Falling for Carrick (Working Class Billionaires Book 1)

by Erica Breyer

  “Maaaaa!” a petulant voice called out from the living room. “Maaaa!” Bonnie rolled her eyes, extracting herself from Kelly’s hug.

  “Yes, darling?” she answered Jarrod, who didn’t seem eager to move from his place on the couch. Kelly’s brow furrowed as she noticed how gingerly the woman moved, as if walking on eggshells. She must be battling another of her headaches. Muffled words came from the interior of the house as her mother and brother spoke to each other.

  Kelly turned her attention back to the oven, where aromas where wafting temptingly. Chloé appreciated the aromas too, and gave a small whine, which Kelly interpreted as a request for supper. Friday night was Pizza Night and Bonnie took pride in making her own pizza bases. When they were kids, they would all create their own toppings and then sit around on the patio, eating pizza and comparing flavors. Best pizza got bragging rights for the rest of the week. She smiled nostalgically. It had been a while since they’d done that as a family, but to her, Friday would always be Pizza Night. She felt a lump form in her throat at the thought of doing it without her mom.

  “Jarrod wants ham and pineapple on his,” Bonnie said, coming back into the kitchen and heading for the refrigerator. She took out a soda and reached for a glass, heading back out again. Kelly felt her jaw clench, knowing he was probably still lying on the couch.

  “I swear, that kid is connected to his screen with an umbilical cord,” she muttered under her breath. Her mother, who’d just returned, gave a light chuckle.

  “Oh, he’ll come around, darling, I’m sure it’s just a phase,” she said, sneaking yet another piece of bacon to her little dog.

  “He needs a good kick in the pants, Mom!” Kelly said back. “You have to stop enabling him. He’s never going to learn to fend for himself if he never gets off his ass. At least Carrick has a job!”

  “Carrick?” asked Bonnie, raising an eyebrow. “Who’s Carrick?”

  ‘Where did that come from?’ thought Kelly.

  “Ugh!” She shrugged, embarrassed that she’d mentioned his name, and simultaneously confused that he’d even come up in the conversation. She’d have to keep a handle on that. “He’s just a guy at work. You know the type...cute, persistent. Thinks I should be falling for his charms.”

  “Really?” said Bonnie. “Is he harassing you?”

  “No, nothing like that,” admitted Kelly. “It’s just...he’s always around, I guess. Every time I do anything or go anywhere, there he is.”

  “Well, if it’s his job to be there, I imagine he can’t help it, darling,” Bonnie pointed out. “Is he making you uncomfortable? Saying anything inappropriate?”

  “Well, no,” Kelly said, not wanting to acknowledge that any discomfort was largely a result of her overactive imagination...thinking of those hands...those legs… Oh, those long, lean legs— “No!” she said more sharply. “He’s just always…checking to see if I’m okay. Or if I need any help with anything. I guess…” Her voice trailed off. Now that she was listening to herself, she started to wonder if she was reading more into this situation than was there.

  “Well, that doesn’t seem unpleasant, dear,” Bonnie said, echoing her thoughts. “Perhaps he’s just looking out for you. You know how difficult it can be to get into a new work circle. He sounds kinda nice, actually.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Kelly huffed. “This afternoon he even asked if I wanted to join everyone for drinks after work!”

  “Really?” asked Bonnie. “Why didn’t you go?”

  “Because it’s Pizza Night!” Kelly exclaimed. “And besides, I didn’t want to have to deal with all that…that…”

  “That what?” Bonnie was watching her closely.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” sighed Kelly. “I just don’t want any…complications, you know?”

  Bonnie stepped closer and brushed her cheek tenderly. “Kelly, you need to build your own life, my angel. You can’t spend all your time here, worrying about me.” She raised a hand abruptly as Kelly was about to object. “No, don’t tell me that’s not true, sweetheart. I know you worry, and I love you so much for it. But you can’t sacrifice your happiness for me. That won’t make me happy either. I want you to have new friends. To find love. If you care about me, you’ll do that for me. Does that make sense?”

  Kelly reached up to cover her mother’s hand on her cheek. “Oh, Mom, of course I will!” She smiled weakly, feeling tears threatening. “But tonight is Pizza Night! Let’s eat!”

