by Robin Wells
Ali smoothed her hair as she tried to smooth her raw, ruffled nerves. “Well, no.”
Matt folded his arms across his chest. “Would you know if the proper type and amount of insulation had been installed?”
“That isn’t my area of expertise.”
“If the electrical contractor is taking shortcuts, would you be able to tell? If the plumber tries to use pipes of an inferior quality, would you know the difference?”
“Of course not,” Ali said stiffly. “I’m an interior designer, not a general contractor.”
“My point exactly.” Matt sat back down in the chair with an air of finality, his expression clearly indicating he considered the issue settled.
Ali felt the blood rise in her face. It was her turn to stand and pace. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you a few questions,” she said. “What color are you going to paint the rooms?”
From the startled look on his face, Ali guessed that he hadn’t even given the issue a thought. “Same as always— builder’s white.”
“Every room of every house?”
“Yes.” His voice had a defensive edge. “It’s not a stark white—more of an offwhite. It’s a nice, neutral color. I’ve used it in lots of spec homes and people seem to like it just fine.”
“These aren’t your standard, modern spec homes,” Ali informed him briskly. “And white walls throughout are totally inappropriate to Victorian-style architecture. What type of flooring are you planning to use?”
His eyes became guarded. “Carpeting. Tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.”
“No hardwood floors? Not even in the foyers?”
Ali could tell the answer from his expression and didn’t bother to wait for his reply. “What type of ceiling molding are you going to use?”
“I’m, uh, not planning to install any moldings.”
A little thrill of righteous indignation ran through her. “Then I don’t suppose you’ve thought about wainscoting, either.”
Matt rose to his feet again and confronted her at the mantel. “Now, look, these things cost money,” he protested. “You’re talking about luxury items that can really add up.”
“They’re also the type of things that buyers are willing to spend more money to get.” Ali picked up the magazine from the coffee table, opened it to a marked page and handed the publication to him. “Here,” she said, thrusting it at him. “Read this.”
Matt scanned the article and handed it back to her. “Okay, so one study proved that home buyers in one part of the country like certain extras. Fine. That doesn’t necessarily translate into what’s going to work with home buyers in Hillsboro, Oklahoma.”
Ali glared at him, her hands on her hips. “Why on earth wouldn’t it?”
Matt waved his hand. “Look, I’m sure all these niceties would be… nice, but it’s out of the question. We’re financed to the limit. It’s going to take every cent of what we’ve already borrowed to build the homes the way they’re planned.”
He was completely close-minded, she thought hotly. He wasn’t willing to even entertain the possibility that she was right. She must be out of her mind to think Matt was attractive. He was exactly the sort of man she’d always vowed to avoid: bossy, obstinate, rigid and stubborn.
She struggled to maintain her composure. “What if I come up with additional financing?”
Matt’s arms were crossed and his lips were set in a firm line. Everything about his demeanor said he considered the subject closed. “Even if you could talk the bank into increasing the loan, I’m not willing to incur any more indebtedness.”
“Is money your only objection?”
The question seemed to stop Matt short. He raised a wary eyebrow, and Ali was sure he suspected a trick. “Yes,” he said after a moment. “And it’s the only one I need.”
“All right.” Ali nodded her head as if they’d struck a deal. A plan had formed in her mind, but she wasn’t about to discuss it. It was always easier to apologize than to get permission.
Matt continued to eye her suspiciously. “Ail right what?”
“Just—all right.”
The tea kettle whistled in the kitchen and Flipper gave two sharp barks. Ali suppressed a smile as she watched Matt closely. She couldn’t wait to see his smug composure given another jolt.
Just as she knew he would, her little dog bolted into the air and threw himself into a perfect back flip. To her gratification, Matt’s eyes grew wide with shock.
His jaw open, he turned to Ali. “What in blazes…”
Ali laughed. “Whenever he hears any type of bell or whistle, he flips. It’s how he got his name.”
Flipper wagged his tail proudly and Ali escaped to the kitchen to grab the kettle. She was glad of the distraction. The tension between them had grown thick enough to cut with a knife.
