Still, why should I bother?
»»•««
Suzy was in a jubilant mood on her way back. She drove slowly down the High Street, which as usual at lunchtime was busy. Finding a parking spot required a cool head and calm manner. About to turn into a side street to search for a space, she was amazed to see the piece of land by the side of their office, which had been overgrown and neglected for as many years as she could remember, now had a large PRIVATE, PORTERHOUSE PARKING ONLY sign on it. A top of the range Mercedes parked haphazardly with J M 1 on the number plate told her all she needed to know.
Pulling into the space alongside the Mercedes, Suzy picked up the box of cakes she’d bought to celebrate her signed listings, and on legs that felt the tiniest bit shaky―which she put down to the lack of sugar that morning―got out of the car, locked it, and walked to the open office door.
The sound of laughter greeted her, and as she entered four heads turned, but Suzy was only truly aware of one. Jake Mason, in well-fitting expensive looking jeans and a white casual linen shirt, walked toward her. She, cake box in hand, stood like a fool.
“Suzy,” Jake said warmly. “I’m thrilled with the office, it looks great. And I’m delighted with your choice of staff, I’m sure everyone will get along admirably.” His face when he smiled was, she thought, just striking. He was so close she could smell his unmistakably pricey aftershave, see the thick black lashes framing his incredible brown eyes.
He noticed the cake box she was tightly clasping. “Been buying treats?”
Suzy swallowed. “Yes. I signed two listings this morning, so I bought something for afternoon tea.”
“Ah,” Jake said. “Excellent news. Well done.”
Suzy tore her gaze away, feeling unaccountably pleased.
“I have to go out to the new site this afternoon,” Jake said. “If you can spare the time perhaps you’d like to accompany me? I’d appreciate your thoughts on a couple of things.”
Aware of a strange thumping in her ears, Suzy nodded.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Jake said. ”We now have a parking lot at the side here. It’s a bit of a mess at the moment, but asphalt will be laid next week…use it for now if you wish though.”
“I already have. That will make life easier,” Suzy said, with only the slightest hint of sarcasm. “How did you manage to get that? Dad tried for years but was always knocked back.”
“I bought it five years ago.”
Suzy looked at him. “Oh? What good would it have been to you then without Porterhouse?”
Jake regarded her coolly. “You’re a very direct young woman, I must say. I bought it simply as an investment. So don’t,” he added, “start thinking I had Porterhouse in my sights five years ago. Any land, whatever its position, is attractive to me. Satisfied?”
Suzy felt an irrational surge of temper. He was patronizing her. She looked back, holding his gaze steadily. “Of course,” she said demurely. “I must remember not to be so direct in the future as it obviously doesn’t appeal to everyone.”
She saw the slightest raising of his eyebrows, a tiny clench in his jaw. He glanced at his watch.
“Can you be ready at two? I’ll be back to collect you after lunch.” He turned to Lilian who was looking extremely busy on the computer. “Please would you call Miss Roll, Lilian? That’s her number. Tell her I’ll be ten minutes late,” he said as he handed a piece of paper over. “See you all later,” he said with a smile. A quick wave and he was gone.
“Well,” Suzy said as the door closed behind him.
“What dear?” Lilian asked.
“Nothing.” Suzy placed the cake box down. “Treats for afternoon tea,” she said.
“Ooh, lovely.” Ann gleefully peered into the box. “You won’t be here though, you’ll miss out. But hey…I’d willingly miss out if I had the chance to spend some time with Jake. He’s gorgeous isn’t he?”
“If you like that type, I suppose.” Suzy shrugged.
“I have to say,” Lilian said, smiling dreamily, “that if I was thirty years younger and single…well, I mean, Ann’s right, Suzy, he is incredibly attractive. Have you noticed, when he’s talking to you how his eyes seem to look right through you? Even at my age I can feel a bit wobbly.”
