“I think she was blackmailing us,” J.T. said, his expression filled with sparkling mischief.
“Mrs. Mayor wouldn’t stoop to that,” Stella’s gaze followed the clip-clopping sound of the women’s heels on the black and white tiles as they headed for the door.
Edee swallowed. “What would you call it, then?”
Stella’s gum went rat-a-tat-tat as a she tore her eyes away from the departing figures. An unexpected wrinkle appeared in her brow. “I’d call it a warning.”
“For what?”
Stacking the empty dishes before she answered him, Stella sighed. “Sorry, hon, I don’t know that, but in your shoes, I would learn to dance.”
Edee watched Stella dash off in a flash of pink before turning to him. “What is she talking about?”
Fiddling with the glass, he gave a resigned sigh. “Building permits is my guess.”
“What,” Edee frowned, “building permits?”
“Any construction or remodeling project needs permission from the town council.”
“You don’t have—”
“I thought they would be happy to have new development in town. Guess I was wrong.” He made a disgusted noise.
“So…the board can—”
“Delay approval until an applicant goes broke because of the delays, or gives up.” His brows arched as he met her gaze.
“Surely, you don’t think—”
“Have you forgotten the confrontation in this room a week ago?”
Had it been a week? Her whole life had changed since that day. She had arrived at the diner wanting to find a job, but she left, determined to make people see the good side of J.T.’s return.
Wrinkling her brow, Edee met his gaze. “You need a dance teacher.”
“Yeah, and a good one,” he said shaking his head. “I can sling a hammer with the best, but I have two left feet.”
“Hey, J.T. I heard you were back.” A man stuck his hand out and grabbed J.T.’s hand. “Wife told me you were here. Wanted to catch you to say welcome home.”
“Thanks, Chief.” J.T. sent the man a roguish grin. “Guess you’re expecting to write out a few more tickets.”
The chief laughed. “Expect you’ve out grown that foolishness. Heard you put a new roof on Jenson’s house. He appreciated it, son.”
Color tinted J.T.’s cheeks. “I owe him.”
“Wife says you’re going to help out with the big festivities for the festival.” The chief glanced around and dropped his voice. “Smart move, son. That should get the process rolling. See you later. Ms. Cutt, J.T., take care.”
Edee watched the chief of Redbud’s police department walk away. “What was that all about?”
J.T. winced. “Let’s just say I’m going to be ready for the big dance at the Strawberry Festival, if it kills me. That gives me less than a month to polish up on my skills.”
Edee studied the sparkling light in his eyes. His goal might do her in if she wasn’t careful. Did she dare spend more time with him? “I could teach you, but I’m warning you, I’m going to be strict.”
“Hey, I’m shaking in my dancing shoes.”
His laughter melted Edee’s last resistance. His middle name definitely was trouble, with a capital ‘T’.
***
J.T. eased the truck to a stop, but his attention was on Number 6, Willow just as it had when he was a kid. The Victorian features with the turret structure fascinated him. He had spent hours wondering what that tower looked like. Today…he’d finally get to see inside the house. But at what cost?
Spending time with Edee made him lose focus, made him want things he had promised he would avoid. Look what falling for a man had done for his own mother. Face it. His family knew only one kind of relationship…ones that failed. He was determined he would not repeat the past.
Following Edee inside, he stopped. “Hey, you have a cat. Hey there kitty.”
Much to Edee’s surprise, Prince Albert wrapped himself around J.T.’s legs and purred. It was all she could do to keep her mouth from dropping open, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the easy way J.T. stroked the cat’s head.
He looked up. “Where do you want these boxes?”
Edee’s stomach churned. Her face was probably as green as the shirt she wore. Why? Why had she accepted J.T.’s challenge to teach him to dance in exchange for some repairs?
With one word, he had won over her cat. But what really bothered her was the knowledge that he could take one look and realize how much work the house needed.
After he saw how many repairs the house needed, he would have the advantage. He knew she couldn’t afford repairs and he might even use the need for repairs as a reason to talk her into selling the house to him.
“In the attic.” She held her breath.
“Lead the way.”
“I’m glad most of the things ended up at the landfill.” Edee shook off the confusion filling her head and started up the stairs. Albert darted past, almost tripping her because she was thinking about J.T. and not paying attention to the cat.
J.T.’s easygoing nature was one of the reasons she questioned rumors of his past. Even climbing stairs to the second floor, he was whistling. Nothing about him made her think ill will led him to take the engine out of the principal’s truck.
“In here,” Panting, Edee put her box down and opened a little used door. Albert darted between her legs, almost tripping her but she regained her balance, and straightened. Milky light from two windows filled the room. Cobwebs danced across the dingy windowpanes. If she stayed in Redbud, cleaning out this attic was one of the jobs on her list.
Putting his load of boxes down, J.T. stood, hands on his hips as he survived the room. “You sure?”
Fingers massaging the muscles in her back, Edee turned a questioning glance on him. “Why?”
Lifted the cat twining around his legs to his arms, J.T. stared at the roof. “You have leaks.” He tapped the floor with the toe of his work boot. “See.”
