by Kelly, Jacki
He pulled into the parking lot of his favorite Italian restaurant. “I hope this place is okay with you. As you can see, I’m not dressed to go anywhere fancier.” He jumped out and opened her door before she could respond.
Red neon lights flashed around the large plate glass window of the restaurant, giving it a cheery welcome. Even though it was usually very busy most nights Drew knew he could get a table at his favorite place. He walked in behind her.
“Hey Drew. You haven’t been here in a while. You want your regular table?” The hostess pointed toward the back.
“Yes and please bring us a pitcher of the white wine sangria.”
“Do you want the usual?”
“I’m so hungry tonight I could eat two of them,” he teased. “But can you bring a menu for my friend.” He pulled out the chair for Yani. He opted for the seat with his back to the wall.
She ran her finger down the list of entrees.
“Want a recommendation?” he asked.
“Are you giving me permission to speak now?” She stared at him, thunderclouds gathered in her eyes.
“I just didn’t want to hear you say no. You’re good at shooting a man down.”
“I’m good at sniffing a fake. Let’s just say your behavior didn’t pass my sniff test.” She reached for her glass of water just as the server placed it on the table and took a swallow. “But I don’t want to talk about the other night. Let’s just talk about my house and nothing more.”
The server showed up to take their order.
“I’ll just have a Caesar salad,” she said.
“Bring her the same thing you’re bringing me.” He picked up the menus and handed them back to the server. “Don’t worry, Yani, I can cover this.”
“No, I can’t ask you to keep buying me meals.”
He pulled in a deep breath to redirect his thoughts to a more positive place. If she were taller, she’d probably look down her nose at him. Did she think he was some pathetic shmuck who rushed his check to the check-cashing store to buy milk? He wanted to tell her he had enough money to buy her dinners and those expensive purses for the rest of her life. But watching her sweat it out was so much more enjoyable.
“Don’t worry about the meal. My credit is good here.”
She huffed either from exhaustion or from distress. “So what did you need to tell me about the house?”
Chapter Six
A few days later, Yani walked into Cat’s office and dropped her briefcase on the floor before closing the door. “We need to talk.”
Cat pushed away from the computer to face her. “Is it about the dreamboat working on your house that you keep talking about?”
“I’m glad my personal life brings you so much pleasure.” She rubbed her forehead. “This is bad, Cat. I think I like him. I’m trying to ignore him and my feelings. He’s the nicest man. Even though I keep giving him clipped answers or one word replies he remains unfazed by my attitude. I know it’s the most ridiculous thing in the world but I can’t help myself. Every evening when I go home, I hide in my office or bedroom until he leaves with his crew. Just so I don’t look like a schoolgirl with a crush. But when he looks at me, I feel like he really sees me.” She touched her lips.
“Wow, that sounds serious. What will you do?” Cat asked as she leaned on her desk. “You can’t ignore how you really feel about him.”
“Oh, yes I can. I hired him to do a job. Once it’s completed, he can move on to another project. I can’t romanticize the situation.” She couldn’t tell Cat what’d happened last night after dinner it would be like posting the information on Facebook.
“So you’re going to let him walk away? Suppose this is your one true love. You only get one, you know.” Cat pretended to swoon.
“He’s not my one true love, Cat. He’s…”
“What Yani, what is he?”
She masked her apprehension by laughing. “In the bright light of day, we don’t have much in common. Can you just see us going out on a date? He’d probably want a burger and I’d want steak. The man drives a truck for God’s sake.” She placed her elbows on the desk and cradled her chin in her palm. “He’s my handyman. I can’t date the handyman.”
“Why not? Why can’t you date him?” Cat sat back in the chair and gave Yani a stern look. “Is it because your orderly neat little life would be turned on its side?”
Yani pushed a stack of papers aside. “Save me the sermon. I’m supposed to marry a doctor or a lawyer or a CEO. My parents have preached that into my head since I was a little girl. I’m not ready to disrespect my family.” Yani dismissed her friend with a wave of her hand. Cat was trying to be helpful, but her speech wouldn’t change anything.
“But you are interested. You talk about Drew every day. I have a new car mechanic, but I don’t mention him in every sentence, or sit around daydreaming about him all day, now do I?”
“I’m protecting myself,” Yani shot back.
“From what—life?”
“It’s easy for you to criticize me. You’re in a relationship.” Yani pushed a curl behind her ears.
“Yeah, and I didn’t turn him away when he showed up at my door to deliver my pizza while trying to make a little extra money to pay off student loans for medical school.”
“My parents would sign papers to have me committed if I show up for a visit with Drew on my arm.” Yani shrugged, not wanting to admit Cat was right. “He’s not a professional, and I only date professional men.” Yani wanted to put an end to this awkward conversation.
“Are you sure that’s the reason? Or are you just quoting the bull you grew up with?” Cat came around the desk and parked her butt on the corner.
“Okay, so I don’t want to date handymen. What’s wrong with that?” Yani leveled her gaze at her friend.
“Nothing, if you don’t mind being alone or being a snob.”
