by Tesa Devlyn
“True.” Liana fiddled with the drawstring on the workout pants she’d slipped into that morning. “Brittany is my life, and I can’t risk losing her.”
The tears started again. Liana accepted a tissue from her dad and wiped her eyes. “So, are you all totally disgusted with me?”
“Only because you should have left Frank way before you did and confide in us. We would have helped.” Mark wrapped his arms around her. “Somehow you have an erroneous vision of Tim and I. We respect and love you, Li. We both loved Jack and wished to hell he hadn’t died. When you married Frank right away, we knew something wasn’t right. You could have come to us, sis.” He pushed back and looked into her face. “So where does this put you now? What in the hell is Frank doing in Kalispell?”
Liana chuckled. “Good question. My attorney served him with new settlement papers over two weeks ago.” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes. The love and understanding from her family had her on overload. All the years she stood strong and independent and denied herself their support, made her shake her head. “Over the past four years, each month like clockwork, I’ve paid Frank what amounts to blackmail money. The judge didn’t know about his demands, and I was in too much of a fog to report it.”
“That piece of scum.” Tim abandoned his chair and began to take Mark’s path across the hardwood floor and back. “Frank Nash needs some fear put in him.”
“Now, Tim, we won’t resort to violence even though I’d like to do some myself.” Duncan took Liana’s hand. “Go ahead, sweetheart.”
“I can’t believe Frank’s here. He acts like nothing’s happened. Something isn’t right. Last night when they left, a fear of him kidnapping Brittany almost made my knees buckle. Would he try to kidnap her?”
Tim stopped mid step. “All right, don’t get ahead of yourself. How much do you pay him?”
Liana named the figure.
“Holy—”
“Mark, watch your language.” Cathy spoke for the first time since Liana disclosed her near affair. “Li, what can we do to help?”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Liana sat down before her legs collapsed. “I’m not sure what you can do. I just couldn’t let Frank tell you his version first.” She stared at the area rug. The swirls of dark brown and beige began to hypnotize her.
“Let us know if you have to go to court, we’ll be there.” Duncan scooted to the edge of the leather wing-back chair.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“What about when Brittany finds out about her paternity?” Tim threw his hands in the air. “Poor kid, she has some hard facts coming down the pike.”
Cathy rose to put her arms around her daughter. “Liana, we are all committed to support you through this. Don’t forget, we’re just a phone call, or plane ride away, aren’t we?” She turned to the men in her family.
“Of course we are.” Her dad and her brothers agreed in unison.
They all gathered around and hugged Liana. She might feel exposed, but she also experienced a huge sense of relief. She prayed they’d still back her after they had time to digest everything she’d told them.
****
Liana glanced at the clock and groaned. Monday morning and she’d forgotten to set the alarm. Rolling out of bed, she hurried to Brittany’s room.
“Brittany, are you awake?”
“No, I’m not. What time is it?”
Liana couldn’t blame her for being tired. Thanksgiving weekend had been wonderful, terrible, restful and exhausting. She’d experienced a bevy of emotions she wouldn’t have thought possible in one segment of time.
“It’s seven-thirty. Come on, you have to get up.”
“Please don’t shout.” Brittany rolled toward the wall and shielded her eyes from the bright overhead light. “Do you have to shout?”
“I’m sorry, Pumpkin. I blew it and forgot to set the alarm.”
Brittany’s eyes flashed wide open. She threw back the covers and sat up in one movement. “I can’t be late. I have an English test this morning!” She raced to her closet, stripping out of her pajamas as she went. “Oh, no. I don’t have time for a shower.”
“Wear your hair up. What time’s your English class?” Liana hurried back to her room to get dressed. Luckily she didn’t have any morning appointments so she’d drive Brittany to school before she got ready for work.
“My class starts at eight-thirty.”