What an impossible man! He was a Class-A control freak and as stubborn as they came. She was going to have to tread carefully. She had a feeling that once Matt dug in his heels on an issue, it would take a bulldozer to make him budge.
Well, she knew a thing or two about bulldozing her way through an issue, too. Matt Jordan might not know it yet, but he had met his match.
Chapter Four
“Oh, Ali, it’s gorgeous!” Lauren Connors exclaimed. She lifted the lacy, blush-colored nightie from its nest of tissue paper and held it up in front of her. “I love it—and so will Justin.” She wriggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Ali glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall, then grinned at her friend. “Well, in just nine hours, it’ll be time to find out.”
Lauren smiled back. “I swear, Ali, this is the longest day of my life. Everything’s all done and there’s nothing to do but wait for seven o’clock to arrive. Whatever made me decide to have an evening wedding?”
“Your streak of romanticism. You wanted moonbeams and candlelight, remember?” Ali picked up the coffeepot and carefully filled two mugs with the steaming brew. “Besides, the afternoon will fly by. You’ll be busy at the hairdresser’s, then you’ll take a long, luxurious bath and get dressed—and before you know it, you’ll be Mrs. Justin Townsend.”
“You always manage to make me feel better,” Lauren said fondly. “Tm so glad you moved back to Hillsboro. I’ve really missed having you around.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” Ali replied. She crossed the kitchen and handed her friend a cup of coffee, then sank into a chair across from her in the breakfast nook. “It feels good to be back. Besides, you couldn’t get married without me. Remember how we vowed when we were little girls that we’d always do everything together?”
Lauren nodded, her short auburn curls bouncing up and down. “We’d better get to work and get you married soon or we’ll fall out of sync.”
Ali grimaced. “I’m afraid I don’t have very good luck with men.”
“That’s because you haven’t gotten involved with the right one yet,” Lauren reassured her.
“I think it’s more than that. I’ve done a lot of thinking lately, and I’ve come to the conclusion that men think I’m a pushover.”
Lauren’s eyebrows arced up and she leaned forward with avid interest. “Oh, really? When did this happen?”
Trust Lauren to put a sexual twist on her statement—especially since she knew Ali had limited experience in that department. Ali shot her friend a censoring look. “I simply meant every man I meet wants to tell me how to run my life.”
Lauren smiled at Ali fondly. “They probably view you as a challenge. Which, you have to admit, you are. You can’t deny that more odd things happen to you than happen to the average person.”
“I know,” Ali sighed, fingering the handle of her coffee mug. “My life is like a continual episode of ‘I Love Lucy.’”
Lauren laughed. “But there’s one major difference. Most of the situations aren’t your fault. You’re not careless or reckless or crazy. You’re just… destined for excitement.”
Ali smiled. “With tact like that, you belon
g in the diplomatic corps. But I might as well face it, Lauren… my aura of excitement isn’t exactly conducive to romance. Men either immediately run the other direction or try to take me firmly in hand.”
Lauren’s eyebrows roguishly rose.
Ali rolled her eyes. “I should know better than to discuss this with a woman about to go on a honeymoon.”
Laughing, Lauren reached across the table to pat her hand. “Seriously, Ali, I think you’re a little paranoid.”
Ali gazed down at her coffee mug. “Maybe so. I guess I’m afraid I’ll end up like my mother.”
“Not a chance.”
“Why not? Robert ended up just as domineering as my father. If he’s a chip off the old block, maybe I’m a chip off the old doormat.” Ali shook her head. “I loved my parents, but I don’t want a marriage like theirs, Lauren. I’d rather be on my own.”
“You’re not at all like your mother that way,” Lauren said gently. “She wanted your dad to call the shots. He was a lot older than she was, and I think she saw him as a father figure instead of an equal.” Lauren leaned forward. “You’re completely different. You know your own mind and you make your own decisions.” Lauren smiled encouragingly. “The right man is out there. In fact, he might be right under your nose. What about Matt?”