“I’m not a snob. It’s just…” Yani couldn’t finish the sentence. “Why bother dating a man when there isn’t a chance it can work? I don’t want to waste my time, and I’m sure Drew doesn’t want me to waste his, either.”
Cat threaded her fingers together. “I know you better than you know yourself. You need to put your fears aside and relax. Don’t turn your nose up, because your condo can get pretty cold in the winter, especially if you’re in it all alone.”
Still smarting from Cat’s comments, Yani smoothed her skirt over her narrow hips before picking up her briefcase and heading to the door. She waved at her friend before she walked out.
Cat could talk about staying warm this winter because every night she cuddled up with her soon-to-be fiancé.
Mr. Right was supposed to show up dressed in a Hugo Boss business suit and a crisp, white shirt, not a white t-shirt and ripped jeans. But, there was no denying Drew’s sexiness; just thinking about him excited her.
Sitting at her desk she stared at the contracts. Instead of thinking about Drew she needed to get this deal signed. But Cat’s words had rubbed her raw. Maybe her friend was right. The last time she had a serious relationship she was the only one vested in it. Drew seemed so different, but she knew so little about him, there was no way to be sure what kind of man he really was. He could be just looking to have some fun. The idea that he wore a teddy bear on his tool belt didn’t prove he was a good guy.
The shrill ring of the phone shook her thoughts loose. The call was from Drew. She hesitated before picking up the receiver. He never called during the day.
“Drew, is something wrong?”
“I know you’re real busy, but I need you to come home, now.” His tone was sharp, like he was distracted.
“Did something happen?”
“Yes. See you in thirty minutes.” He disconnected the call without waiting for her to confirm.
She shutdown her computer, grabbed her purse and briefcase. As soon as she got in the car, she dialed her friend.
“I have to get home, Cat. Some emergency came up. I’m waiting on the last changes on t
he Silverman Contract. Can you pick them up from my assistant when she’s done and drop them off at my house on your way home?”
“Are you going home for business or pleasure?” Cat teased.
“Are you going to help me or not?”
“I’m having dinner with Phoebe tonight. We’ll drop it off before we head downtown. We’re going on a double date. Me and Robby and Phoebe and Cory. See, if you’d go ahead and let Drew into your life you could hang with us tonight, too.”
“Do me a favor, give me a break, please.”
“Okay, I’ll stop pushing you. You know I love you. I just want you to be happy.”
“Thanks, Cat.”
Yani pulled in front of the house and jumped out as soon as she put the car in park. Drew stood in the doorway with his tool belt slung low on the side of his hips. The teddy bear caught her eye.
“You took your sweet time getting here.”
“I came as soon as you called, but I didn’t run any red lights. I figured if there was fire or blood you would have called 911 and not me.” She pushed past him into the house, expecting to see the great disaster.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Well, there are a couple of things.” He led her into the kitchen and pulled out a piece of insulation. “Do you see what I see?”
She inched closer with her fingers clenched tight. She saw five black spots. “You called me home because you found ants behind the wall? You couldn’t kill them or spray them? You mean I had to come home for this?”
“They’re carpenter ants, princess, and they’ve been eating the beams. So now we have to get an exterminator in here and we have to replace the studs. The contingency budget is already spent, so you’ll need to come up with more money.”
“Ants don’t eat wood. You’re talking about termites, right?”
“I wish. And I’ve found some other issues. In the bathroom, you have no insulation in the walls at all. It’s a wonder you didn’t freeze to death last winter.”
She flopped in the nearest chair. “Okay. I get it now.”
He sat next to her. “I know it’s a lot to throw at you, but I needed an answer to keep this project on schedule.”
“How much more money do you need?”
“I’ll work up the numbers and get them to you later today. But we’re talking a few thousand.”
She glanced down at his work shoes. He was as solid as the Grand Canyon. His command of the situation reminded her of her father. Drew was a great guy. He could have been the guy. Without question, she trusted he knew what he was talking about.
“I believe I’m in good hands, so do what you need to do.” Instead of looking at the wall in the kitchen, she focused on his crotch. She hopped up to put some distance between them. “I’m going to change clothes. I’ll work from home for the balance of the day so if you need me, I’ll be down the hall.
“Before you go, can I ask you a question?”
“If it’s more bad news you might as well tell me now.”
He stood and grabbed her hand. “No this is about us.”
She swayed as the blood rushed to her heart and grabbed at the back of the chair for balance. She filled her lungs and waited for him to finish.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have slept together on that first day,” he said.
“It wasn’t our first day. It actually happened on the second day.” She had to correct him. It was bad enough she’d had sex with him, but at least it hadn’t happened the first time she met him.
“Okay, my bad. Anyway, since then, you’ve been a little standoffish. I’ll be honest with you, Yani. I think you’re hot and I’d like to spend more time with you. Not time just working on your house, but real time.” He rubbed his hand down her arm, leaving a warm trail behind. She refused to release a full breath until he lifted his fingers off her flesh and broke the spell.
