of you-alls.”
“Hey, enough of that,” he heard Brody say in the background.
“Anyhoo, that’s why I’m calling. You should bring Chelly to the swim party on Saturday.”
He’d forgotten about that. They had team-building events at least once a month hosted by the CO. This one was just for officers and their significant others.
“Uh. That’s not really—I mean, we’re not dating. So that’s not appropriate.” He headed through the sliding glass doors into the kitchen and set his sunglasses on the bar. “She’s working for me, or with me. I’m not really sure what you say. That would be wrong, misleading. Besides, we’re going to be busy that day.”
“Yeah, yeah. But she can come as your friend. Since she’s new to town, I thought it would give her a chance to meet people. You’re a Marine, you know how it is every time you get sent somewhere new. You’re a tough guy. But she’s trying to start a business and she needs to network. It will be good for her. From what I could gather, it sounds like she had a tough time in Nashville. It would be good for her to meet some nice people. Nothing wrong with that, right?”
Mari had a way about her, and Brody was right, it was really hard to say no to the woman. He realized he had that same problem with Chelly.
“I already told her about it, so she’s expecting you to ask. And I got the CO’s approval. We finished the remodel on his house and he wants to show it off. I’m also hiring the caterers and decorating since you know who is out of town.”
You know who was the CO’s niece. A professional troublemaker. Word was she was chasing poor Ben, another instructor on the base and one of his friends.
“Okay. I’ll ask her, but she’s pretty hands-on with everything here at the house. And they’re supposed to be laying the foundation for the river house this weekend.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize that was happening so soon.”
“I’ve changed a few things around, instead of trying to connect everything. Anyway, I’m still not sure. I’ve made it to the last two of the CO’s events, so I was kind of thinking it would be okay if I skipped this one.”
She sighed. “It’s up to you. But I feel sorry for Chelly not knowing anyone. You really should introduce her around. That’s what a friend would do.”
Matt rubbed his temple. That was the problem. While he didn’t want to admit it, he had a feeling Chelly would be really popular among his friends, none of whom were good enough for her. “I guess we can come by for a little bit.”
“Great.” Mari’s voice brightened. “We’ll see you Saturday.”
He pushed the off button and sat his phone next to his sunglasses.
“Hey,” Chelly said, “you’re home early. I can get dinner started. I was going to make you some shrimp scampi.”
“Uh, that sounds nice. That,” he said and pointed to the phone, “was Mari. She thinks you should come to the swim party on Saturday at my CO’s house.”
She bit her lip. “Oh.”
“You’re probably busy with the house. I told her that, but she doesn’t take no for an answer. I can go by myself and explain you couldn’t make it.”
“Whatever you think’s best,” she said, but she was frowning.
He’d bungled it. Probably made her feel bad.
“Unless you want to go? She said it might be good for you to let folks know about your new business. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to go because I asked.”
“She mentioned that earlier, but it’s your work thing. I’d understand if you didn’t want me to go.”
She was making this easy for him. Was she embarrassed to go with him for some reason? He was more worried about offending her, but maybe she didn’t want to hang out with him outside of working on the house?
“It’s okay with me if you’d like to come,” he said. “We’re friends, at least that is how I think of us. So it’s fine with me.”
“Then, yes. I didn’t want to impose or anything. I mean, we are going to have lots to do that day, but it would be fun to meet other people.”
They were dancing around one another, trying to protect each other’s feelings.
“Look, I want you to feel comfortable. And you should meet the people I work with.” He’d just decided that. “And Mari and Brody will be there, so you’ll know at least two other people. It’s a swim party.”
Her eyes widened. “I’ll probably need to go buy a suit.”
Matt swallowed hard. “What’s wrong with the one you’re wearing?”
“This thing? I’ve had it since I was a freshman in college. It’s not fit to wear in public. I’m a little embarrassed you saw me in it. But we’re friends so no big deal, right?”
Yes. Friends. Though a friend probably wouldn’t want to take her on that lounger...
Dude, she’s looking at you.
“Absolutely. So Saturday at four p.m. I guess is when it starts.”