Ali stared at her friend. “Matt? You’ve got to be kidding. If you looked up the word bossy in the dictionary, you’d probably see his picture. First he behaves like an overprotective big brother—”
“Actually, I thought it was sweet of Matt to try to warn you about Derrick,” Lauren interjected. “And he’s right. Derrick might be Justin’s closest living relative, but he’s pure trouble, and everyone in town knows it.”
“Well, there’s nothing sweet about the way Matt refuses to consider my ideas for the development,” Ali grumbled.
“I’m sure you’ll bring him around,” Lauren reassured her. “You may think you don’t want a strong-minded man, Ali, but my guess is you’d be bored by anything less.” Lauren gave her a sly grin over the rim of her coffee cup. “Robert thought you and Matt would be perfect for each other.”
Ali stared at her friend. Her stomach gave a sudden lurch, as if she’d just gone over a hill at a high speed. “Robert what?”
“He thought you two might hit it off. That’s why he was trying to get you to come back to Hillsboro last summer. He even enlisted my help to try to get you here.”
Ali’s head swam as she recalled the insistent phone calls she’d received from Robert and Lauren. “Was Matt aware of this scheme?”
Lauren shook her head. “No. He was as much in the dark as you. Robert knew you were both too stubborn to go along with any type of matchmaking plan.”
“See what I mean about Robert trying to run my life?” Ali eyed her friend with mock indignation. “And you were going to help him!”
Lauren shrugged. “Justin and Matt are friends, and I think he’s really nice. Besides, you have to admit he’s quite a hunk.”
The fantasy of a shirtless Matt again filled Ali’s mind. She certainly couldn’t argue the point. “Well, I have no interest in getting involved with anyone anytime soon.” Especially not the man who was Robert’s selection. She’d loved her big brother, but she’d spent the last three years trying to establish her independence. It was high time she made her own decisions.
Lauren picked up the nightie by its tiny spaghetti straps. The sunlight streamed through the transparent fabric. “Ali, any woman who would pick out lingerie like this is not totally disinterested in men.” She raised an eyebrow. “And if I’m any judge of men, Matt Jordan is the kind who could properly appreciate an outfit like this.”
“Lauren—honestly!”
“And speak of the devil,” Lauren murmured as she gazed out the window. A mischievous grin lit her face. “Don’t look now, but you’ve got company.”
Ali followed her friend’s gaze out to the patio. Matt was coming through the back gate, his arms laden with firewood. Ali’s heart quickened at the sight of him, and she found herself annoyed at her physical response. It’s nothing but a reaction to Lauren’s insinuations, she told herself. Even more likely, she was edgy because they hadn’t resolved the partnership question. He’d left quickly after their discussion yesterday, evidently thinking the matter was settled. Ali knew it was anything but.
She watched him crouch and begin stacking logs on the meager remnants of her woodpile, irritated at the way her eyes were drawn to the snug fit of his faded jeans.
Determined not to sit and ogle the man, Ali rose and opened the back door. “Hi. The fire man cometh, I see.”
Matt looked up and grinned, his even white teeth accentuating his tan. “Something like that. Robert and I used to take turns cutting firewood when we cleared our development sites and I noticed yesterday that you were running low.”
It was a kind gesture, exactly the sort of thing Robert would have done for her if he’d been alive. And exactly the sort of thing she shouldn’t allow Matt to do if she wanted him to think of her as an equal partner instead of a little sister in need of a guardian.
Ali folded her arms across her chest. “Thanks, but I’m afraid I can’t accept it. I don’t take charity, and since I’m not very handy with a chain saw, I won’t be able to return the favor.”
Matt gave an amused chuckle and straightened his back, shoving his hands into his fleece-lined denim jacket. “I didn’t exactly expect that you would. But I cut too much wood—habit, I guess. I’ve got more than enough to see me through the next month, and it looks like you could use some.”