“I-I…just thought we were having fun. I didn’t want to take us too seriously. You understand, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t. I don’t normally sleep with my clients. You are the first. It meant something to me.” His rich brown eyes blazed, but there was no smile behind them.
“I get it, Drew. But I need to slow things down a bit. We started out so hot we were bound to fizzle. I don’t even know anything about you.”
“Let me take you to dinner tonight and I’ll answer all your questions?”
“I need to make some phone calls. Can we talk later?” She inched away from him. There wasn’t enough air in the room to sustain her.
#
She strolled down the hall. Her pencil skirt was so tight he was able to easily examine her smooth, round butt and wanted to grab a handful of it. He scratched his head, and gathered his falling hair into the elastic band used to hold it in place.
“Do you need any help getting out of your outfit?” he yelled to her before she disappeared into her bedroom.
She stuck her head out the door. “No. But thanks for the offer.”
Would she be more willing to take him serious if she knew he owned the company instead of just working for it? No way would he open up to her, yet. If she wanted him, it had to be for him, tool belt and all. Not because of anything else.
Once she was out of sight, he dug through the clutter in the kitchen until he found his tablet and calculated the cost. Completing the project in the most economical way was a priority to her so it was important to him. He heard her close her office door. Did she think hiding from him would solve her problems?
The doorbell buzzed. “Yani, you’ve got company,” he yelled down the hall.
“Can you get it, I’ll be right there?”
His boots made a clumping sound as he headed for the entry. Now she wanted to treat him like a butler. He opened the door to find two women almost as beautiful as Yani stand there.
“You must be Drew.” The shorter of the two stepped across the threshold with her hand outstretched. Her hair was in a pixie cut that framed her face.
“I am. And you are?”
“I’m Cat and this is Phoebe. We’re Yani’s best friends. Hasn’t she mentioned us?”
“As a matter of fact, she has.”
“Hey guys.” Yani stood behind him, wearing a tiny pair of shorts. He got a good glimpse of her ass as he made his way back in the kitchen. Yani and her friends followed him.
“So Drew, where are you from?” Cat examined him like a lab specimen.
“I live in Philly, but I was born and raised in Maryland.”
“Where did you go to school?” Phoebe asked. Did she invite her friends over to ask the questions for her?
“Okay, you two. Drew is a busy man, he doesn’t have time for your question and answer session.” Yani’s voice was tight.
“I graduated from M.I.T. with a degree in engineering,” he responded to Phoebe, but he watched Yani.
He expected her face to fill with delight, but there was no change. Her expression remained stiff as stone.
“Did Yani tell you she needs a date for my wedding next weekend?” Phoebe cut a smile at Yani.
“Cat, did you bring the contract? I know you guys are going to dinner so don’t let me hold you up.”
“No, she didn’t. Are you inviting me?” He couldn’t help but use the opportunity.
Yani put up both of her hands. “Enough you two. I don’t need a date for the wedding. As one of the maids-of-honor, I’ll be too busy to entertain a guest.”
“I’d love for you to come, Drew, if you’re free. I’ll get the information to you,” said Phoebe.
Yani snatched the contract from Cat’s hand and shooed them to the door. “Good-bye ladies enjoy your dinner tonight.”
“He’s cuter than you described,” he heard one of them whisper before Yani slammed the door and marched back in the kitchen with the look of the Mad Hatter on her face.
“They were only kidding. Just ignore everything they said,” she demanded.
“I just got a valid invitation to a wedding an
d I might attend.” He chuckled. “I like your friends.”
“You don’t know them.”
“I’m a good judge of character.”
Her right eye narrowed to a squint and the left eye nearly closed. “I’m not hungry, so I’m passing on dinner tonight.” She exhaled with exasperation and stalked out.
The sharp sound of the closing door rattled his composure. But if she thought he would let her brush him off so easy, then it was time to teach her a lesson.
By the time the house quieted from all the banging, it was seven o’clock. She hadn’t come out since she’d stormed down the hall and slammed the door. No matter how many times he traipsed to that end of the house to check on the bathroom progress she didn’t open the door. Princess was as stubborn as a cat near water. But she was dealing with a professional this time. Difficult clients were as plentiful as thorns on a rose. He could handle this.
He lifted his cell phone from his pocket and placed a dinner order from his favorite take-out joint. By the time the meal was delivered, he’d cleaned the layer of sawdust covering the table and set it with the paper plates and cups that’d come with dinner.
Before knocking on her closed office door he listened for activity. Nothing. Either she was asleep or stewing over their earlier conversation. He shook his head. Yani had crawled under his rough exterior, found his vulnerable heart, and now she was turning him to mush.
He knocked on the door with his ear pressed against it. “I know you’re in there so don’t ignore me.”
“I’m very busy. Can we talk in the morning?”
“No, I want to talk now.”
She snatched the door open and threw her hands on her hips. He had to choke back the laughter threatening to erupt in his throat.
“Okay. What’s so important?” she responded, her eyes softened when she dropped them to the teddy bear.
He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the kitchen.
“Drew, I really don’t have time for whatever…” She pulled away from him.
“Make the time,” he reached for her hand again and leading her down the hall.