  Chloé gave a yap of approval.

  Chapter 4

  Kelly loved weekend time at home, but she found herself oddly excited about getting to work on Monday. As she pulled into the parking bay and took the trip across to the little office – in her sensible shoes – she inhaled deeply. She found something pleasing about the smell of the site; dust, cement and diesel fumes might not be everyone’s idea of perfume, but she liked it. There was an honesty to it that made her feel comfortable.

  Arriving before Taneka, she unlocked the door and stepped towards her desk, immediately struck by the fact that it was not as she’d left it. A pile of folders dominated one corner, dotted with yellow sticky notes. Her laptop had several of the things stuck to the cover, and more of the yellow squares were plastered all around the office. She frowned in confusion, reaching for one of them.

  ‘Ms. Hanson,’ it read, ‘Pls arrange alphanumerically and in order of delivery date. JC’

  Kelly’s eyes widened at the heap of papers beneath the note. She plucked off another that had been stuck to a three-page document beside her laptop.

  ‘Ms. Hanson,’ this one read, ‘Pls contact all suppliers for full administrative background check. JC’

  “What the—?” she muttered, sorting through each of them. The instructions ranged from the confusing to the ridiculous. One, attached front of a filing drawer, simply read: ‘Good job. JC’

  “What’s going on?” a voice caught her attention. She looked up as Taneka appeared in the doorway. She was wearing a technicolor jacket over a bright yellow shirt and the colors momentarily brightened Kelly’s mood.

  Kelly shrugged. “I have no idea,” she said. “I got here and found these everywhere.” She held up a sticky note. “Who’s JC?”

  “Umm…Jesus Chri— No! I’m pulling your leg!” Taneka laughed. “JC would be the Bossman. Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

  “Bossman?” muttered Kelly. “Oh! Cross...John Cross. Sheesh, I’m such a dork. Well, it looks like he’s been busy in here.” She pulled a face. “I’m going to be swamped for days if I want to get this lot sorted out!”

  Taneka gave her another of those odd stares that Kelly was starting to grow accustomed to, then dropped her purse on her desk and looked around the office.

  “Well, if you need any help, let me know. Some of this stuff looks pretty nuts,” she said, pulling a note off a window and frowning. “Good thing you’re wearing denims!” She looked over at the blue jeans that fit Kelly’s athletic frame as if they’d been made for her.

  “Hey!” a male voice broke in. “Everyone set for another great week?” Carrick was about to step over the threshold when he caught a glimpse of Kelly’s face and stopped short.

  “And this?” Taneka asked drily, as if he could offer some sort of explanation.

  Carrick shrugged. “Oh, you know how it goes. Head Office gets wind that things are running smoothly, and the next thing you know there’s a whole heap of challenges to be dealt with!”

  “And those ‘challenges’ would include getting the windows washed once a week?” Taneka turned up the ‘snark’.

  Carrick shrugged again, grinning. “Well, I…guess it gets dusty?”

  “I’m sure you have something to do out there?” Kelly broke in, nodding her head in the direction of the construction site. Carrick glanced at her, an odd expression on his face for a moment, then grinned once more.

  “Yes, of course…Miss Hanson,” he answered, touching the brim of his hardhat. “I’ll
be seeing you around, I’m sure. And if you need anything, just let me know.”

  Kelly huffed and turned her back on him. She really was not in the mood.

  ∞∞∞

  That evening after knock-off, Carrick made his way to the admin office. The site was still, almost tranquil now that everyone had left for the day. Surrounded by piles of building material and half-constructed structures, he felt a little like the only person on earth. All he needed was a dog and a sawn-off shotgun and he might fit in well on an apocalyptic movie set. He grinned at the thought as he jogged up the rattling stairs for to the office. His grin broadened as he headed for Kelly’s desk and sank down into her chair.

  For a moment, he sat there, running his palms over the work surface. There was a lingering scent of her perfume and he imagined the seat might still hold a trace of her body heat.

