by Lynn Galli
“Now it’s a legal thing, huh?” she joked.
“You see, I understand a stranger stopping for a person in an accident, calling an ambulance, and finding a blanket. But it’s the ambulance ride that tells me it wasn’t a stranger.”
She looked back at the tape seam, wanting to get back to work. She didn’t want to have this discussion, which made me want to have it all the more. “You know pretty much everyone in town, don’t you?”
I chuckled. It did seem that way sometimes. If they weren’t friends or acquaintances, they were clients. It could have been any of them. My mind immediately started rolling through the faces of my friends before I realized that I didn’t need to do that. Natalie had me doubting what I already knew and all because this made her uncomfortable. What she didn’t know was that this little trait of hers made her all the more interesting.
“Most of my friends would have put a picture of themselves saving me on a welcome home banner so I’d see it the next day.”
Natalie laughed, letting some of the tension I’d noticed roll out. “Modest friends, huh?”
“One of them is.” I looked right at her. No blush, no shallow breathing to tell me she’d been caught, no shift of her eyes. “Wouldn’t you think someone I know would have made a point to tell me they’d helped me that night?”
She shrugged. “Maybe they were coming home from an illicit affair and couldn’t let anyone know they were on that road that night.”
Now I laughed.
“They could have been smuggling drugs and didn’t want to risk having their route discovered.”
“You have a fun imagination, Nat.” I smiled, enjoying her all the more. “But really, why do you think someone wouldn’t have told me by now?”
“Maybe they didn’t want you to feel…”
“Beholden? Grateful? Like I owe her my life?”
She blinked her brown eyes, digesting what I’d said. “In some cultures, the person who saves the life is the one who owes the life.”
“Really?”
She shrugged again and turned back to the wall. We’d already exceeded any break she ever took. I knew she was anxious to return to her task as well as stop this conversation.
“Natalie?” I waited for her to look back at me. “Thank you for helping me. For saving me, I should say.”
Her head shook and she took a step back. “I…”
I cut her off before she could deny it. “Your coat and blanket are currently in my washing machine. I know it was you.” Even if I didn’t recognize Lori’s description of her. Come to think of it, why hadn’t I?
“Anyone would have done the same.”
I hoped that was true, but there was no telling how long it might have taken for another car to come along that road. “You didn’t tell me because…?”
“Drug smuggler.”
I gave an amused snort. “Sure. By the way, how is it that you were three inches taller that night?”
Her brow furrowed. “Dress shoes.”
“You were on your way out, and I messed up your plans?”
Her eyes darted away again. “You didn’t mess anything up.”
“Do you know someone who lives on that road?”
It seemed to take a long time for her to answer. “No.”
“Just out for a drive?”
She let out a long breath. “You suggested we meet up for dinner to celebrate getting my first client on my own.”
“Whoa, what? When did we make…oh, sometime that afternoon, which I still can’t remember.” We had dinner plans? To celebrate, so it would have been my idea. I wish I could remember asking her to dinner. It seemed like something I needed to remember. A realization hit me. “Damn, that means I stood you up.”
“No.” A quick denial, one I wasn’t sure either of us believed. “You were in an accident.”
“And you were in the restaurant.” I didn’t need her expressive eyes to tell me she’d waited a while for me. I’d been stood up once, and it was no fun. It didn’t matter if it was a friend or a date. “That doesn’t explain how you were on that remote road later.”
This time her eye flick was guilty. “I thought your meeting might have gone long. I just wanted to check.” Another shoulder shrug. “I’m not usually a stalker.”
I smiled. Modest, considerate, and beautiful, she got more and more intriguing. “I’m glad you were that night.”
“I am, too.” She let a smile break through her nerves.
“I’ll bring your jacket and blanket tomorrow.”
“Thanks.”
I turned to let her get back to work and start the painting upstairs. Something made me turn back. “Natalie? I never would have stood you up if I could have helped it.” I started walking backward out of the room. “In fact, I would have been early because I know you wouldn’t have wanted to arrive before me.”
She rewarded me with a huge smile.
21 Natalie
Excavation on the lot had been completed yesterday. We would start on the foundation for the house today. I didn’t think I’d be building a custom home this soon in my contracting career, but Glory’s parents were pretty convincing. They’d been working with Vivian to design, build, and sell a home on the subdivided portion of their lot for two years. They just couldn’t find a contractor to put in a reasonable bid. Even without the profit sharing arrangement they’d proposed, I would have done what I could to win the bid. I’d worked with the Eibens on Glory’s house and knew they’d be dream clients.
It helped that I’d have three of Cal’s best guys working with me. All three had been calling me weekly to find out if I was hiring. They were willing to come on temporarily for this build, which told me how bad things must have gotten on Cal’s crews. If all worked out, I’d try to pick up more projects to keep them on.
I pulled up to the lot and backed the equipment trailer into the best location. Excitement coursed through me. I let out a deep breath, reached back for my work jacket, and patted my dog’s head.
“You ready for our first day?”
