What Matters Most

by Longley, Barbara

  “Haney & Sons has a strict policy against dating clients.”

  “First, it wouldn’t be a date. You’re here; I’m here, and it’s Friday, so let’s hang out. Second, after you move my water heater, our plumber/client relationship is at an end. No rules broken.”

  “Speaking of your water heater, why on earth do you want to move the thing six inches, when it’s perfectly fine where it is?”

  Was that suspicion he caught in her expression? “It’s in the way of a remodeling project I have in mind. I want to create a workout space and put some gym equipment in that part of the basement.” Bullshit, but he wasn’t about to tell her his sole reason for moving his water heater was to spend a few more hours enjoying her company.

  “I see.” Her eyes narrowed. “Would you like Haney & Sons to bid on the remodeling job? Because I gotta tell you, you don’t strike me as a do-it-yourself kind of guy.”

  “Maybe.” Yep. Definitely not buying what he’d tried to sell. She knew bullshit when she heard it. Quick-witted, another thing he admired about Jo. He grinned, not the least bit repentant. “You haven’t responded to my invitation yet. You, me and a crowd of people celebrating the fact that it’s the beginning of the weekend. What do you say?”

  “I’d have to go home and change, and it’s been a long week,” she muttered, looking everywhere but at him.

  “I like the way you’re dressed right now. You rock that navy-blue twill, and I’m sure you won’t be the only one at Lucky’s just getting off work. Happy hour on a Friday night, Jo, and I’m on vacation. Have pity on me. I could use some company.”

  “You’ve been to Lucky’s before?” she asked, finally turning to face him again.

  “No, but I’ve heard—”

  “Do you see me as some kind of passport into a different world?” She placed a hand on her chest. “Am I a novelty to you?”

  “I have no idea what you mean.”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “I’m skilled labor, solidly working class. Let’s face it.” She swung her arm in an arc. “You live in a castle, and you’re way out of my social stratosphere. We have nothing in common.”

  “I had no idea you were such a snob.” Her rejection not only stung, but the implications offended him deeply. “Personally, I would never reject a person based on something so superficial.”

  Her face reddened. “I’m not a snob.”

  “No? Prove it.” He strode across the kitchen and placed his untouched glass of ice water in the sink. “I’m asking you to share a couple of beers and a bite to eat with me. No big deal. Like I said, it’s Friday night, and I’d appreciate the company.” He peered over his shoulder at her. “I’m finding it difficult to unwind. I’m used to working twelve hours a day, six days a week, and I spend way too much time with coworkers and not enough time with friends.” Did he even have friends anymore? Friendships took time and effort to maintain, so … that would be a no.

  “Don’t you go out with those coworkers when you’re done for the day?”

  “I do. Don’t you?” He did on occasion, rarely in fact. “Mostly we talk shop. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend time with someone who isn’t a coworker?” He could see a shift in her body language. Jo was about to capitulate, and the familiar flare of victory ignited, revving him up. He hadn’t felt this good about winning a case in a long, long time.

  “All right. Fine. I’ll have a beer or two with you.” Then she made a sound halfway between a grunt and a laugh. “I’m going to go move your water heater six whole inches now.”

  “I’ll help.”

  “Have you ever thought about getting a cat or two?” she asked, her lovely face the picture of compassion. “As long as you leave enough food and water in their dishes, and they have a few toys, they’d be fine with your work schedule. Cats are pets you could keep regardless of how many hours you work, especially if you have more than one. Plus, when you are home, cats are good company.”

  “A cat? More than one?” Will chuckled. “Is that what you think I need?”

  “I have no idea what you need, but it strikes me you might be a little lonely.”

  “Thank you for your concern.” Frowning, Will followed her back to the foyer and picked up the copper pipes and the aluminum venting supplies. “What about you? Do you get out a lot? Are you seeing someone?”

  “No and no.” Jo preceded him down the stairs to his cavernous, mostly unfinished walkout basement. “I have a … Never mind.”

