Restoring His Heart

by Lorraine Beatty

  She started back toward the work area, catching sight of him on the other side of the truck. She rounded the tailgate and stopped. Adam had his forearms on the front fender, his head bowed. Slowing, she moved toward him trying to decide whether to speak or wait for him to acknowledge her presence.

  She stopped at his side, resisting the urge to touch him. “Adam, are you all right?” He looked over at her and the torment in his eyes pierced her heart. “What’s wrong?”

  He straightened. “Why didn’t you tell me your niece and nephew were in the park the day I crashed my car?”

  Laura took a moment to gather her thoughts and calm her racing heart. “At first I didn’t think you’d care. Then later, you and Kenny had hit it off and well, I didn’t want to upset you.”

  Adam shook his head and turned away, running a hand through his hair.

  “I’m sorry, Adam. I guess I should have said something, but…”

  He whirled around and came toward her. “I’m the one who’s sorry, Laura.”

  He took her shoulders in his hands, staring at her with dark, troubled eyes. “I would never hurt anyone, especially your family. And I would never hurt you.”

  Laura felt tears form behind her eyes. She could feel his hands trembling against her shoulders. She’d never imagined he’d be this upset. It broke her heart to see him this way. “I know that, Adam. I do.”

  Suddenly he pulled her close, holding her tightly against his chest, his chin resting on the top of her head. “Forgive me?”

  She nodded, unable to speak. She allowed her arms to move around his waist. The sense of comfort and belonging she felt wrapped in his arms had cracked open a wall deep inside she’d long ignored. She breathed him in, letting herself imagine sharing his embrace every day.

  He pulled back, his gaze drifting downward to her lips, and lingering. She held her breath. Waiting. Part of her brain warned her to stop him, but another part longed to know his kiss. He bent his head, his breath caressing her mouth. Then he pulled back, his hands gently squeezing her shoulders.

  “I’ve already made one mistake today. I don’t want to make another.” He stepped back and walked away.

  It took her several seconds to gather her composure and join him at the table saw. “We could knock off early today if you’d like.” She fully expected him to refuse. He never wanted to stop working.

  “Yeah, maybe we should call it a day. I won’t be much use to you.” He started to unplug the tools and dismantle the portable table saw.

  Laura worked beside him in silence. Something had happened between them today and she needed time to sort it all out. Seeing Adam so vulnerable and emotional had demolished all her perceptions about him. And the man she’d glimpsed just now was more unsettling than the cocky daredevil had ever been….

  Chapter Seven

  Laura pulled on her work jeans, inhaling the sweet autumn breeze that drifted in through the window. The day had dawned clear, cool and with a gentle breeze from the Gulf to make it a perfect day. She’d not slept well, her mind filled with dreams of brides and flowers and a gazebo draped for a celebration. Obviously the result of spending so much time helping Shelby with her wedding plans.

  She ruffled Wally’s fur, then moved to the dresser for an LC Construction T-shirt. She stopped, the shirt halfway out. On impulse she shoved it back in and opened the next drawer. The pale green scooped-neck T-shirt fit her better, yet was still loose enough not to be suggestive.

  For some reason she felt like dressing more feminine than usual. She moved into the bathroom and ran a brush through her hair. Maybe she’d leave it down today instead of knotting it up on the top of her head so it would fit under her cap. Her hand was on her makeup bag when she realized what she was doing. Idiot. There was no point in letting herself be attracted to Adam Holbrook. He was a temporary presence in her life. A man who craved excitement and adventure, who by his own admission could never survive in a small town like Dover.

  But from the moment she’d seen Adam standing in her brother’s old room, his easy charm and his self-assured attitude had left her feeling edgy and uncomfortable. She hadn’t been able to ignore the way he looked at her and the way that look made her feel.

  Adam saw her as a woman first and a contractor second. Her crew never saw her as a woman and she liked it that way. She was their boss, doing a man’s job in a man’s world and she dressed the part. Jeans, boots, tees, flannel in winter. Hard hat and baseball cap. She couldn’t do her job effectively if she dressed girly all the time.