“We’ll make it.” Liana hopped around on one foot, pulling on a pair of black velveteen sweat pants. She pulled on the matching zip up jacket and fluffed her hair. She brushed her teeth and slipped on a pair of clogs. Good enough until later.
Back in Brittany’s room, her daughter was dressed and peered into her vanity mirror while she brushed on mascara. “I’m so sorry, Brit. I didn’t mean for your week to start out on the wrong foot. Can I do anything to help?”
“Could you make me a smoothie?” She didn’t turn toward Liana, but her tone had mellowed.
Had Frank’s visit been a good thing, or a bad thing? Had he fulfilled Brittany’s need to spend time with him, or had he promised her something he shouldn’t have? Liana bit back a moan as she hurried to the kitchen to make the smoothie and pack a lunch for her daughter.
She’d walk on eggshells until Frank reacted to the settlement papers.
“I’ll have your breakfast and lunch ready in about ten minutes. I’ll run out and start the car so it can warm up.”
“Thank you, Mom!”
Tossing blueberries, flax and whey powder into the blender, she pushed the button and started to make a turkey cranberry sandwich.
The smoothie in a portable cup and the lunch in a bag, Liana ran outside to start the SUV. The cold morning air sent a shiver through her. Not for the first time, she wondered if she’d been crazy to move to Montana. Soon there’d be snow on the roads. At least her house was winterized, right down to insulation in the new rafters of her studio. The next phase of remodel would be chaotic, but warm.
“Mom, are you ready?” Brittany’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
“I’m ready! The car should be warm. Let’s go.”
She normally dropped Brittany in front of the school and left, confident her daughter was safe. Today she waited until Brittany disappeared into the building. Frank and Molly hadn’t communicated before they returned to San Francisco yesterday. Had they really gone? Shaking off her paranoia, she made a quick phone call to her broker.
“I have a referral for you. The prospects are interested in the Saxon Construction house in Whitefish.” Stan gave her the phone number.
Liana’s breathing accelerated. “Saxon Construction? Wow, I had a couple interested in it last week.”
“Competition is good. Did you show it?”
“Yes, I love the house. I used several of the features for my remodel. Could you text me their number? I just dropped Brittany off at school. Do you have office coverage today, Stan? I’d like to focus on this client.”
He assured her the office was well covered and wished her a profitable day. Liana hurried into the house to get ready for a day of business. She hesitated in the center of her living room and soaked up the transformation. Her family had been impressed with the workmanship in the remodel and were excited about the studio. Her financial struggle had been worth every tear and dollar. If the stream of clients kept up, she could enjoy working out of her home. Brittany would come home to warmth and light and a home cooked meal.
Liana took a quick shower before she poured a fresh cup of coffee and fired up her computer before she called the Martins. She learned they’d been referred by the Cummings. Wow, all the running around, late nights and early mornings had paid off. Courtney Cummings had given them a glowing report on her expertise and high level of service.
The Martins wanted a walk-through today. She connected with the listing agent and arranged to meet the Martins in an hour at the mall off the main highway to Whitefish. She imagined Michael’s pleasure if she managed to sell the h
ouse. Her diligence to help him might soften the blow when she confided in him about Ryan.
Not sure how long she’d be in Whitefish, Liana jotted a note for Brittany to bake a frozen pizza if Liana wasn’t home by five.
The Martins were from Calgary and on their way to a software company in Seattle to negotiate some business. They didn’t have time to shop around and wanted to make a quick decision. Luckily, Liana was accustomed to high-energy business people, or they would have drained her with all their brain storming on the drive to Whitefish. They loved the area and planned to rearrange their obligations to spend more time there.
When she pulled in front of the Artisan style house, the sight of the Saxon Construction sign in the yard made her heart flutter. Okay, she had it bad for Michael Saxon.
The Martins loved the house.
“Can you recommend a home inspector?” Mac Martin’s voice was muffled as he shot questions over his shoulder from under the kitchen sink.
