The Heiress and the Cowboy Contractor

by Maggie Carpenter

  Seeing her car near the curb she struggled to get back on her feet, but as soon as she was upright she was hit by a wave of dizziness. She stood for a minute, hoping it would pass, but it didn’t, and she flopped back down.

  As he’d pulled up to the entrance Beau had seen her virtually collapse into the chair; she’d either stood up too quickly, or something else was going on, and leaving the passenger door open he hurried into the lobby.

  “Hey, are you all right?”

  “Yes, I just felt a bit funny for a minute,” she said quietly.

  “Did you hit your head when you fell?”

  “No.”

  “Hmmm, well, regardless you need to lay down,” he remarked, and before she could get herself back on her feet he’d picked her up and was carrying her to the car.

  “This isn’t necessary,” she protested, “really. I’m fine.”

  “You can say that as many times as you want, but it’s not gonna make it true. You’re not fine. I saw you almost pass out. Nobody faints on my watch,” he declared as he placed her gently in the car. “I’ll be right back with your crutches.”

  A few minutes later they were on the road heading to her hotel, and he looked across at her, worried that she was still so pale.

  “Miss Harris-”

  “Nicole,” she interrupted.

  “Nicole, I’m just guessin’ here, but have you eaten today?”

  “What?” she asked turning her head to face him.

  “It’s almost two-o’clock. Did you have lunch, or even breakfast?”

  “I had…uh…some coffee at the hotel, and then stopped for a latte on my way to the house, around noon I guess.”

  “No wonder you’re gettin’ dizzy. Probably why you feel sick as well. Two cups of coffee on an empty-”

  “Latte is all milk,” she muttered.

  “Wow, a cup of hot milk for lunch, that’ll work,” he retorted shooting her a reprimanding look.

  “I got here late last night and I guess I was still a bit tired this morning. It was a long drive, four hours. I was too wiped out for anything but coffee.”

  “You should have your butt spanked,” he mumbled under his breath.

  “Excuse me?”

  They’d reached her hotel, and without answering he jumped from the driver’s seat, throwing the keys to the valet.

  “Hey, Beau.”

  He turned and smiled; it was Amy, an attractive young woman who worked at the hotel. Her smile widened and her eyes sparkled up at him as she hurried forward pushing a wheelchair.

  “Hey, Amy, thanks for this.”

  “Anything for you,” she twinkled. “Where’s the patient?”

  “In the car,” he chuckled. “Where do you think?”

  Staring out her window Nicole couldn’t believe her eyes; a wheelchair.

  “This is so nice of you, but how did you know?” she asked as she opened her door.

  “Beau called us. He’s real good friends with this hotel,” the perky girl replied. “My name’s Amy, and if you need anything at all you just call the front desk and ask for me, or Roger, he’s the manager.”

  “You got any of that chicken vegetable soup today?” Beau asked as he helped Nicole into the chair.

  “Sure do,” Amy replied.

  “Send up some of that, a big bowl, with some bread and tea, honey, some dessert, just put together a full tray. She hasn’t eaten since yesterday,” he finished taking the handles of the chair and rolling it forward.

  “Sure thing, Beau,” Amy beamed, “and I’ll grab the crutches from the car.”

  “I am here,” Nicole mumbled.

  “We know,” Beau said, “but if you’re not gonna take care of yourself someone has to, at least until you’re up and around.”

  “What about you? You want something?” Amy asked still batting her eyes at him.

  “I had lunch at Nate’s so I’m good, but I’ll take some tea.”

  “A cowboy who drinks tea? Now I’ve heard of everything,” Nicole remarked.

  “I learned all about tea from a friend who stayed at my ranch for a while. She got me hooked.”

  “I’ll just bet she did,” Nicole muttered.

  Beau heard the comment but chose to ignore it, and as they made their way into the hotel, she turned around and looked up at him.

  “Why are you being so kind? I was…uh…not very nice to you.”