  “Cut it out, Carrick,” he said to himself, opening her top drawer and rifling around for the stack of sticky notes. He leaned back in her chair and tapped a fingertip on his top lip as he dreamed up new ways to occupy her. A glance around the office showed that she’d successfully completed most of the outlandish tasks he’d set the day before.

  “She’s resourceful,” he mused, as he got up and slid open a couple of drawers in the filing cabinets. He flipped through several folders, noting with satisfaction that she’d made sense of the ordering system. This would certainly save them some time in the coming weeks. A part of him felt a small pang of guilt at subjecting her to a new set of ‘challenges’.

  ‘Nah, she’s tough, she can handle it,’ his inner prankster countered. Besides, there wasn’t anything that he was asking that wasn’t actually beneficial to the business. Well, okay, maybe a couple of things. He could already see how she’d picked up a wealth of knowledge about the way the site functioned.

  He found himself even further impressed when he happened upon a notepad in a drawer that she’d jotted ideas on. Even though they were quick and rough, he could immediately identify what she was working on and it was beyond insightful. He sat down and made a few notes on a scrap of paper for himself, shaking his head in amazement. He’d been drawn by those eyes, and that pert little butt, but hell, this brain filled him with awe. For the first time in a long time, he felt a small quiver deep down that he tried unsuccessfully to stifle. There was something about a sharp mind that he found irresistible.

  “Yeah...” he murmured. “That’s one smart cookie… But I’m still gonna make her dust the office plants daily.” He gave a wicked chuckle before standing, turning to make sure the room hadn’t been unduly disturbed, and then leaving the office.

  He was still grinning when he left the site.

  ∞∞∞

  The next couple of days were a complete blur for Kelly. After wading through half of her new tasks on Monday, she returned on Tuesday to find a fresh new crop of notes scattered everywhere. The same thing happened on Wednesday.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she grumbled by teatime, rubbing the line between her eyebrows. Taneka had set a mug beside her – Kelly was reluctant to leave her desk and break the workflow.

  “Take a break, girl, you’re going to run out of steam,” Taneka said. Kelly sighed and reached for the mug, flashing a grateful smile at her.

  “You’re probably right,” she said, “I just don’t—” She was cut off by the sound of her phone ringing and glanced down to see her mother’s caller id flash on the screen. “Oops, gotta get this, it’s my mom.” Taneka gave her a thumbs-up.

  “Hey, Mom, what’s up?” Kelly asked.

  “Sweetie, I’m sorry to bug you at work but…” Her mother’s voice was tremulous.

  “Mom? Is everything okay?” Kelly felt alarm rise.

  “I’m really not feeling great…I’m so sorry,” she repeated her apology. Kelly was already getting to her feet and reaching for her bag. As if her mother knew what she was doing, she said, “I’ve asked Jarrod to order an Uber for us to get to the clinic, since the car is still in the shop. I just wanted to let you know, in case we’re there a while. I called Dr. Harrison’s office and they’re going to try to fit me in without an appointment, but I may have to wait.”

  “Oh, Mom, I…” Kelly took a deep breath.

  “Now, I don’t want you to worry, sweetheart, but I knew you’d be upset if I didn’t tell you what’s happening,” her mother reassured her. It didn’t set Kelly’s mind at ease.

  “Mom, I really think I should take you,” she insisted, glancing at her watch. “I can be there in 20.”

  “Darling, I can hear the car pulling up in the drive right now,” her mother countered. “I’ll be fine. As soon as I’ve spoken to Dr. Harrison, I’ll let you know what he says.”

  Kelly gave a sigh, running her hand behind her neck and squeezing the tense muscles there. “Okay, if you’re absolutely certain. But please stay in touch, Mom?”

  “I promise,” Bonnie said. “I’ll speak to you later. I love you, sweetheart.”

  “I love you too, Mom,” Kelly answered, ending the call.

  “Everything okay?” Taneka asked, her face heavy with concern.

  Kelly heaved a sigh, shutting her eyes for a moment. “Yeah, I think. My mom is...she’s not doing well, so she’s checking in with the specialist.” She kneaded the back of her neck again, rolling her head on her shoulders. The tension was building up.

  “Do you need to head out? I can cover for you,” Taneka said.