Goblin’s brown eyes looked at me, ready for anything. We were becoming a good team. She liked being with me, even if she spent some of the time in the backseat of my truck. I’d only leave her home if I would be inside a client’s house for the entire day. On this jobsite, she could be outside or in the house with me all the way up to the finish.
“Let’s go, Gobs.” I stepped down from the truck and went around to lift her onto the ground. Her front leg was still a little tender. Jumping from her seat was out for now.
She sniffed the ground, cautious as usual but trusting that I would make it safe for her. Her face swung up to look for my lead. It hadn’t taken long to get used to having a dog. I was never so happy not to have anyone respond to the flyers I’d put up.
Opening the trailer, I stepped in and grabbed the portable open air tent. I chose a spot close to the build and began digging the post holes for the workspace tent. Cal never went to the trouble of this step. We’d worked in the elements year round and his equipment and supplies suffered because of it. I wanted to avoid that mistake in this early spring weather.
Miguel drove up with a rented trailer full of the lumber we’d use to build the foundation form. For years, he’d made fun of me whenever I took scraps from Cal’s sites. In his heyday, Cal had torn down a lot of structures. I’d taken all the wood and any salvaged fixtures to a barn I rented in Carbondale. I had enough material in there to build two small homes if all the pieces were salvageable.
“Morning, bosco. You’re obnoxiously early.”
He swung down from his truck, patted Goblin as he passed her, and picked up the pickaxe to start the last hole. With two of us, we were done and setting up the work tables when my graphic designer, David, pulled up. He was bringing the site safety sign he’d created and would also be joining us part-time. With the three others, Miguel and I would have a full team. Better, actually, because I’d only hired the guys who actually did all th
e work on our other jobs.
As soon as the others arrived, they assembled at the tent for my instructions. It was so gratifying to see five guys in matching t-shirts with my company name and logo, waiting to work on a job that was completely mine. I still couldn’t believe I’d been able to do this.
I issued my first orders to the larger team, “We’re building the foundation form today and tomorrow. Cement comes in tomorrow afternoon, so we’ve got to be done by then.”
They all nodded, pulled on work gloves, and started emptying out Miguel’s trailer. Over the next three hours, we began building the forms that would hold the cement foundation. The guys worked quickly as expected. I wouldn’t have hired the ones I wasn’t happy with.
We took a half hour lunch break. David and I threw a ball for Goblin and talked about the project I would do for his wife and Glory’s office. She wouldn’t accept money for her help in getting me started, so we agreed that I’d repair the roof on her office building. I’d been dying to get started but had to wait for the weather to cooperate. The wait weighed on my conscience. I never liked leaving a debt unpaid.
Vivian drove up with ten minutes left on our lunch break. I started beaming as soon as she got out of her car. It was crazy how good it felt to see her. After her accident, I decided I wouldn’t try to stop whatever feelings came when I was around her. I was asking to be hurt because she was probably a lot more sensible about getting involved with someone she worked with. She seemed happy with the closer friendship we’d been developing. I was, too, but I’d really enjoy something more.
“Damn,” Ramón said in a low voice, spotting Vivian. Yeah, she could elicit that kind of reaction from anyone with eyes.
“Hi, guys,” Vivian called out, heading straight for me. She bent to rub Goblin, who’d raced up to her. “How’s the first day going?”
“We’re on track. Should have the cement poured on time.”
“You did a great job on the sign, David,” she complimented him as he started packing up his cooler.
“Thanks, Viv. Did you get my message? Your new business cards are in. My daughter’s home after school if you want to send Samantha over for them today. I’ll be on site here for the foreseeable future.”
“I’ll let her know. Glad to see your other talent is being utilized to its fullest potential now,” she said to him. Apparently everyone knew that David was a master carpenter and always eager to air out his skills.
“It’ll be a nice change of pace,” David confirmed, joining the rest of the guys packing their coolers away.
She took a seat and bumped her shoulder against mine. A grin flared just before her hand reached out and snagged a potato chip from my open bag. I laughed and got a wider, sexier grin in response. I’d started packing extras for lunch in anticipation of this fun habit of hers.
Vivian munched on the chip and bent to pull up my pant leg. “What are those? Otters?”
“Yep.” This was her other daily routine. I ordered more fun socks online a month ago just to keep her interest. Anything that put her hands on me was a good thing in my book.
“Cute,” she said, pulling my pant leg down and patting my shin. “Saw that you started over at my brother’s this weekend.”
“I was waiting for the snow to melt.” As much as I appreciated these arrangements, I didn’t like them hanging over my head too long.
“You could have called. I’d be happy to help if I can.”
I shook my head. She’d helped with Mitch’s repairs, and I still felt like I owed her for it. “I’ve got Miguel helping.”
“On a barter agreement?”
“Two people cuts time exponentially on a jobsite.”
“The deal was supposed to be for you not to have to pay out of pocket to get this sweet dog healthy.” She reached down to rub Goblin’s ears. It took less than a second before Goblin laid her head in Vivian’s lap, pushing into the rub. The sight warmed my heart.