Brian, having listened to the conversation with great amusement, now hooted with laughter. “Wobbly? That’s a new one. I grant you he’s good-looking but surely, ladies, looks aren’t everything are they? When I was a teenager and thought I was too ugly to ever get a girl, my mum always used to tell me, ‘Brian, beauty may grab the attention, but it’s personality that captures the heart.’”
“Brian! That’s lovely,” Lilian enthused. “And I think your mum is absolutely right, personality is extremely important. Still,” she said and sighed, “Jake was definitely on the front row when the looks were handed out. Now, let’s get back to work. Where are those listings, Suzy?”
∙•∙
Driving out to meet Amanda, Jake’s thoughts swung back to Suzy. He was thrilled with all the work she’d put in overseeing the refurbishment and the staff recruitment, and still she’d found the time to secure two lucrative listings. She was definitely an asset.
From his initial wariness and in such a short space of time he was beginning to find her company stimulating. He loved the way those beautiful eyes sparked, and her sensual mouth tantalized him. Last night, for Heaven’s sake, he’d dreamed about kissing it. In the dream she’d responded to him passionately, and the feel of her in his arms with her body held so close had woken him in a sweat, aroused, entangled in the sheets.
The uncontrollable dream had alarmed, and in a way, intrigued him. Suzy Porter certainly wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever met…but she did have that undefinable something which set her apart from the rest, an allure which he found captivating. And it made him want to seek out her company. Yet, he must tread carefully, for she unnerved his usual composure in a way no woman had done before, and of course he must remember his Golden Rule.
No entanglement with the employees, Jake, or for that matter, any women.
Sighing, Jake pulled in to the pub parking lot. Amanda was waiting, sitting in the sunshine with a welcome smile on her face, and he wished, for the briefest moment, that she was someone else.
Chapter Six
Suzy, waiting for Jake’s arrival, tried to read the weekly paper, but images of him enjoying a leisurely lunch with Amanda interfered with her concentration. Amanda was chic and self-assured as well as undeniably attractive, which no doubt appealed greatly to a man like Jake Mason. She turned the page irritably. Checking the Porterhouse advertisement, she would normally have been delighted with the new full page layout, the text and number of quality properties looked great, but right now she was on edge, her eyes continually checking the clock.
If he’s even one minute late, she thought, I’m off.
“He’s here,” Lilian called out from the front desk. She smiled at Suzy who with studied casualness had collected her bag and made her way to the door just as Jake appeared.
“Ready?” he asked.
Suzy nodded, following him out into the bright sunlight. They walked out to the parking lot in silence, and Jake opened the door for her and held it back until she elegantly swung her legs in. His face was unreadable as she looked at him, murmuring her thanks. She watched covertly as he walked around the front of the car… Tall, deliciously dark, and handsome… It brought a smile to her lips.
Jake slid into the driving seat and looked at her as he fastened his belt. “You look pleased about something,” he observed.
“It’s a nice day for a drive,” Suzy said. She thought he grumbled but chose to ignore it, instead admiring the soft cream leather interior of his car. The man had taste. He drove with confidence and began outlining his plans for the new site they were to view.
“I’m hoping,” he said, “to develop this place on the same lines as a village, you know, with cottages, semi-detached, detached
properties, all a little different from each other. I don’t want it to resemble those estates built in the past where you knew where everyone’s TV and living room furniture were placed because they were all exactly the same.”
“Sounds good. But won’t individuality come at a cost to the buyer?”
“Fair question, but I’m hoping not. My calculations have taken into account the overall build, which will hopefully keep costs manageable. Small changes to buildings shouldn’t be affected. Interiors are a different matter of course, which is why I’ve asked you to come along today.”
“Oh,” Suzy said, faintly bemused.
Jake swung the car into a lane. “Yes,” he said, eyes firmly fixed on the road. “As part of the company I’d like you to be involved fully. You see after I’ve finished here, I intend leaving house builds for a while and moving into apartments, maybe hotels.”
