by L. T. Marie
“Not hungry.” Coal tilted her head as her mother leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
“You’re never hungry.” Her mom reached up to pet Dax just above the nose when he whined from the other side of the enclosure. “I think he’s trying to get your attention. He missed you when you were gone.”
“He doesn’t want my attention. Do you, boy?” Coal laughed as Dax probed her mother’s jacket pocket. “He wants more carrots.”
“He is persistent.”
“Yes, he is.” Pretty much like all the males in this family. “So what was so important that it couldn’t wait until later?”
“Isn’t that obvious, Coal? Really. I talked to you about all this on the phone last week.”
She fought to recall the conversation, but how could her mom expect her to remember anything especially after her father dropped the bombshell of her grandparents’ will on her? After that mind-numbing experience, she was lucky she remembered her own name.
“I came to find you because I need to know when you plan to start the renovations,” her mom said. “I have a few good contractors in mind, and all of them said they could start immediately.”
And allow Daddy to have some say in the remodel? No fucking way! Her dad was always trying to find some way to intrude on her life, and she swore that when she returned, things would be different this time around. “Mom, I told you. I’m planning on doing a lot of the work myself. Besides, I don’t want Daddy involved. We’re still not on speaking terms, and I can only imagine what he thinks about me moving back to the area.”
“Well, for one, you’re his daughter, Coal and he loves you. What makes you think he doesn’t want you here?”
“Uh, maybe because he still looks at me like I’m an ugly green monster with three heads. And I won’t change who I am.” No matter how much it threatens his political ambitions.
“Honey, that’s not true. Just give him some time. He’ll come around.”
“Time, Mom? He’s had three years! This family’s had three years. How much time does everyone need? I am who I am, and this family needs to get over it!”
“Honey, calm down.” She stopped Coal’s pacing with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. “You know how he is. He’s old-fashioned and stuck in his ways. You have to remember you’ve been put in charge of something very important. Something that means a lot to many people who aren’t as fortunate as us. Let’s take it a day at a time and wait and see what happens. All right?”
Coal nodded and gathered the strength she was used to summoning when it came to dealing with her family. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Yeah, okay.”
“So, about the contractors, dear, when do you want them to start?”
“Mom—”
“Just listen.” Coal’s stubbornness was a trait she had inherited from her father, but her mother always possessed the ability to get her to listen to reason. That and her mother was the master when it came to use of the guilt card. “I know you want to do a lot of the work yourself, but with everything else going on right now, you can’t do it all. I promise, your dad will have nothing to do with it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to try and get along with each other. Besides, I’m your mother and want to help with this. You know how much I like remodeling projects. Don’t take that opportunity away from me.”
“Really, Mom?” Coal groaned. “The guilt card right from the gate?”
“Is it working?”
“You know it’s not that I don’t appreciate your help. But I really wanted to do this on my own.”
“I know, Miss Self-Sufficient, but I would feel so much better if you had a small crew to lift the heavy things. Please.”
“First guilt now begging? You’re killing me here.”
“Yeah, but that smile means it’s working.” She placed her palm on Coal’s cheek. “You remind me so much of your father when those dimples appear.”
She closed her eyes, trying to draw from her mother’s strength. Her mom seemed to be the only one in her family who ever truly accepted her. Probably because she wasn’t born a Davis, just married one. “Fine…whatever. But Daddy stays out of it or no deal.”
“Thank you,” her mother said in obvious relief. “With that settled, I have errands to run and calls to make. See you later, sweetie.”
As her mother drove away, Dax leaned his head over the top of the fence and rested it on her shoulder. She buried her face into his thick neck and inhaled the familiar scent of dust and sweat tinged with honey, the contact as comforting as a safety blanket. Just when she started to breathe easier again, the nerve-irritating screech of tires on dry pavement sent a chilling reminder of the reason she’d returned home.
Images of twisted metal and two body bags lying in the street finally caused the tears to fall unchecked. Her grandparents’ death had been all over the news, their horrific car crash sparking a chain of events that would forever alter her life. Their death added one more shackle to her already constrained existence, making her wish that being a Davis wasn’t a life sentence.
She allowed the tears to fall, including the ones she’d held back during the reading of the will. They’d left her a house, and an inheritance, which tied her to the one thing in her childhood that had meant the world to her. Regrettably, they’d also tied her to her father in the worst way. Even in death, her family members had found a way to manipulate her.
Getting angry and focusing on the positives was the only way she could keep a clear head in this fucked up situation. Maybe with her temporary job and a new project to fill her time, she could forget about her family troubles and look forward to the challenge and the physical work ahead. Without a purpose to occupy her mind, she was likely to lose what was left of her sanity.
The sun was beginning to set over the western ridge, so she whistled for Dax and the other two mares to join her inside the barn. Once they were settled and secure, she walked down the narrow dirt path that led to her newly acquired home and pulled off her boots upon entering the unlit house. The electrician was due to arrive Monday, so until then, she’d have to use a flashlight to help navigate her way through the house and up the winding staircase. Just like the rest of the house, the master bathroom was in need of a major overhaul, and as the old shower faucet creaked in protest, she lit a few candles that were resting on the pedestal sink and prayed for five minutes of hot water to soothe her aching muscles. Of course, she could have stayed with her parents during the remodel process, but she’d rather reek of manure for a year than take the chance of running into her father.