  “No, it’s fine,” Kelly answered. “She’s going over with my brother.” Her expression showed that she was not fine with that particular arrangement, but Taneka held her tongue. “I’ll get stuck into these files. I can call her to make sure she’s all right.”

  “Don’t fret, girlfriend,” the other woman murmured, heading over to put her hand on her shoulder. She gave a small squeeze. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Kelly gave a little nod and turned back to her work. The hours ticked by like weeks as she waited for an update. When the phone finally rang again, she pounced on it like a lifeline.

  “Mom?” she answered anxiously. It had been several hours since they spoke and her nerves were stretched thin.

  “Hi, darling,” her mother responded. “I’ve just left Dr. Harrison’s rooms. Now there’s nothing to worry about, but—”

  “Do you need me there? Should I come home?” Kelly butted in.

  “No, darling, I’ll be fine. He’s given me some new meds and they’ll probably make me sleepy, so I’ll take a nap when I get home. But I’m afraid that he wants me to come in for some more tests tomorrow…” Her voice died off and Kelly could hear her take a deep breath. “I’m sure everything is going to be fine. He’s simply being cautious. He’s an excellent doctor, you know.” Kelly nodded, then realized her mother couldn’t see her. She found her voice, trying not to let it break as she spoke.

  “Of course, Mom, everything is going to be fine.” They said their goodbyes and she ended the call, slumping back in her seat for a moment.

  “Bad news?” Taneka asked.

  “Not really,” Kelly replied, “but not good news either. She needs more tests.” She heaved a sigh and rubbed her eyes, feeling a headache developing.

  “Don’t let it get you down, hon,” Taneka said gently, “it’s not over till it’s over, you know? And she’s still strong enough to fight this thing.”

  Kelly gave a wan smile and nodded, turning back to her screen. The hours remaining until hometime seemed like they were going to last a lifetime.

  ∞∞∞

  By the following morning, the Hanson family had a plan of action. Jarrod would drop Kelly at work in the morning and then return to collect Bonnie to take her back to the clinic. Their mother had given them strict instructions not to assume the worst. Once the tests were back, they could decide what to do next. For once, Kelly’s brother didn’t put up a fuss about having to get off the couch.

  “Take care of her for me, Jazz,” she murmured, using his preferred gaming ha
ndle as he pulled into the parking lot at the site. She reached over and squeezed his hand lightly. He turned to face her.

  “I love her too, you know, Kelz,” he said back, his eyes intense when they met hers. They were the same shade of blue as her own. She swallowed hard and then reached over to give him a quick hug. He pressed his cheek against hers for a moment, then leaned back in the driver’s seat. “Have a good day. I’ll let you know what the docs say.” She nodded and slid out of the passenger door, turning to wave as he pulled out of the gates.

  Carrick emerged from behind a section of sheeting as she walked across the lot. She raised her hand in greeting before heading to the site office. He responded with a quick nod, his mouth set in a grim line. Kelly didn’t bother wondering what could be irking him – she already had too much on her mind. She was so distracted, in fact, that she didn’t even feel a quirk of annoyance at the new flock of sticky notes that greeted her arrival in the office. She set to work and was entirely engrossed by the time Taneka arrived.

  “Hey, girl,” Taneka greeted her. “How’s things with Mama?”

  Kelly shot her a small smile. “She’s in good spirits,” she said. “I’m always amazed at how brave she is. I know they’re probably going to poke her full of needles today, but she won’t breathe a word of complaint.” She felt tears threatening and shook her head. “More yellow notes from ‘on high’,” she changed the subject and grimaced.

  Taneka chuckled. “No rest for the wicked, huh?” Kelly shook her head and got back to work.

  When her phone rang around mid-afternoon, she’d managed to distract herself completely with work. “Hey, Jarrod,” she greeted her brother.

  “Hey, sis,” he replied. “We’re home at last.” She heard him heave a breath. It must have been a hellish day. She’d been through the clinic visits with her mother and hated them.

  “How’s Mom?” she asked.

  “She’s resting,” he said. “These things take a lot out of her.”

  “What did the doc say?” she pressed.