“Oh! Will Porterhouse be involved in that?”
“No.” Jake smiled. “Only inasmuch that if we sell apartments to customers they will then list their property with the office. Other than that it will still run the same. I quite like the idea of buying those coastal country estates no one wants, or can even afford to keep anymore. Do you recall I mentioned them? It’s a sad fact that a high percentage of our heritage buildings are falling down. The National Trust does what it can with the really important ones, but there are still many out there in dire need of rescue.”
The car bumped into a field and she held onto the door. Diggers and earth movers were busy as far as the eye could see, but it was the amount of mature trees which impressed Suzy. Even with the earthworks so well under way, the area had the look of a long established park. Jake stopped the car, climbed out, and coming round to open her door, looked at her heeled sandals.
“I never thought…” she said, looking at the churned up muddy ground.
“Never mind. Stay there a moment. You’ll ruin them and probably break your neck if you try to walk.” Jake went to the trunk, coming back with two pairs of Wellingtons. He passed a pair to her. “They’re mine,” he said unnecessarily as she looked at the size of them. “Put them on.”
Leaning against the car, Jake removed his shoes and donned the boots and waited while Suzy did the same. He was unable to stop himself from smiling.
“You cut a dash,” he said.
Suzy looked down and had to laugh. The boots were enormous, reaching her knees. She felt suddenly shy with him, as though, with their defenses momentarily down, a small barrier had been breached. He was, she thought, much easier to deal with away from the office.
Jake turned as a man approached squelching through the mud, a huge smile on his weather-beaten face.
“Hi, Jake,” he called. The two shook hands. Jake introduced the man to Suzy as Alan, his site foreman.
“As you can see,” Alan said, “we’re fair getting on with it. The drains are nearly finished. If this weather holds out we’ll have the lot in situ by the end of next week. The roads will be starting tomorrow at the far end.”
“Great.” Jake was clearly pleased. “I want to show Suzy the layout, Alan. Is there a copy in the site office?”
“Sure.” Alan turned to go, but Jake stopped him and said he would get it.
Alan chuckled as Jake walked off. “Never changes, that lad,” he said. “Won’t let you do anything he can do himself. So, what do you think?” He looked around the site. “It’s a lovely setting, isn’t it?” he said with pride.
“It is. I wasn’t expecting so many trees. Will they be retained?”
“Absolutely,” Alan spoke with assurance. “Jake is a conservationist at heart. He’ll not have a tree chopped down if he can help it. There’s not many like him in this trade,” he added.
“You’ve worked for him a long time?”
“Aye, I have, since he took over from his dad.” He watched as Jake strode toward them. “He’s a grand boss.”
It was becoming rapidly apparent to Suzy that maybe after all she really had misjudged the man she worked for. It seemed extremely unlikely that a long standing employee would speak of a boss with so much affection if he was as bad as she’d originally imagined.
“So, Suzy,” Jake said as he unrolled the paper on the car hood, “this is the outline of the thirty acre site. Over there on the horizon,” he said, pointing to the dark outline of woodland, “is the perimeter. All those trees will be kept as will the two ponds and also the stream which feeds them. That’s the part I’d like to show you today where I’ll be building half a dozen traditional thatched cottages, with a selection of stone detached and semi-detached homes alongside them. We’ll drive over on the tractor.”
Alan grinned. “Speak with you in the week, Jake,” he said. “I’ll get going. I see the concrete mixer’s just arrived.”
After a few more words, Alan left them and Jake indicated the tractor standing in the field. He strode quickly off and Suzy had no option other than to follow him. Her mouth was set in a tight line as she clomped unceremoniously behind him, nearly losing the big Wellingtons as they sucked and squelched in the thick mud. Jake jumped on the tractor, started it, and above the noise told her to hop on the bar at the back and hold on. She did, clinging on for dear life as the machine clunked into gear and roared across the field to the very edge of the site where it stopped. Jake turned off the engine and climbed down.