  Except Adam had made her remember how it felt to wear feminine blouses and skirts. She didn’t want to feel that way. She didn’t want to remember how it felt to be held in a man’s arms, to love someone completely. Yesterday had changed all that. Starting with Adam’s tender concern over her cut. She glanced down at the bandage he’d applied with such gentleness. She could still remember the feel of his hand holding her arm.

  But what had kept her tossing and turning all night had been the moments behind the truck. When he’d pulled her into his arms and held her to his chest. She knew he was expressing his apology, his deep regret for his actions, but that had taken a backseat to the feelings he’d unleashed in her. She’d thought for a moment he was going to kiss her, but then something stopped him. What had he meant when he said he didn’t want to make another mistake? Would he have regretted kissing her? Or had he meant that kissing his boss would have been out of line?

  Either way, the end result was the same. Adam wouldn’t want to get involved with a small-town girl. They were too different, miles apart in what they wanted from life. Unexpected versus predictable. She should be thanking him for keeping things in perspective.

  Snatching up a stretchy band, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and changed out of the green top for a comfy large T-shirt. She had only one focus right now and that was getting the gazebo done. She had to stop thinking about what she didn’t have. It was a waste of time and energy.

  *

  “Nice work.” Laura smiled at Adam and gave him a firm pat on his shoulder. The contact sent a quick current along her nerves and she quickly withdrew her hand.

  Adam glanced over his shoulder, holding her with his gaze. “Thanks. I’m starting to like the idea of rebuilding the little house. It all started to make sense to me today, you know. I could see how the pieces fit.” He straightened and placed the jigsaw on the floor of the gazebo. “It’s like folding a parachute. Each section has to be folded in an exact pattern, a precise order. This construction deal is like that.”

  Laura slipped her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “Good.”

  “You ever going to let me tackle something on my own? I think I’m ready.”

  “Adam, you’re an amateur. A talented one, I’ll admit, but all you’ve done so far is to follow my instructions. Cut here. Nail there. You don’t really know the basics of construction. It’s more than knowing how to measure and use a circular saw. There’s a progression to the work that takes place and you have to understand it from the ground up.”

  “I know, but I know enough that I could have built that little door for the foundation yesterday if you would have let me. I’m not saying I want to build a deck or house, just something small, one of the Handy Works projects maybe.”

  Laura shook her head. “I don’t think so, but I appreciate your enthusiasm. Let’s start packing up. We’re at a temporary standstill until I can find the wood for the posts. I want to squeeze in a Handy Works project before lunch and I need to stop by the church at some point and pick up the list of Handy Works volunteers.”

  “No problem. I’d like to say hello to Pastor Jim.”

  “Sure.” She tried to curtail her curiosity about Adam’s relationship with Jim. The pastor had come by the gazebo a couple of times during lunch and the men had sat on the bench beneath the old magnolia tree and talked for the entire hour. Her dad had mentioned Jim coming by the house once or twice to see Adam, but he hadn’t elaborate
d. Were the two men simply friends or were they discussing spiritual issues? She knew it was none of her concern, but that didn’t stop her from wondering.

  *

  Laura took another bite of her club sandwich, keeping one eye on her saw boy. Adam sat silently across the table, staring out the window of Magnolia Café. She wasn’t sure what was eating at him. The Handy Works job had gone extremely well. The family was happy, friendly and very grateful for the help. For some reason Adam had been quiet and somber the entire time, and his mood had carried over into lunch.

  “Tomorrow we’ll remove the cupola. I have a crane scheduled to lift it off the roof. Jeb Bryant will make the repairs at his shop, then we’ll have it put back when the shingles are done.”

  Adam stared out the window. “How can they do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Those people we helped today, the Watkins. They had nothing. A shack. Barely a roof over their head, but they were happy. How can they be happy when they have nothing?”

  “How can you be so unhappy when you have everything?”

  Adam met her gaze, shaking his head. “I don’t have everything.”