Edee stared at the dark stain on the flooring and groaned. Why wasn’t she surprised? Because nothing in the house worked like a modern convenience? Even the washing machine had quirks. “How bad is it?”
J.T. prowled around the attic, rubbing the cat in his arms as he studied the floor and roof. “Could be worse.” He stretched to see all angles. “Good thing this is the top floor.”
Edee gulped, not wanting to expose her secret room, but she needed to know the worst. “Only for part of the house, the turret room is the top floor for the rest.”
“Umm…” He swiped his arm across his forehead. “Mind if I take a look?” He turned to her with a grin. “I can’t deny I’m curious, but I’ll check the roof, if you like.”
If you like. What choice did she have? Edee hesitated a fraction of a second. “I appreciate your help.” Stepping out of the attic, she turned left, climbing a stairs that opened into a moderate sized room.
Albert streaked past her to enter first, a law in cat world. All four walls of the turret room had windows. When she was in this room, she felt like a princess in her castle. Holding back a sigh, she pointed to a door hiding behind the entrance. “That goes to the attic over this room.”
While J.T. climbed the ladder like steps, Edee made a swift inspection of the room. The desk looked like something anyone would use…not the possession of a girl with a head full of dreams. Nothing hinted at her secret. The stack of books on one corner looked as if she’d been reading. But nothing hinted that her real work in this room was more involved than writing reports for bookkeeping clients.
“I have good news…and bad news.” Backing down the ladder, J.T. turned toward her. Brushing cobwebs off his face and hair, he strolled to the nearest window. “Bad news is I found more leaks.” He moved to the next window and looked out. “Good news is, I know a great carpenter that can make short work of the needed repairs.”
He turned to look at her and grinned. His green eyes sparkled with humor. “But I think y
ou should know I don’t come cheap.”
***
J.T. finished the roof on Mr. Jensen’s garage, and made a conference call to his foreman and the architect he kept on retainer.
“How are things going, Frank?”
“Hey, J.T., how's it going?”
Grinning as the foreman’s voice boomed out the cell phone speaker, J.T. focused on business “Have you finished the jobs I left, Frank? Any problems?”
“How much renovating are you planning on the Beasley project, J.T.?” Aaron interrupted. “I need to get started on the plans.”
“Listen, Aaron, I want the office off the side street done first. Check it out. I don’t think it needs much work.” J.T. stared at the plans unrolled on the hood of the truck. “I’ve changed my mind about the loft. Once that office is redone, we can work through the rest of the building at our own pace.”
“What about wiring and plumbing?”
J.T. admired the foreman’s ability to get right to the problem. “Frank, we have to start from scratch to meet new codes.”
“That takes time and labor.”
J.T. listened to the warning in his foreman’s voice. “I want the first floor ready for tenants one month after we get permits. Sooner, if possible.”
The foreman’s heavy sigh echoed out of the phone. “You’re the boss. But I want to start work as soon as I get to town.”
Rubbing Rascal’s head as the little dog pawed at his knee, J.T. laughed. “See you Monday.”
Everything was moving along. The roofs at the Jensen place were finished. Good thing too, considering the panicked call from Mr. Jensen’s sister.
Repairs on the porch were completed. The kitchen needed work. Even with the well drying up, J.T. figured he could finish in a couple of days. Then, he would concentrate on Edee’s office. If his building permits were approved.
If not, he would concentrate his efforts on Number Six, Willow Avenue.
The possibility of getting his hands on her grandmother’s house made his mouth water.
***
Edee typed like a mad woman, even with the pounding on her roof. With J.T. warning her of serious water damage if she ignored the leaks, she finally agreed to his repair suggestions.
With one condition, J.T. would start his dance lessons immediately. It was all she could do to repay him. Designing his website wasn’t enough.
Bartering for the work needed on the roof seemed like a fair exchange, except for one problem. She still needed an income. Make that two problems. The roof wasn’t the only repair needed.
Signing, she turned back to the computer. Even with all the noise, she was making progress, finally. Working from home meant there hadn’t been any interruptions from drop in curiosity seekers, so she had worked day and night to finish the website for J.T. and Sam. Ellie’s quilt shop page was next.
She needed the income from the web designs to get her though until J.T.’s permits were approved. She needed the salary from working as his assistant. Why was the council delaying approval?
Over the last few days, she had accompanied J.T. on a walk thorough of the Beasley building. And her excitement over the project’s possibilities made her more aware than ever that she wanted to live in Redbud.
Not just because this had been her grandmother’s hometown, she wanted to live in Redbud, forever and be a part of this town. The people, the project with J.T. and her growing attraction to him shaped her wishes, but she knew there was more than her desire to clear J.T.’s name pulling at her emotions.
She wanted the home she had always longed for and she wanted it to be in Redbud.
Glancing out the turret window facing the street, she saw the work trucks parked in front of her house and felt a chill of excitement. The hum of activity wrapped around her and made her want to be a part of the energy fueling this town.