“Rick with Northwest Inspections is very good.” She frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m not happy with the drain pipe connection. I’d like the builder to do a walk through with the inspector.”
Liana took a deep breath. Working in tandem with Michael had seemed like a cool idea, but to pick apart his ability as a general contractor might be lethal to their relationship. She’d been in business long enough to know some people were impossible to please.
She nodded. “I’ll check with him. Coincidentally, Saxon Construction is remodeling my house. He does a beautiful job.” She hoped Michael wouldn’t be offended by her request.
****
Michael glanced at his watch. Two o’clock. He’d planned to finish this job in time to get started on Liana’s bedroom today, but the electrician was behind schedule and wanted to go over the plans with Michael.
They no sooner had the wiring schedule stretched out on the bar in the kitchen when his phone vibrated. “Saxon Construction.”
“Michael.”
His body went hot at the sound of his name in her breathy, feminine voice. “Liana, what’s up?”
“I have a huge favor to ask.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“It’s work related.”
“Okay...” As promised, he’d called her on Friday. She’d sounded so emotional he’d been worried about her ever since. If she hadn’t been so busy with her family, he would have stopped by to make sure she was all right.
“I’m at your house in Whitefish. My clients from Canada are very interested in making an offer, but they’d like to set up an inspection and include you in the walk through. They have to leave early in the morning so Rick from Northwest Inspections will be here at five.”
Torn between the urgency to sell the house and not being home to coach Leif with his math, Michael grimaced. “Rick normally gives me a list of his findings.” He forked his fingers through his hair and clamped his teeth in frustration. Damn, he didn’t want to get caught up in petty discussions over personal preference on a speculation house.
“I’m sure he will.” The tension in her voice carried through the connection. He could picture her beautiful mouth tightening and the little crease between her brows. “The Martins have requested you walk through with them and Rick. Can you make it?”
“Just a second.” Michael pressed the phone against his thigh. “Jake, how much longer will we be?”
The electrician glanced over the schedule and shook his head. “Can you stay another fifteen minutes? Sorry I’m late with this, Mick. There were issues at my other job.”
“No problem. When can I get the sheet-rockers in here?”
“Wednesday, the minute I finish the rough-in.”
Michael held up his index finger. “Great. Be right back.” He walked out the front door before he put the phone to his ear. “Okay, Liana. Only because I need to sell the house, I’ll make an exception and work late. In the future, I’m not a realtor. I don’t work all hours of the day.”
“Yes, sir.” Liana’s voice went from soft and breathy, to succinct and clipped. “Will five work?”
“Five it is.”
No sense in starting anything at Liana’s house today. He’d work here until time to head for Whitefish.
Dammit, he hadn’t meant to be short with her, but he had no desire to work crazy hours just because she did. He liked his life in Montana and never planned to go back to the rat race. When the Whitefish Lake house sold, he’d be on track financially with one house at a time.
At four, he flipped open his phone and called Leif. “Hi son. I’m almost finished for the day, but I agreed to do a walk through on the Whitefish house with an inspector. I’ll pick up dinner. In the meantime, there’s some left over turkey in the refrigerator for a sandwich.”
“Not a problem, Dad, and don’t pick up dinner. I can make a sandwich. I’ll slap some cream cheese and cranberries on it and call it good.”
Michael pushed back his cowboy hat and rubbed his forehead. “How’d you get so responsible?”
“Uh, well, I think we both know I didn’t get it from Mom.”
“Now, now. For all her faults, she has her moments of dependability.” Michael tired to keep his disappointment in Meredith to himself. “I’ll be home before seven.” Michael closed his phone, and stuck it back in the holster on his belt.
The change in his schedule allowed time to help the electrician so the sheet-rockers could get on the job tomorrow instead of Wednesday. The change wasn’t all bad.