“Cool. I’m going to go make some calls. I’ll get dinner started in about a half hour.”
“Great. That’s great,” he said as she turned and went back through the sliding glass doors.
He watched as she left.
Shower. Yep. He needed another cold one.
7
ON THURSDAY NIGHT Matt met some of the guys at the pub close to his house to watch the Rangers baseball game. They tried to get together a couple times a month. The psychiatrist who’d treated Brody for PTSD had said it was good for him to spend time with like minds. Matt had to agree. They’d all been through hell in their own way.
He sat at the bar with his untouched beer. He wasn’t sure he could handle another night alone with Chelly. The last few days had been torture. He’d taken more cold showers in one week than any man should in a lifetime. She was so beautiful, but it was more than that.
There was a sweetness about her, yet she was tough. And he wasn’t sure he’d ever met a more laid-back, open-minded person. He’d spent so many years in the military that he was used to being around various kinds of people. Marines worked hard, put everything on the line, but they also played hard. One thing he and Chelly did have in common was traveling. She’d been all over the world. So had he.
But she would go places with only a backpack and a few dollars. She’d find work and study the culture of wherever she was, until she was ready to move on. It took a lot of guts for someone to travel like that, never knowing where their next dollar or meal was coming from—or where they’d be living.
Cheers went up around him and he focused again on the game. “Can’t believe he hit another homerun,” Brody said beside him.
“That’s three this game,” Ben said from the other side of the table. “Dude is on fire.”
“Yep,” Matt added so they wouldn’t know he’d spent the last twenty minutes thinking about Chelly. He did that a lot lately. If she was the kind of woman who would settle down, he’d try to—what? Woo her? He’d known her barely a week.
Even if he wanted to make a move, she wasn’t ready. He’d garnered a lot of information about her ex, who sounded like a possessive jerk.
Though he kind of understood why the jerk would want to hang on to Chelly. She was the stuff a man’s dreams were made of.
Game. Focus on the game. You came here to get away from thinking about her.
“Mari says that designer you hired is your new girlfriend,” Brody stated.
Matt nearly knocked over his beer, only his quick reflexes kept it from pouring all over the dark wood. “What?”
“You’re dating, and these are her words, ‘a super designer with a supermodel body.’ So who is she?”
Supermodel? She was a
ttractive, but Matt was into the whole package. She was as good-hearted as she was beautiful. And, yes, he was definitely into her.
“Not a girlfriend,” he said. “She’s just helping me with my parents’ house, and maybe a little with the river house.”
“Right. That’s why you’ve been staring at your beer all night instead of watching the game, because you’re not dating.” He made air quotes on the last three words.
“Marines don’t do air quotes. And, yes, she’s gorgeous. Probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, but it’s strictly business between us.”
He had to keep reminding himself of that.
“Uh-huh. Business.”
“Monkey business,” Ben added. “Are you bringing her to the swim party? If she’s not into you, maybe she’ll be into a good-looking Marine. Women love me.”
“Yeah, just ask the CO’s niece, Carissa,” Matt threw out. That woman had gone after just about every guy on the base; he figured it was mostly to keep the CO on his toes.
Ben shook his head. “I took her to that party at Brody’s because the CO asked me to. He wanted me to keep an eye on her. I told you, we’re just friends. She scares me a little, that one. I like to think I could handle any woman, but that one—she’s stunning, but scary. Way too much woman for me.”
“Chelly and I are just friends, too.”
“Right. You keep telling yourself that, brother,” Brody said. “That’s how Mari and I started out, and you see where that ended up.”
His friend was engaged, and it had happened really fast.
“You having second thoughts?” Matt asked.
“No. Not at all,” Brody said quickly. “If I had my way, we’d have been married months ago.”
“So how many times a day do you think about her?” Ben asked.
“About Chelly? Or Mari?” Matt joked, trying to get them off the Chelly track.
“Hey, if you want to die, say that again,” Brody said, but he wasn’t serious. Instead, he grinned.
He was happy for his friend. Someday, Matt wanted to find the right girl and settle down, and he could only hope to be as happy as Mari and Brody.
Make Mine a Marine Page 6