She had agreed to J.T.’s plan to use her house to display his skills to the residents. His suggestion worked for both of them. He had a local place to use as a reference for his work and she won on two counts. Her house got needed repairs and she came one step closer to showing the townspeople they should change their opinion of J.T.
Once she won that battle, then she could immerse herself in the town’s functions.
But she wasn’t sure how J.T. would react if he discovered her plan. In fact, she was almost positive he would back out of their agreement…and maybe even cancel her job as his assistant…if he discovered her real reason for allowing him to make repairs on her house.
***
“Why don’t you come visit and see what Ellie and I have done with the house?”
Glancing up from the Mexican omelet on his plate, J.T. grinned at Sam. “I wondered when you would get around to asking.”
“Ellie’s having the ladies from her sewing circle out Friday night for a cook-out. You should come.”
“With a bunch of women?”
Sam laughed around a forkful of pancakes. “Their husbands are invited, too. Hey, I have this hound you have to see to believe.”
“Coon or bird?”
Swallowing, Sam laughed. “All American spoiled canine.”
“I can’t wait.” J.T. focused on the omelet in front of him. “Edee Cutt invited?”
“Sure, she’s in the sewing group.” Sam lifted his glass. “You ever get her calmed down about moving out of that office?”
Groaning, J.T. speared another bite of omelet. “I moved a truckload of books up to her attic.”
Sam shook his head. “All those years, in the same office, I guess there was a lot to move.”
“Are you kidding?” J.T. leaned back. “That’s after we hauled a bunch of stuff to the landfill.”
Sam nodded. “Figures that Edee would store things in the attic, considering that house.”
J.T.’s thoughts changed track with a jolt. “Man, I love that house, always have.”
“You’re kidding?”
Shaking his head, J.T. sighed. “Nope, talked to the realtor about buying it the day I got back in town.”
“Is it for sale?”
“I thought it was, considering Ms. Emma had passed on.”
“Edee seems to be settling in, according to what I hear.”
Shaking his head, J.T. leaned his forearms on the edge of the table and sighed. “And I had big plans for that house, too.” He met Sam’s questioning look and lowered his voice. “You know how a place can just grab your imagination and won’t let go? That’s how I’ve always felt about Number Six, Willow.”
J.T. sighed and drained the last of his orange juice. “I guess it’s not surprising, considering where I grew up, but even as an adult, I couldn’t let it go. I wanted to fix it up, show my skills to the good citizens of Redbud.”
Sam studied him for long moments after his faked laugh ended. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
J.T. saw understanding register in his friend’s eyes. Sam more than anyone else in town, would know how he felt about returning to Redbud. Sam had fought his own battle to reclaim the property rightfully belonging to him.
But even Sam didn’t know how bad J.T. wanted to make his homecoming a success.
“It could still work.”
Sam’s voice jarred J.T. back to the present. “What are you saying?”
“Ms. Emma let the place go for years.”
“It’s not the same, even if I am a carpenter.”
Sam arched a brow. “Your skills are the same.”
“I offered to help Edee to have something do while I’m waiting for the permits.” J.T. shoved his plate away. “I was hoping she would refuse.” He snapped his mouth shut. He didn’t intend to tell his real reason for being reluctant to work on the house.
It felt strange admitting a woman you just met had you tied in knots.
“The house will still be your work.” Sam’s brows lifted in question.
“To someone else’s taste.” Frowning as he thought of spending hours with Edee while they made plans for the hou
se, J.T. shook his head. “I’ll help her out with a few repairs, but that’s all.”
Or maybe, he didn’t want it to work.
Maybe he didn’t trust himself to spend that much time with Edee. Being with her made him ready to chuck everything and settle down. Considering his family’s history with relationships, that wouldn’t work.
“I don’t think she has the money to remodel.”
“Why do you say that?”
Glancing around to make sure they weren’t overheard, J.T. lowered his voice. “She was wearing dresses that belonged to her granny,” he frowned, “and the stuff we moved out of that office is old.”
“All that stuff belonged to Ms. Emma. Maybe Edee’s dealing with what she inherited.”
J.T. opened his mouth, then snapped his lips shut. He wouldn’t betray the confidences Edee shared in her moment of exhaustion after moving. Not even to Sam.
He wouldn’t want someone blabbing about his private affairs.
***
“Ellie, the house looks wonderful.” Running her hand along the counter of the large work area, Edee stared at the modern room. “I love this kitchen.” Her shoulders heaved with a sigh of regret. “Grandmother’s house needs work.”
Ellie looked up from mixing hamburger patties. “Why don’t you talk to J.T.? I hear he’s a great carpenter.”
Biting her lip, Edee concentrated on the gray and black striped cat rubbing against Ellie’s legs. “What a pretty cat.”
“Ben’s been with me about four years.”
“You brought him when you moved?”
Ellie grinned. “He added some fun to our first decorating project.”
“My cat has to help with everything I try to do.”
They were laughing when Sam came in the door carrying a big tray. “Hey, Edee, I didn’t know you were here.” He glanced over his shoulder at the open door. “You’re just in time for lemonade. Want some, J.T.”
A Bride For Mr. Right (Redbud Romance Book 2) Page 11