  The hollow tone in his voice pierced her heart. “You have a lot. Two hands. A brain. Abilities you haven’t realized.”

  A sardonic grin moved his lips. “Maybe. But if I don’t show up in the hallowed halls of Holbrook Electronics on time, I’ll be just like these people you help. Out of work. No money. No roof over my head.”

  “Don’t give up. We can still finish in time for your deadline. We’re only a little behind schedule.”

  He shook his head. “Maybe it’s time to be realistic. I need to be prepared for the worst.”

  Something in the set of his jaw and the odd tone in his voice worried her. “I don’t understand why your father would do this. It’s so harsh.” She couldn’t imagine her dad forcing any of his children into anything.

  Adam grunted softly and turned to the window. “I think he figured sooner or later I’d come around to his way of thinking and take my place behind the nice little desk he had for me.”

  “What will you do if you don’t get back in time?”

  Adam smiled tightly. “You looking for a new saw boy?”

  *

  Laura watched Adam position the last stringer for the gazebo steps and secured it in place. As much as she hated to admit it, Adam had cut them perfectly. He was becoming a competent assistant. He had the potential to be a good carpenter, or anything else he wanted.

  “Adam, when you’re finished, come over here. I want to show you how to use the router.” She glanced over at him. He was staring off into the park, an odd expression on his face. “Adam?” When he didn’t respond she looked to see what had captured his attention. A woman about her age was approaching the orange fencing, slowly, deliberately, like a model on a runway.

  The woman stopped at the fence, her gaze never leaving Adam. “I need to talk to you.”

  The words were issued as a command but with a definite intimate undertone. Adam put down the drill and stepped over the fence to join her. Laura heard him mutter something before he took her arm and steered her toward the large magnolia tree a few yards away.

  Laura tried to focus on her work, but her curiosity was raging. Unable to resist, she gave up and watched the pair. The woman was sleek, polished and reeked of sophistication. Her tailored suit accentuated her feminine figure while still announcing to the world that she was all business. Her three-inch heels made her already-long legs appear endless and her black, expertly styled chin-length hair wouldn’t dare move in the breeze. She was the kind of elegant women Ted had favored.

  The woman and Adam stood face-to-face. They were too far away for Laura to hear what they were saying, but the body language wasn’t hard to decipher. When the woman reached up and touched Adam’s chest in an intimate gesture, a surge of jealousy burned in her veins. When Adam wrapped his fingers around the woman’s wrist, she had to turn away. She had more important things to do than watch Adam making goo-goo eyes at some high-maintenance city woman.

  Picking up the router again, she placed it on the board, unable to remember what she was supposed to do. All she could think of was the vast difference between herself and the woman. Jeans, T-shirts and a faded cap weren’t exactly the kind of clothes designed to elicit appreciative glances from men. As an architect she’d worn stylish suits and heels, but construction didn’t lend itself to designer shoes and suits.

  “Don’t worry about it, Gail. I’ll handle it.”

  Adam’s voice broke into her thoughts and she turned to find him and the woman approaching the fencing. Adam stepped over it, his eyes locking with hers. He stopped and looked back at the woman.

  “Gail, this is Laura Durrant, the contractor.”

  Laura opened her mouth to speak only to find herself looking at the side of the woman’s face.

  “You’ll call, Adam, when you’ve had enough of this backward kind of life. You’ll be aching for a real adventure and the excitement of the city.” With a condescending glance at Laura, the woman walked off, sashaying across the park as if she owned it.

  Adam placed his fists on his hips, staring at the ground a moment. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called her, but I never expected her to show up here.”

  “Who is she?

  “My attorney, Gail Breckenridge. She’s also the ex-girlfriend I told you about.”

  Laura’s heart lurched. “Why is she here?”

  “To get me out. But your uncle refused. Besides, I told her I didn’t need her help. Not anymore.”

  Laura wasn’t sure what that meant and she was in no mood to find out. Her ego had been trampled enough for one day. “We need to finish these steps. Unless you’re expecting more visitors.”

  Adam shook his head and went back to work.