When he’d told Liana he’d learned to slow down, he’d meant it, but he’d over obligated himself with the speculation house in Kalispell. He had no business starting a new project before the Whitefish house sold. Downsizing his business had meant downsizing his business line of credit, so he’d had to dip into his savings. With the crunch in commercial lending, he was a little tight on money. The house in Whitefish needed to sell, and soon.
He jumped into his truck and cranked up his stereo in hopes George Strait would put him in a mellow mood. By the time Michael pulled into the driveway of the Whitefish house, his anxiety level had dropped a notch. Now, if Liana’s clients didn’t jack him around, he should be home by six-thirty.
Liana met him at the door. “Michael, thank you for coming. Rick’s running late, but should arrive in about fifteen minutes.”
Michael raised a brow and stepped past her into the tiled foyer. “I hope so. I have a son at home who needs a prod with his homework.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” She lowered her voice and nodded toward the kitchen.
Michael got it. Her clients were in the kitchen and she didn’t want him to undo all of her schmoozing. “Let’s get started.”
“Why don’t I introduce you to the Martins?” She gestured toward the kitchen.
“Sure.” Michael tried not to sound short. The drive from Kalispell had mellowed him out, until he saw her in the doorway. He wasn’t angry with her, just tied up in knots from wanting her. If they didn’t have some intimate time soon, he’d go crazy.
The Martin’s were a techie looking couple from a large software company in Calgary. People from a completely different world. He shook Mac Martin’s hand.
“Good to meet you. Do you mind if we get started? Rick can look at everything when he gets here.”
Mac Martin glanced at Liana, his brows meeting below his artfully arranged bangs. “Shouldn’t we wait for the inspector?”
Michael pulled his shoulders back and took a deep breath. “I left a job early to walk through the house with you.”
Liana stepped closer and laid her hand on Michael’s arm. “Mac saw something he didn’t like under the kitchen sink. Uh, here’s the list we’ve made.”
Michael’s patience teetered. He took the list and stared at Liana for a moment before he looked at the paper. She’d raved over the job he’d done with her remodel, but when it came to her clients, he wasn’t good enough.
“This house was built to code and inspec
ted by the appropriate agencies before a certificate of occupancy was issued.” He sounded like an ass, but dammit, he didn’t appreciate some desk jockey questioning his work.
Mac Martin broadened his shoulders and clasped his hands behind his back. “Mr. Saxon, if you aren’t willing to address our concerns, I’m not interested in buying your house. I have no desire to pay someone to redo these items later.”
Through a haze of irritation, he walked through the issues with the Martins and Liana. Each time Mac Martin noted an item he’d personally like changed, Michael bit his tongue until he was surprised he had one left. After the tenth complaint, he couldn’t keep quiet. “Mr. Martin, even though this was a remodel, it’s still a spec house, not a custom build. My designer chooses the finishes and colors to fit a range of homeowners.” The house was damned fine in Michael’s book.
While the Martin’s pondered changing out the windows in the breakfast nook, Michael grabbed Liana’s hand and headed to the powder room to take a look at the pocket door.
“He’s right on this one. Something’s out of plumb, so I’ll fix it tomorrow. The rest I’ll go over with Rick.” He turned to Liana, his hands planted on his hips. “What in the hell is this all about?”
“Welcome to my world.” Liana stood on her tiptoes and peered into his face. “I deal with demands on a daily basis. It’s one of the reasons I work so many hours.”
“The other reason?” His breath brushed her forehead making her bangs flutter.
A thrill shot deep in Liana’s body. She wanted to be closer to him. Every day, always. She stepped back. “Can you stay and talk with the inspector?”
Michael glanced at his watch. “Liana, it’s almost six o’clock. My son’s home scrounging for dinner. I don’t work these hours anymore, remember?”
Liana tilted her head to one side. “Yes, you’ve made that point. Okay. I’ll assure the Martins you’ll connect with Rick tomorrow and make any needed repairs. Rick will email the report to both of us. I really do appreciate your willingness to come so late in the day.”