  “A cat?” He chuckled again.

  She shot him a wry grin. “No.”

  “Then what were you going to say?”

  “You might find this surprising, but a lot of men find me intimidating.”

  Her shoulders slumped forward, and the vulnerability he glimpsed in that small gesture pierced his heart. How could anyone see her as anything but amazing? “Why?”

  “Because I’m better at most things than the men I’ve dated are.”

  Better at sex? He’d be more than willing to be intimidated by her—make that for her—in the bedroom. “Like plumbing?”

  “Yep, and carpentry. I’m also good at fixing cars.”

  “Hmm. Maybe I could be your passport into a different world than the one you inhabit. Mine is populated by a different class of men.”

  “What do you mean?” Jo set her toolbox beside the water heater and reached up to turn off the gas.

  “Perhaps you’re hanging out with the wrong sort. There are plenty of men secure enough with their own masculinity who would not be put off or threatened by your superior skills.”

  She leaned over to pull a tool out of her metal box, and he was the lucky bastard who got to enjoy the sight of her rounded, sexy backside again. “You see, Jo, a man who is successful on his own terms, a man who is comfortable in his own skin, would find a woman like you extremely appealing.”

  “You know men like that?” One side of her luscious mouth turned up.

  “Sure. We’re birds of a feather so to speak.”

  Her eyes widened, and she stopped what she was doing. “So, say you’d been working on a issue with your car for hours with no success, and I nudged you aside and fixed the problem in twenty minutes. That wouldn’t put a dent in your pride?”

  “Not at all. I’m not interested in how cars work, only in whether or not mine runs smoothly. I’m not going to waste hours working on a mechanical problem I have no interest or skill in solving.”

  “Right. You can afford to hire someone else to fix your car for you.”

  “There is that, but even if I couldn’t, I’d reach out to someone like you for help. And I’d offer something in return, something involving my own brand of expertise. It’s called quid pro quo.”

  “Lawyerly stuff?” An intense expression flitted across her features for a second and disappeared. Her eyes took on a fascinating glint, and she grinned. “I don’t suppose you’re having difficulties with your car right now, are you?”

  “Why? Are you in need of lawyerly stuff?”

  “Maybe.”

  Worked for him. He’d gladly help her out of a jam if that’s what it would take to get to know her better. Any man who put his pride ahead of his chance to be with an amazing woman like Josey had to be an idiot, and he was no idiot.

  Something about her drew him, and he wanted to see where the thread might lead. Was she a novelty? Probably, but every relationship had to start somewhere. If she was right, and they had nothing in common, fine. He’d look into getting a cat or two. Coming home to friendly pets would be a definite improvement over coming home night after night to empty space.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “I still can’t believe you drive a Prius,” Josey said, sliding into the booth at Lucky’s Pub. She expected Will to take the opposite seat. He didn’t. Instead, he folded in beside her. There went her pulse, and damn, he smelled good. How had she not noticed his strong profile before?

  “Why is that? Don’t you think lawyerly types can be concerned about our dependence on fos
sil fuels?”

  “I guess I never gave that much thought, and you’re the only lawyer I know on a first name basis.” She’d never been this acutely aware of a man’s presence before. Everything about him fascinated her. She even found his hands and feet sexy, something she’d never paid any attention to with the men she’d dated. His long, tapered fingers were almost articulate, graceful, while at the same time, utterly masculine. Articulate seemed an odd word to associate with hands, but his expressed so much about him—like how capable, self-assured and incredibly sensual he was.

  The first day they’d met, his features revealed signs of strain, with dark circles under his eyes and in the tightness around his mouth. Right now, he was relaxed, almost happy, and oh so very appealing. His nearness stole her breath and sent her heart racing. “Don’t you think you’d be more comfortable on the other side of the booth?”