It was peacefully quiet, with only the distant hum of the machinery mingling with birdsong and Suzy tentatively stepped down, unable to hide her irritation.
“Have you,” she said tersely, “never heard of health and safety? If I’d been shaken off that damn thing you wouldn’t have had a clue where it had dropped me.”
“Oh, for goodness sake, Suzy.” Jake’s dark eyes remained calm as he regarded her mutinous face. “Don’t be so melodramatic. You’re not the type of woman to fall off anything. I knew you were safe.” He turned his back on her, walking to the edge of a huge pond. “What do you think of this?” he asked. “Won’t kids love it? It’s shallow enough to be safe and I intend stocking it with native fish, frogs…and look, there must be goodies in it already, see the heron over there?”
Suzy had followed him, her impatience forgotten as she gazed across the water. The large gray bird perched on one leg, his yellow beak pointed forward. He stood motionless, content to wait for whatever came his way. The pond, edged with grasses and waving reeds, was crystal clear, glistening in the sun.
“How marvelous,” she said. “You’re right, kids will indeed love it, the streams too. It takes me back to my childhood when I could spend all day contentedly playing in the little brook at the bottom of my grandparent’s garden building dams, usually flooding granddad’s veggie patch in the process.”
Jake smiled. “You were a lucky girl. Not many children had that sort of environment to grow up in, which is why I want this to be right. I’ll be putting a jetty out over the water for fishing, and benches over there by the trees, somewhere for stressed mum’s to bring their children and relax. I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished product.”
“When do you think that will be?”
“If we’re lucky and have a decent winter, hopefully by the end of spring. Once the homes are built that’s where I’d like you to come in.”
“Oh?” Suzy looked at him searchingly.
Jake coughed. “You did an excellent job with the office, I think you could do an even better job with the show houses. In the past I’ve used London based companies, but don’t feel that’s what I want here. What do you think? Would it interest you? You’d have a free hand again. The only thing I would stipulate is that we try to get away from that look everyone seems to favor these days, and which I’ve tended to go along with, you know, neat and tidy as long as nobody lives here.”
“I do know what you mean. No TVs taking up room, small furniture to make rooms look bigger, beds piled with cushions that get chucked on the floor. Yeah, I know the look well. And yes, I think I’d really like to ta
ke it on with hopefully some different ideas. It would be a challenge.”
“Good.” Jake smiled. “I’ll get photocopies of each house style for you.”
Back at the car, Jake waited while Suzy removed the muddy boots. He took them from her and dropped them into a plastic bag. “You’ll probably be spending some time here once the houses start going up. I suggest you buy a pair which fit. Give the receipt to Lilian, you’ll be reimbursed.”
He sat in the open driver’s seat to remove his own and put on his shoes. Suzy noticed a small portion of skin where his shirt came untucked as he leaned down. It was very brown. She looked away. His own boots joined the others in the bag.
“So,” Jake said as he started the car. “More work for you. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. There’s nothing worse than sitting around doing nothing, is there? Gives you far too much time for idle thoughts.”
Jake glanced at her and said nothing. They drove back to the office in silence, though he did break out into a whistle. Suzy recognized Vivaldi’s Autumn and smiled to herself.
“I’ll drop you off here.” Jake had pulled up outside the office. “I have a meeting to go to.”
Suzy collected her bag and with a hurried “thanks” climbed from the car. Without another look at him she closed the door and strode to the office. Lilian looked up as she walked in and smiled. “Pleasant afternoon?”
“Yes. It was quite an eye opener. Once he starts marketing those places they’ll fly out. We’ll be busy.”
“Good. Now, you have two more appraisals tomorrow morning.” She handed Suzy the sheets. “And Brian is out doing another now so if we get them all, we may have to think about taking another half page in the paper next week. Oh, and I’ve put those contracts on your desk with the letters for the solicitors. If you sign them I’ll get them in the post.”
Honorable Intentions Page 4