  *

  Adam stole another glance at Laura as she pulled into the driveway of an old carriage house later that day. She’d been aloof, downright chilly, all afternoon. Only answering his questions with short replies and not initiating any conversation. He debated whether to approach her or wait until her mood shifted. He’d decided to wait, but now he feared her mood might never change. He climbed out of the truck, following in her wake as she entered the house. “What are we doing here again?”

  Laura didn’t look at him. “Making sure the taping and floating are done.”

  Adam stopped at her side. “Care to translate?”

  “Ready to paint.”

  Once inside Laura made her inspection in silence. When they stepped into a large room at the back of the house, Adam couldn’t contain his curiosity. “So what’s this going to be?”

  “A music studio. The owner is a pianist.”

  “I wouldn’t think this would be a good studio. The acoustics are lousy.”

  “It will be fine when we get the sound panels installed.”

  “I thought you had to follow strict guidelines on these old places.”

  “This property isn’t on the National Register. The owner can do as she pleases.”

  “I can put you in touch with someone at Holbrook Electronics. That’s our specialty. Sound systems.”

  She stopped and face him. “Really? What kind?”

  “Everything. If there’s a concert someplace, our equipment is there. In music studios large or small, they probably have our systems in place.” He could see her weighing his offer.

  “It would help keep my budget on track.”

  “Say the word. Give me the specifics on what you need and I’ll make a call.”

  “I thought you hated your family business.”

  Adam shook his head. “I said I didn’t want to work there. I never said I didn’t understand the business.”

  Laura stared at him a moment, then went back to her inspection. Her cold-shoulder act was growing old. He had to know what was behind it. He stepped in front of her when she headed for the door. “Care to tell me what’s wrong? You seem irritated
.”

  “Irritated?” She set her hands on her hips and glared. “Yes, I am. I’m behind on the gazebo, I’ve been pulled away from other projects and saddled with an assistant who needs to be told step-by-step what to do. Then to top it off, you walk off the job to go talk to Business Barbie, leaving me to do all the work.”

  Adam rubbed his forehead. He’d had no idea she’d been so upset by Gail’s appearance. “She means nothing to me.”

  “Oh, I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that.”

  He remembered what she had told him about her ex-husband. Maybe Gail’s visit had dredged up some old pains. But why was she so upset with him? Unless… “Laura, there’s no reason to feel jealous. Compared to you, Gail’s a one-dimensional cardboard cutout.”

  “Which makes me what?”

  Adam searched for the perfect word, but the purple sparks shooting from Laura’s eyes unsettled him. “Unexpected.” He watched her eyes widen, her arms sag to her sides. She held his gaze a moment, then walked off.

  “Let’s go.”

  He followed behind, kicking himself three ways from Sunday for his stupidity. There were dozens of words he could have said. Beautiful. Exciting. Fascinating. And he picked unexpected? It was going to be a long ride home.

  *

  The heavy guilt riding his shoulders was a new sensation. One he didn’t like. He’d lied to the Durrants this evening. He’d told them he wasn’t feeling well and had gone to his room without eating. Truth was, he was too disturbed by Gail’s appearance and Laura’s reaction to eat. But now that he was in his room, the walls were starting to close in. He paced a few steps, then noticed the door to the small balcony off his room. He stepped outside, the cool evening breeze filling his lungs. The air here in Dover was clean and fresh, tinged with pine and a sweet fragrance Laura had told him was from the sweet olive shrub.

  His gaze drifted from the house next door to the street out front and toward a hazy light of downtown in the distance. He wished he could forget Gail and the way she’d dismissed Laura as unworthy of her acknowledgment. He’d wanted to say something, but it would only have made things worse. Looking back, he wondered what he ever saw in Gail. She was hard, grasping and insensitive. Much like he had been. Seeing her next to Laura, with her warmth and compassion, her vibrant personality, had been like looking at darkness and light. In the past all he’d wanted was fun and the next big thrill. Now he wanted something different, but he wasn’t sure how to go about getting it.