  “You want to discuss the legal jam you’re in, right? The one requiring my expertise? It’s noisy in here, and I’ll be able to hear you better this way.” He rested his arm along the top of the seat behind her shoulders. “Are you uncomfortable, Jo? I’ll move if you are.”

  “Not at all.” Electrical pings of awareness bounced around her midriff. Uncomfortable? Turned on, more like, which definitely qualified as discomfort. If she ran her fingers through his hair, would it feel silky to the touch? She shifted and straightened her menu so the bottom was perfectly parallel to the edge of the table.

  If she were the type to enjoy the occasional fling, Will would be at the top of her list of candidates. Sadly, she’d never been the fling type. Living through her older brother’s handsiest handyman in Twin Cities promiscuity phase had been enough to convince her sluttiness was not for her. She’d been mortified by his behavior, and she’d seen his actions for what they were, a defense mechanism. Thank God Sam had found Haley when he had.

  Will’s attention shifted to their surroundings, and then he touched her shoulder lightly. “So, what kind of legal jam are we talking about?”

  She nearly jumped out of her skin at his touch and the pings of awareness turned to ripples of full-out desire. “I’m not in a legal jam, but I would like to ask a few questions.” She picked up the menu, squelching the impulse to use it as a fan to cool her overheated libido.

  Their server appeared and asked if they wanted anything to drink. “What would you like?” Will asked, giving Jo’s shoulder another brief touch.

  He was tossing signals her way with all this touching and closeness, and she was sorely tempted to catch them. Not a good idea, because they were mismatched, and nothing would come of it but another bruise to her heart. Best pretend not to notice the signals. She shifted away from his wonderful scent and enticing … everything. “I’ll have a Surly on tap.”

  Will slid the menu closer and ran his finger down the beer list. “I’ll try a Lucky’s Brew.”

  Once the server left, he shifted too. Closer. “So, what would you like to discuss, Jo?”

  “What’s involved in changing a corporation’s name? I’m asking because when the housing market crashed, my older brother came up with the idea of offering handyman services to keep the family business afloat until the economy improved.” Jo turned slightly and leaned into the corner between the back of the booth and wall. She faced Will and tucked one leg up on the seat, a barrier against further encroachment into her space. He was too distracting and alluring, and she needed that space. With Will, it would be far too easy to dive right in without first checking the water’s depth. Big mistake.

  “The family business used to be called Haney & Sons Construction, and when the handyman service took off, the name was changed to reflect the addition.”

  “Go on.” He nodded, focusing all of his considerable attention on her.

  “My grandpa and his sons started the business. When my dad died, his shares came to me and my brothers. Grandpa Joe retired in January, and now my two uncles run Haney’s.” She flapped her hand in the air. “Too much information, but it’s relevant because the history is why I can’t get my family to cooperate. I want to know what’s involved and if changing the name of a corporation is a huge and expensive undertaking.”

  “No, not really.” He shook his head. “You fill out a bunch of forms, pay a filing fee and send the paperwork to the right entities. Why do you ask?”

  “Ever since my grandfather announced he intended to retire, I’ve been pushing to have our name changed to better reflect my status. I find the name of our company … not exactly sexist, but exclusive, and my uncles think I’m just being oversensitive.”

  “I see. The name does not reflect your stake in the company. A slight change, and the company name would never have to be changed again. Haney Construction & Handyman Services, Inc. Problem solved.”

  “Exactly!” She gave him a friendly push. “You get it. Why don’t my uncles, brothers and cousins understand?”

  “Because the issue doesn’t affect them like it does you. Are there any other Haney females on staff?”

  “Yes.” She straightened. “But I don’t view this as just a family thing. As we grow, I’m hoping we can attract more female electricians, carpenters, and plumbers. I want our company name to be inclusive across the board.”

  “Whatever you need in the way of legal counsel, you have it free of charge.”

  “Thank you, but what about the quid pro quo thing? What do you want in exchange?” Jo eyed him, a little wary of his motives.

