Flirting With The Boss. Tina Beckett

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СКАЧАТЬ life. It was your father who chose not to spend time with you.” It seemed odd, he thought, because Lyle had kept her room like a shrine.

      Lori suddenly brightened as if all the pain went away. “Well, as you can see, I’ll need to do some painting. My sister, Gina, is coming soon along with my nephew, Zack.” She put on a smile. “I don’t think he’d like a pink bedroom.”

      Before Jace could say anything, he heard his daughter calling for him. “I’m in here, Cassie. I picked her up from school, and I wanted to see you before work tomorrow. To make sure everything is okay … between us.”

      The expression on his seven-year-old’s face was priceless as she stopped at the door. “Oh, it’s so pretty.” She looked at Lori. “Do you have a little girl, too?”

      An hour later, with Cassie busy doing homework at the kitchen table, Jace and Lori went to do their work in Lyle’s office.

      “I hate that you have to keep going over everything again and again,” Lori told him.

      “It’s not a problem. Better now, when I’m around to answer your questions. There aren’t too many decisions to make right now. If you’d like to put in some input on finishes, like tile and countertops, you’re more than welcome. A woman’s touch.” He held up a hand. “I didn’t mean anything about that. A second opinion would be nice.”

      “I’d like that.”

      She smiled and he felt a tightening in his gut. Damn. He looked back at the work sheet.

      “Well, the crew is showing up tomorrow to start the finish work on the outside. If we’re lucky the weather will hold and we can complete everything before the snow comes.”

      “Will it affect the work inside?”

      “Only if we can’t get the materials to the site because the roads aren’t passable.”

      She nodded, chewing her bottom lip. He found it hard to look away.

      “What about Mac Burleson? Do you really have a job for him?”

      Jace nodded. “If he can do the work.”

      “I wonder if Mac can paint,” Lori said.

      Jace looked at her to see a mischievous grin on her pretty face. She wasn’t beautiful as much as striking. Those sparkling brown eyes and full mouth … “That was probably going to be one of his jobs—priming the walls once they’re up. What were you thinking?”

      “I doubt my father has done much work on this house in years.” She shrugged. “I don’t mind so much for myself, but Gina and Zack. I want this place …” She glanced around the dark room. “A little more homey. I want to talk to Charlie and see what he has to say about repairs.”

      “How soon are you expecting your family?”

      “Next week. Gina is packing and putting most of the furniture in storage.” She sighed. “I should go back to help her, but I want to make sure there won’t be any holdup on the project.”

      Jace needed to remember that her entire life had been turned upside down by Lyle’s death. “It’s a shame you have to leave everything behind, like your friends. A boyfriend …?”

      She looked surprised at his question. Not as much as he was. He stood and went to the window. “I only meant, Lyle had you make a tough choice.”

      “No, I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment, and my sister is my best friend. So sometimes a fresh start is good.” She turned the tables on him. “Isn’t that why you came to Destiny?”

      He didn’t look at her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t catch her scent, or wasn’t aware of her closeness. He took a step back. “I came here to make a life for my daughter. She’s everything to me.”

      Lori smiled at him and again his body took notice. “From what I’ve seen, Cassie feels the same way about you. You’re a good father.”

      “Thank you. I’m not perfect. But I do try and want to make the job permanent.”

      His gaze went back to her. Darn. What was it about her that drew him? Suddenly he thought about his ex-wife, and the caution flag came out. He needed to stay focused on two things—business and his daughter.

      A happy Cassie skipped into the room and rushed to him. “Maggie said to tell you that dinner is ready.”

      “Oh, honey. We should head home.” He glanced at his watch. “Maybe another time.”

      “No, Daddy. We can’t go. I helped Maggie make the biscuits, so we have to stay and eat them.”

      He was caught as he looked down at his daughter, then at Lori.

      “I can’t believe you’re passing up a home-cooked meal, Jace Yeager,” Lori said. “Maggie’s biscuits are the best around, and probably even better with Cassie helping.”

      “Please, Daddy. I’ll go to bed right on time. I won’t argue or anything.”

      Jace looked back at Lori. It was her first night here, and would probably be a rough one.

      Lori smiled. “Now that’s a hard offer to turn down.”

      “You’re no help,” he told Lori.

      “Sorry, us girls have to stick together.”

      That was what he was afraid of. He was losing more than just this round. He hated that he didn’t mind one bit.

      “Okay, but we can’t stay long. We have a bedtime schedule.”

      “I promise, I’ll go to bed right on time,” Cassie said, then took off toward the kitchen.

      He looked at a smiling Lori. “Okay, I’m a pushover.”

      “Buck up, Dad. It’s only going to get worse before it gets better.”

      Suddenly their eyes locked and the amused look disappeared. Lori was the first to speak. “Please, I want you to stay for dinner. I think we both agree that eating alone isn’t fun.”

      “Yes, we can agree on that.”

      He followed Lori into the kitchen, knowing this woman could easily fill those lonely times. He just couldn’t let that happen. No more women for a while, at least not over the age of seven.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      AT EIGHT-THIRTY the next morning, Lori was up and dressed, and grabbed a travel mug of coffee from Maggie, then she was out the door to the construction site. Not that she didn’t think Jace could do his job, but she wanted to meet the crew and assure them that there wouldn’t be any more delays with the project.

      When she pulled through the gate and saw the buzz of activity, she was suddenly concerned about disturbing everyone.

      She СКАЧАТЬ