“I don’t mind labor costs to get the room up faster. It was nice of Zach and Cass to offer the trade.”
“You’re saving them a fortune. They’ve been waiting a long time to get this addition put on. Cal’s quote was outrageous. If you hadn’t come along, their permits would have expired.”
My eyebrows rose. After hearing that Cal had more than doubled the estimate I did for him at Lena’s, I shouldn’t be surprised that he was quoting out of the atmosphere. He shouldn’t be pulling that with locals. No one would hire him. “You’re saying if Cal wasn’t a greedy asshole, we might have met a couple of years ago?”
Her head brushed back once, eyes blinking in consideration. I liked that it gave her pause to think meeting me sooner might have been worth dealing with Cal. Or maybe I was reading into the situation. The butterflies in my stomach sure were.
“I guess so, but who knows. He might have just taken the money and never sent anyone over.”
I laughed gruffly. “You’re probably right.”
“I’ll be around this weekend if you guys need extra help.”
I smiled at her. She was very kind to offer. I wouldn’t take her up on it, no matter how pleasant it would be to have her around all weekend. This was my debt to repay, not hers. She’d already helped me with my truck. I wouldn’t let her spend her free time helping me pay off her brother.
“Show me what you’ve done here so far.”
We headed over to the form. I automatically pulled out my tape measure, handing it to her and holding on to the end. She walked the lines and noted the measurements against her plans. I didn’t mind the double checking. In fact, I appreciated it. If we made a mistake, better to fix it now than have the cement poured and find out we were a foot short on the corners.
I could see the three new hires watching my interaction with Vivian. They were used to Cal flying off the handle or a client getting pissed about something Cal had ordered us to do. Watching Vivian check our work might have gotten their backs up, but since I didn’t get angry, they followed my lead.
When we’d finished checking the forms, Vivian said her goodbyes and went to work on an interior project with a long time client of hers. She really didn’t have time to stop by today, but I knew she’d want to on our first day. I appreciated it.
“Is she running this show?” Ramón asked.
“She’s the project manager.”
“Does she know what she’s doing or just think she knows?”
“She knows,” Miguel told him. “You’ll have both Harp and Vivian checking your work.”
“Won’t mind that at all,” Tyler said.
I shot him a look and didn’t need to voice the warning not to objectify Vivian. The guys smirked but got back to work. It felt good to have a full crew again and outstanding that I finally got to call all the shots on a jobsite. Working with a fine designer didn’t suck either.
22 Natalie
Fingers freezing, I fired the last nail into the new sheeting we’d installed on Glory’s office roof. The weather was cold but clear, allowing us to do a full roof replacement instead of just a repair. David and Miguel were cutting out holes in the sheeting to install the new reflective light tubes. I’d made the suggestion to David, knowing his wife had her office and conference room on the second floor beneath the attic. This would bring in more light than the smaller bedroom windows provided on this old Victorian.
A vehicle pulled into the driveway. I had just enough time to glimpse the white color of the car before the driver called up to us on the roof. David walked to the edge and looked down, saying hello to the newcomer. He turned back to me and indicated that I should follow him down.
“Hey, James,” he said when we climbed down the latter. “What’s up?”
“We got a report that you’re doing more work than you have permits for.”
David turned to me. “Natalie Harper, this is the city’s senior building inspector, James Bernstein.”
“Oh, yes,” I said. “You inspected a house I worked on a few years ago. It’s n
ice to see you again.”
“That’s right, for Glory’s house?”
Not surprising that he knew Glory. Everyone seemed to know her. Speaking of, Glory stepped out onto the wraparound porch just then and called hello to James.
“Official visit, Glor,” James told her, causing raised eyebrows and a glance at me.
“We have the roof work permitted.” I headed to my truck and reached into the backseat to pull out my clipboard folder. I handed it to him to look over.
“The office received a call. I’m going to have to check that you aren’t doing more than what you have here.”
I glanced at David. Surprise inspections happened every so often on Cal’s sites. Usually a neighbor would complain about noise to the building department. An inspector would go out to make sure the work was authorized. I looked over at the house next door. I hadn’t seen anyone coming or going all day.
“If you’re getting off the ladder, you’ll need to be hooked onto the line.” I grabbed an extra harness out of the backseat and handed it to him.
Once he was harnessed up, I led the way up the ladder and clipped him onto the line. He glanced around, searching for anything that might have justified the anonymous call. “Reflection tubes?”
“Yes.”
“That would be extra work.”
“We made an adjustment to the plans.”
“It’s not signed off.”
“It is,” I lifted up the first permit and showed him the signature of one of his colleagues on the amended plans.
“Looks in order. I can’t see any other changes to your plan.”
“Did the call get specific?”
He looked at me then away. “The tubes.”
I wondered how anyone would know we’d be putting those in. They weren’t visible from the street. Either someone saw them in my truck or the neighbor saw them from the second floor window. Again I looked over at their house. Glory said she’d cleared the work and they were great neighbors, but it was suspicious. Someone had to know we were putting in tubes up here to call in the inspector.