  “Spend some time with me, Jo.”

  “Spend time with you in exchange for free legal services?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “That sounds an awful lot like—”

  “Are you ready to order?” their server asked, setting their beers on the table.

  “Give us a few more minutes?” Will smiled warmly at the pretty waitress. “We haven’t even looked at our menus yet.”

  “Sure thing.” Their server, an attractive brunette, smiled at Will and leaned toward him. “Do you have any questions about the menu?”

  “Not at the moment, thanks.”

  Lingering much? Jo flashed the brunette a knowing look, and she finally left. Will reminded her of her brother Sam. Women were drawn to men like them, whether the attention was welcome or not. Her brother would never stray from Haley, but what kind of man was Will?

  “I don’t require anything in exchange for my help.” Will’s attention returned to her. “The legal counsel comes without strings attached. It just so happens I enjoy your company, and I’d like to spend some time getting to know you. Who knows? Maybe we’ll become good friends.”

  “Hmm.” Why would a high-powered, extraordinarily good-looking attorney with his pedigree want to hang out with her? Boredom? Her paralegal sister-in-law seemed to think introducing Will to her world might be good for him. Maybe sitting at the top was a lonely place to be. Honestly, where she sat wasn’t any better.

  Still, she had a heart to protect, and she knew herself well enough to realize Will could easily worm his way into her hopes and dreams, and then what? Once he got to know her, the novelty would wear off. “Can I think about it and get back to you?”

  “Of course.” A flash of what looked like hurt flickered across his features. He picked up his menu and began reading. “You have my number. Give me a call when you decide.”

  They hardly knew each other. How could he possibly be hurt? More likely he’d been momentarily disappointed, and she’d misread the expression. He must have a competitive streak, or he wouldn’t be any good at lawyering. He might see her response as a point lost. Tough. A week from now he’d forget all about her.

  “So, the first time I came to your house, you mentioned you no longer knew why you became a lawyer. What would you rather be?”

  Will slouched against the backrest and frowned for a second. “I have no idea. All I know is what I’m doing right now isn’t working for me.”

  “There must be lots of things you can do with a law degree. Maybe start by making a list of related f
ields you might find more satisfying.”

  He glanced askance at her. “I’m open to suggestions.”

  “I don’t know. You could teach or support a cause you’re passionate about.” She racked her brain for ideas, even though she knew nothing about lawyers. “What about opening your own practice, and accepting only cases and clients you really want to represent?”

  He groaned and rubbed his face with both hands. “Sounds simple, but I had the misfortune of being born into a family that goes way back in Minnesota’s history, on both my mother’s and my father’s side. Prescotts and Haywards have been around since before Minnesota became a state, and all of them were movers and shakers. I’m dealing with multigenerational familial expectations here.”

  “So? Break the chains.” She shoved his shoulder for the second time. Just to touch him? She couldn’t deny their mutual attraction affected her too. “If you aren’t happy with what you’re doing, try something different. What’s the worst that could happen? You’d relax a little and enjoy your life?”

  He studied her, his eyes widened a fraction, and again she caught a glimpse of some strong emotion flicker across his features. He almost looked a little stunned, but that couldn’t be right. Could it?

  “Good question, counselor,” he teased. “So, you’ll give some thought about becoming my friend, and I’ll give some thought to breaking the mold.”

  He held out his hand. Jo took it, expecting a hearty handshake. Instead, he turned her palm up and traced a finger from one callus to the next, as if trying to connect the dots that might solve some deep puzzle. She held her breath, waiting for him to stop, hoping like hell he wouldn’t. A shiver—the fun kind—skimmed along her nerves, leaving heat in its wake.

  “You’re something, Jo.” He turned her hand over and caressed the back with his thumbs. “I get the feeling you have no idea how truly rare you are.” He flashed her a heart-stopping, crooked grin. “I’m going to be devastated if you refuse to be my friend.”