  “You’re a damsel in distress,” he replied pushing her into the elevator. “What’s your room number?”

  “Three, seven, four.”

  It was a short trip to the third floor, and still feeling unwell, and unsure about what else to say, she remained quiet as he rolled her down the hallway.

  “Here we are?” he said stopping at her door.

  “Shit, my bag’s still in the car. Sorry.”

  “Don’t worry, Amy will be right behind us, she can let us in…and there she is already,” he remarked looking down the passage. “That was fast.”

  “I took the stairs,” Amy said breathlessly as she reached them. “Here are your crutches, and I saw your bag on the floor of the front seat so I took the liberty.”

  “You’re an angel,” Beau said warmly.

  Nicole watched the brief exchange and frowned.

  I hope someone will say that to me one day. No-one has ever called me an Angel.

  “Here you go, Miss Harris,” she smiled, “I’ll just let you in, shall I? Save you having to hunt for your key.”

  Moments later they were in the room, and lifting her from the wheelchair, Beau gently lowered her on to the bed.

  “That feels so much better,” she sighed laying back.

  “I’ll bet,” Beau remarked, and leaning the crutches against the wall near the bed, he walked Amy out with the chair. “Thanks so much, Amy, has the food been ordered?”

  “Yes, it won’t be long. Let me know if she needs anything else…or you do…anything at all.”

  The intent in her eyes was clear and he smiled down at her.

  “Now, Amy, I’ve already told you,” he said softly. “I’m too old for you.”

  “You really mean I’m too young,” she pouted.

  “Either, it’s the same,” he said gently, “now go back to work before you get fired.”

  She lifted herself on to her toes and pecked him on the cheek, and with a deep, dramatic sigh, she turned and hurried down the hallway.

  Shaking his head Beau ambled back into the room to make sure Nicole was settled, and was met with a steady gaze.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” she began. “Why are you helping me when I was so…?”

  “Rude and obnoxious?” he grinned.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “It was partly my fault.”

  “How?”

  “You were totally stressed and I don’t blame you, I would be too, a contractor leaving you in the lurch like that, and it probably didn’t help that you were strung out on caffeine.”

  “Yeah, I was really wired,” she admitted, “totally wired, but you still haven’t explained…”

  “Explained why it was partly my fault?” he interrupted, “because I should have just let you talk. Normally I would. Normally I’m a very patient man.”

  “Yeah, I kind of get that,” she frowned. “So, why weren’t you?”

  “Good question. Last night I was at a bar with some guys celebratin’ and I woke up with a hammer in my head.”

  “Oh, I’ve been there,” she nodded grimly. “What were you celebrating?”

  “It was for a friend of mine-” but before he could finish a loud knock broke into their conversation.

  “That’ll be your early dinner,” he declared standing up to answer the door, “and I’m stayin’ to make sure it’s eaten.”

  She watched him walk to the door, and in spite of the pain in her foot and feeling like she’d been hit by a truck, she found herself wondering about him.

  You must have a girlfriend. I hate to say it but tha
t take charge thing you do is super sexy. I’ll bet you hold your girls down when you have sex…I’ll bet you’re amazing.

  “You ready?” he asked rolling the cart into the room.

  “I am so ready,” she sighed. Ready for someone caring and strong like you. My god, Gerald would have dropped me at the doctor’s office and hurried off to play golf somewhere. What was that song? Where have all the cowboy’s gone?

  “What?” he grinned as he transferred some of the items from the trolly on to a tray. “Why are you lookin’ at me like that?”

  “I was just trying to remember the last time a guy treated me so well,” she lied.

  “Maybe you don’t let them treat you well,” he quipped.

  “Amy’s a sweet girl,” she said casually, wanting to avoid his comment. “She’s got a mad crush on you.”

  “I know. If I was younger…” he lamented. “Anyway, you comfortable? I’m putting this tray on your lap, and like I said, I’m not leavin’ till you’ve eaten.”