Ali hesitated. There was no point in arguing over a gesture that was only meant to be neighborly. Maybe he was feeling apologetic about the way he’d so abruptly dismissed her suggestions yesterday. She shifted uneasily and gave a grudging nod, rubbing her hands along her arms. “Well, thanks. It was thoughtful of you.”
Matt’s grin crinkled the corners of his eyes in a way that made Ali’s pulse race. “Don’t mention it. I’ll bring around a couple more loads from my truck.”
“I’ll help,” Ali said suddenly. If she shared in the labor, she wouldn’t feel so beholden to him.
“No need. It’ll just take a few minutes. Besides, it looks like you’ve got company.”
Ali followed his gaze over her shoulder and was startled to find Lauren standing behind her in the doorway. She’d completely forgotten that her friend was there.
Lauren’s wide grin made Ali uneasy. She was afraid Matt would pick up on the fact they’d been talking about him from Lauren’s amused expression.
Ali surreptitiously elbowed her to knock it off. “Lauren, I believe you know Matt Jordan?”
Ignoring Ali’s warning glare, Lauren stepped out of the doorway and continued to smile as she shook Matt’s hand.
“Sure. Nice to see you, Matt.”
“Good to see you, too,” he replied. “Today’s the big day, hmm?”
“Sure is.” Lauren beamed.
“Well, I’ll see you and Justin this evening.”
Ali looked at Lauren in surprise. She hadn’t mentioned that she’d invited Matt to the wedding. But then, she had said that Justin and he were friends, she reminded herself.
Matt was gazing intently at something inside the doorway and Ali turned to see what it was. She was mortified to see the nightie draped over the back of a chair.
Reflexiveiy, she reached for it. Matt’s gaze shifted from the silk in her hand up to her face. Their eyes locked for a second, then he looked away—but not before Ali caught a glimmer of speculation in his eyes.
He thought the skimpy nightie was hers! Ali’s face flamed. It was ridiculous, but she somehow felt exposed—as though Matt had uncovered the fact that extravagant lingerie was her secret vice. What she wore to bed was nobody’s business, least of all Matt Jordan’s. And she certainly didn’t want him thinking about it.
Matt cleared his throat. “If you ladies will excuse me, I’ll go get another load of wood.” He turned
abruptly toward the gate with Flipper close behind.
Lauren moved back inside and Ali closed the door behind her, brandishing the filmy garment. “Did you leave this in plain sight on purpose? He thinks it’s mine!”
Lauren gave an impish shrug. “I don’t see what’s so terrible. It’ll just make him wonder what you look like in it.”
“Just what I need,” Ali moaned. “A business partner who won’t take me seriously imagining me in racy lingerie.”
Lauren laughed, put the gift back in its box and pulled on her coat. “Thanks again for the present—and for offering a diversion from the pre-wedding jitters. I think I can make it until seven o’clock now.”
Ali gave her friend a hug. In a few hours Lauren would begin a new life—a life based on love and sharing and commitment. Ali’s own life suddenly seemed sadly empty in comparison.
She couldn’t help but feel a little wistful as she walked her friend to the door. “I’m glad you came by—even if you did see fit to make Matt think I must have secret job in video porn,” she teased softly.
“Hey, it never hurts to give a man a little something to think about,” Lauren blithely responded.
“I’d prefer to have Matt thinking about interior design.”
Lauren flashed a knowing smile as she breezed out the door. “Ulterior designs are much more interesting, Ali.”
Matt rounded the corner with his third load of wood to find Ali walking toward him. Backlit by the sun, her hair gleamed around her face like a mahogany halo.
A ripple of attraction tightened his stomach and traveled lower. She had a fresh, unfussy, one-of-a-kind beauty that seemed to grow more pronounced each time he saw her. She also had a way of making ordinary, everyday clothing look extraordinarily seductive. Her jeans weren’t tight, but they hugged her body in all the right places. Matt had a strong urge to do the same. His mind flickered to an image of her clad in that tidbit of lingerie he’d glimpsed in the kitchen and his body gave a surge of response.