Hearts Under Construction. Diann Hunt

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      “Ellie, you are perfect the way you are. Why do you always diet?”

      “In case you haven’t noticed, I like food. Fat grams stick to my body like leeches on reverse.” Then in the moment of silence that stretched between them, she was struck with inspiration. “Want to go to lunch?”

      “It’s nine-thirty,” he answered dryly.

      He could be such a spoilsport.

      Jax shook his head and walked back over to his seat behind the desk.

      “So, what exactly is Cole going to be doing?”

      “He’ll be helping me some with the banks and financial side of things, but mostly, he’ll be checking out job sites, gathering information, overseeing things.”

      “Like employees?”

      Jax nodded and shrugged.

      A knock sounded at the door. “Come in.”

      “Hey, two of my favorite people.” Cole’s smile almost chased away Ellie’s bitterness.

      Almost.

      “May I come in?”

      “Yes, I was just leaving, anyway.” She stood and crossed the room. He stepped in front of her.

      “Seems we’re both always coming or going. Don’t leave on my account.” His eyes held her in place. Her breath caught in her throat. “Please.” He said the last word for her ears only.

      His scent, the depth in his voice, the intensity in his eyes, unnerved her. “I have to go,” she squeaked. Quickly, she brushed past him and darted through the door. Once outside Jax’s office, she gasped for air, realizing only then she had barely breathed from the moment their eyes met.

      After lunch Ellie gathered her things and walked toward the kitchen where she heard Jax’s voice.

      “I’ll be back later, Jax. I’m headed to the Gregory job site,” she told him.

      Cole rounded the corner. “Hey, is it okay if I tag along? I need to check on some things.”

      Ellie stopped. “Well, uh—”

      He held up his hand. “I won’t bite, I promise.”

      Ellie wished she could make the same promise. Her lunch salad had done little to improve her spirits.

      Cole looked at Jax. “I’ll check on the mechanicals and make sure we’ve got the appropriate permits. Check on the guys’ progress.”

      Ellie felt her face flame with heat. Those were her responsibilities. She glanced at Jax, but he quickly turned away. “I’ll see you later.” He waved them off and headed back toward his office.

      Her mouth opened like a baby bird’s at mealtime. She glanced up to see Cole staring at her and clamped her mouth closed. Cole and Ellie walked outside to her car and climbed inside.

      “Nice car,” he said, stroking the leather upholstery.

      “Thanks.” Once she closed her door and started the engine, Ellie clicked on the radio station, turning it up loud enough to discourage any conversation. She knew this whole mess wasn’t really Cole’s fault, but who else could she blame? Jax was her friend and trying to run a business, she couldn’t blame him. Things were what they were. She’d have to get used to it. Still, it would take a while for her wounded pride to heal.

      Cole reached over and turned the volume down. “Do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?”

      Great. Just what she wanted. “Sure, what’s up?” She tried to make her words sound cheerful, as if his presence didn’t bother her in the least. And it didn’t, really. Though his cologne was a little distracting. Made her think of a log cabin in the woods. And, of course, a log cabin made her think of maple syrup and pancakes.

      “Look, I don’t know what happened, really, but for some reason, we got off to a bad start. I’d like to change that.”

      “There’s no problem,” she said, as if voicing it made it so.

      “Come on, Ellie, we both know there’s a problem. I know I can’t fix it, but I’d like to start again.”

      “You can’t fix it because there’s nothing to fix.” Couldn’t he just let her lick her wounds and allow her time to get over the disappointment?

      “He says you’re a great worker—”

      Oh, now he was patronizing her. “You don’t have to rattle off my attributes, Mr. Preston. I’m not someone who has to be praised to be happy.” Her breath came in short gasps, but she continued. “I’m not mad. There is no problem.” She kept her gaze fixed on the road, her voice even and calm. Though she didn’t look at him, she could sense he was smiling at her. A taunting smile. Mocking her. Okay, she might have to hurt him.

      “Suit yourself.” He settled into his seat. “I just didn’t want you to feel threatened, that’s all.”

      “Why would I feel threatened?” Now, he was making her really mad.

      “Because I’m your boss.”

      He was gloating, pure and simple. “Why would that make me feel threatened?”

      He shrugged. “I think you feel threatened because you don’t like change.”

      She gasped and turned to him. “Look, Cole, you know nothing about me, so please don’t try to analyze me!”

      She pulled onto the side of the road at the job site, slammed into park with more force than she’d intended, and jumped out of the car. Cole followed suit. She knew she would regret her anger later, but for now it simmered like a sauna bath.

      Instead of taking the usual care when walking at a construction site, she plunged the heels of her shoes into the muddy ground. When she lifted her left leg, her shoe stayed put. She teetered and swayed like a Hawaiian dashboard doll. Desperate to maintain her dignity, she jerked on her foot and fell into the waiting arms of Cole Preston.

      The construction workers whistled and cawed from the house. Ellie wanted to curl up and roll away.

      Cole whispered into her ear, “What shall we do for an encore?”

      She turned a disgusted face at him and yanked herself free from his arms. “You are the most egotistical man I have ever met!”

      He laughed out loud and bowed as she made her way past him.

      Her only solace came from flicking specks of dirt from her shoes across his pant legs as she went.

      Ellie took a sip from her teacup. “Thanks, Mom. This hits the spot.”

      “Your headache is better, then?”

      Her mother’s worried gaze met Ellie’s. “I’m much better.” Ellie could see her mom visibly relax. “What СКАЧАТЬ