  “Yes, I’m comfortable,” she replied propping the pillow behind her head. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

  “The only place I need to be is here, now quit stallin’ and pick up that spoon.”

  “It’s a big bowl,” she frowned. “I don’t usually eat in the middle of the afternoon.”

  “Am I gonna have to flip you over and spank your butt, ‘cos I will if I have to? Now eat, dammit?”

  A peculiar hot flush moved from her belly, into her chest, over her neck and crawled across her face, leaving behind a bevy of butterflies dancing a dance she’d never felt.

  “Uh, you, uh, no, you don’t have to do that,” she stammered quickly picking up the spoon.

  Shit, what’s wrong with me? Why didn’t I just tell him to take a hike, and why the hell am I so attracted to him? He’s not my type at all. Not at all.

  Because he’s taken you on, that’s why. Because he’s not backing down, that’s why. Because he’s standing up to you, and you like it…a lot.

  Beau saw it. He saw the telltale flush cross her face, and he heard the thoughts swirling through her head; she’d never met anyone like him.

  The least I can do is take another look at her house. She is kinda cute, in a slick, city-polished kinda way.

  “When I go back to pick up my truck I’ll go back through your house,” he offered dropping into a nearby chair. “I’ll let you know what you’re lookin’ at for costs and time. At least we’re into spring now, and that will help.”

  “Thanks, that would be great,” she smiled. “This soup is amazing. Thank you for arranging for it, and everything else.”

  “Hey, all part of the service, ma’am,” he grinned. “We didn’t get off on the right foot-”

  “Well, I sure as hell didn’t,” she declared interrupting him.

  “No, I guess not, sorry, bad choice of words.”

  “It was the perfect choice of words,” she smiled, and I’m glad I stepped on that stupid nail, really glad. “Speaking of feet, would you mind collecting my shoes while you’re there?”

  “Be happy to, and the color’s comin’ back to your face.”

  “I have to admit this soup is helping. I still feel a bit weird, but you were right. I was starving, I just didn’t realize it.”

  “You’re gonna finish it, right?”

  “Yep, all of it, I promise,” she smiled, and you just get sexier all the time.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Sitting in the cab on his way back to her half-built house, Beau found himself grinning.

  I wonder how you would have reacted if I’d threatened to spank you when I first met you. Oh, man, I can just imagine it. You probably would have picked up one of those shoes and thrown it at me, maybe both of them.

  Everything in the small lake community was five minutes from everything else, but Beau could see the village growing, and the house that Nicole Harris was building was a sign of things to come. Hers would be the first contemporary house, the first contemporary anything, in the area. Most of the homes dated back to the 50’s, some much earlier, and while they’d been updated, which is how he’d started his sideline in the construction business, they had retained the charming style of days gone by.

  Climbing from the cab he ambled forward, stepped through the wide patch of dirt and into the house. It was all angles and open spaces, and it only took a minute for him to realize that whoever had designed it hadn’t taken time to research the local weather.

  The huge glass windows off the master bedroom and living room would certainly afford spectacular views, but there were winds that often blasted off the lake, and surrounded by so much natural brush he could already imagine the debris flying through the air and being slapped up against them; if the house were even just sightly angled it would help, but it was too late for that. Nicole would have to pay for some seriously expensive glass to make it work, and add some kind of outside protection.

  “How the hell did she even get permits to put this up?” he muttered as he continued to wander. “I can’t imagine Dan approving plans for a house like this, but I guess he must have.”

  Dan was the head of the planning department, building and safety, and carried several other titles as well. The small city council was just that, small, with its few members wearing more than one hat.

  Continuing on he moved into what would be the backyard and found stakes in the ground outlining an odd shape; it took him a minute to recognize what they were for.

  Is that gonna be a swimmin’ pool? But you can’t see the lake from back here, and what about the geology? I guess she must have had it done. I’d better pull those permits.

  Pulling his pad and pencil from his back pocket he started making notes, and as he scrutinized what had been completed he discovered the work was further along than he’d initially thought. Finally finished he found the shiny high-heels and was bending down to pick them up when he noticed a piece of paper laying on the floor under a piece of lumber. Curious, he retrieved it, and turning it over he saw it was an invoice made out to a company called B&B Construction; their address and phone number were clearly written across the top.

  Hmm, must be the construction company that left Nicole in the lurch. I think I’ll call these fellas and find out what happened here. It’ll be interestin’ to see what they have to say, and I think I’ll call Dan while I’m at it. If I’m gonna get involved I need to know exactly what’s been goin’ on, and I sure as hell need know why Dan gave this place a green light.

  Walking back to his truck, still slightly bewildered, he climbed in and began heading down the gravel driveway and on to the main road. As he drove through town his thoughts wandered to the evening before; it had been a stag night. He and his buddies had drunk too much, laughed too loud, and sung out of tune until the early hours of the morning.

  I can’t imagine you bein’ married, Clyde, but you sure do love that girl. I wonder what it’s like to feel so strongly about someone you wanna spend the rest of your life with them.

  Beau had certainly enjoyed his share of romance, but he’d never felt the desperate need to be with a woman, not the desperate need that Clyde had described. The two of them had stumbled off to Beau’s truck after the other guys had left; it was common for the much loved vehicle to be used for such heady moments.

  His father had given Beau the vintage automobile for his eighteenth birthday. At the time it had four good wheels and a new engine, but the interior was a mess, and though the body wasn’t damaged the paint was old and had nicks and scratches everywhere.

  Over the years Beau had lovingly restored the1950s truck, dubbing her, Betsy. It saw him through college, where it became the site of many fumbled attempts at seduction, and nights under the stars on an air mattress in the back. Though the guys he hung out with had regular cars, they would always opt to bring a keg and load themselves into the back of Betsy; Beau would drive somewhere isolated so they could discuss women and their problems, and sometimes more profound topics
, like how they would save the world.

  It was the natural order of things that Beau and Clyde found themselves in the cab, thoroughly engrossed in what they believed was an earnest conversation about love and women.

  “It’s a feelin’ deep down, Beau…you can’t be without her, not for a second,” Clyde had confessed. “I miss her like crazy before she’s even left the house, I miss her right now. I wish she’d been with us tonight. When it happens to you, believe me you’ll know. It’ll hit you across the back of the head like one of your two-by-fours. I’ll tell you a secret,” he said dropping his voice, as though he was about to reveal a deep, dark conspiracy.

  “Oh, yeah? What’s that?” Beau asked leaning in, expecting his friend to whisper it in his ear.

  “I saw her once, before we were really together.”

  “Yeah? Well, I expect so!”

  “No, you don’t understand, I saw her, but she wasn’t there. I mean, like a ghost, like she was so much on my mind I imagined her. It freaked me out, but when I told Pa he said it meant she was the one.”

  “No shit?”

  “No shit,” Clyde nodded. “It only happened that one time. I swear I thought I was goin’ plumb crazy.”

  “Can’t say I’ve ever felt so strong about someone like that,” Beau admitted, then after a pause added, “except maybe Mary Sanderson in fifth grade. Remember her?”

  “Hell, yeah, I remember her. You sulked for a month after her family left town.”

  “Mary Sanderson, where did you end up?” Beau asked wistfully. “Ya know, I think I’d like to find out. Maybe I should do a search. Be kinda fun.”

  “I think you should just leave well enough alone. The memory is bound to be better than whatever you find,” Clyde frowned.

  His words sounding wise in his drunken state Beau nodded somberly.

  “Yep, probably right there.”

  Reaching his office, chuckling at just how profound he thought they’d been sitting in Betsy and discussing the love of Clyde’s life, Beau turned the truck into the parking lot and glanced across at Nicole’s black glossy shoes.