She plopped down onto the Aerobed not caring that it was partially deflated. Without electricity, there was no way to re-inflate it unless she wanted to take a trip back to the barn, and she was far too tired for that. As she crawled beneath the covers, she hoped to fall asleep immediately. But the instant she closed her eyes, thoughts of the will and her father’s new role in her life caused her to bolt upright and gasp for air as she felt the familiar fist of anxiety wrap its powerful grasp around her throat. This sudden surge of panic had happened every night since the reading of the will, and she could blame it on loneliness, but she knew she’d only be fooling herself. What couldn’t assuage the pain of her new reality was that her destiny had once again been chosen by her family, instead of her family giving her the option to choose whatever path in life suited her journey.
Chapter Two
Jay absently hammered in a few more framing nails, securing the last window that would complete her projects for the day. Her mind had been wandering from the job most of the afternoon, still consumed by her all-night sexcapades that left her exhausted and pleasantly sore. Showing up late that morning had put her an hour behind schedule so as four o’clock approached, she knew she’d better hurry before her ball buster of a boss caught her daydreaming again.
“Fuck!” Jay allowed the heavy Craftsman hammer to fall to the ground and cradled her hand close to her chest. Her thumb began to throb as the blood rushed
to the injured area. She shoved the digit into her mouth as if that would stop the pain.
“I told you, you needed to pay more attention,” her boss, Dino, said. He shook his head in obvious disbelief. “That’s the second time this week.”
“Bite me, Dino.”
Dino DiAngelo was not only her employer but also her first cousin. They had been short-handed ever since their other cousin, Vinny, broke his leg when he fell off a fifteen-foot ladder. Dino couldn’t afford to have another employee out on disability, but she knew his irritation stemmed more from his concern for her safety. “Let me see your thumb.”
Jay refused with a shake of her head.
“Damn it, Cuz. Let me see!”
“No.” She picked up her empty soda cup and stuck her thumb inside using what remained of the ice to keep the swelling down.
“Fine, be a stubborn ass!”
“Takes one to know one.” Dino had looked after her ever since she was old enough to remember. Since their fathers were brothers and her home situation had always been less than ideal, she spent a lot of time at Dino’s house getting dirty and creating things from scratch, like the tree house she and her other cousin, Dakota, used to sleep in when they were kids. He was older than Jay by four years, but they were so much more than cousins by blood. In her heart, he was her brother. Her best friend. “See,” she said. She held out her thumb for him to inspect. “All better.”
The tension lines eased from around his eyes that were one shade darker than her own. “Damn it, Jay. You need to be careful. Uncle Tony would have my nuts if you got hurt.”
Jay hated it when he brought up her father’s name in any context. After all their years growing up together, he should know better than anyone that her dad could give a shit about anything that happened to her. “Cuz, I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m almost thirty years old and can take care of myself.”
“How the hell does twenty-seven equate to almost thirty? I’m thirty-one for Christ’s sake. What does that make me, almost forty?”
“You said it.” Jay bumped his shoulder playfully.
“You think this is funny, don’t you?”
“Hell, yeah. How many people get to taunt their boss and still get paid? Now, help me frame the rest of this in so we can go the hell home.”
“Sure, but you’re going to have to keep your legs crossed a little longer than you have planned. We need to make a stop before I drop you off at the shop. I have another job to bid on, and if I get it, I think it will carry us through the summer.”
“Yeah? That would be sweet. I was planning a road trip to Seattle to do a few small jobs for Dakota because she wants to give the restaurant a facelift, but if you got the work, I got the time.”
A new job was just the news she needed to hear. Lately, things had been even tighter than usual financially, and she’d been stressing over how she was going to get through the summer if Dino didn’t find them some work.
“Damn. I’d hate to take work from your cousin. She going to be okay with that?”
“She’ll survive. She said the offer was open-ended so I can take care of it during the holidays when our business here slows down. By then, Vinny should be healed and can cover for me for a few weeks. Honestly, I’d rather stay here for work if it’s an option.”
What she’d never tell him is that she could barely afford gas let alone a trip to Seattle. Every time a bill arrived in the mail, she couldn’t sleep for days wondering if she’d be able to pay it on time. She’d never been late with a payment yet, but if work became scarce, which happened often in the contracting business, she might have to think about a change in occupations. She’d even go back to washing dishes if that meant keeping her pride intact.
“Good, because I’m going to need your help. If we get this gig, it’s only going to be you and me. The lady of the house’s daughter wants to do some of the work herself, but I was told it needs a full overhaul and she needs help with acquiring the permits.”
“Sounds easy enough. Where’s the house?”
“Woodside.”
As Dino loaded a few more tools into his truck, she caught him peering at her with one of those sideways curious looks. Woodside. Was he nuts? After everything that had happened? The prime location meant the job would undoubtedly turn over a nice profit, but that didn’t stop her from worrying that someone would recognize their last name, which would surely cost them both the job. “This explains why you’ve had that shit-eating grin on your face all day. How much is this gig?”
“Don’t know. I have to see the extent of the work. The woman on the phone said complete remodel so you know what that means. Full remodel plus Woodside equals bank.”
Jay wanted to share his enthusiasm but couldn’t cut past the fog of worry to crack a smile. She wouldn’t voice her concern because she needed the job. Without it, she’d be broke in no time, and there was no way she’d ask her cousin or anyone for a handout, even if she was living on the streets. Hopefully, whoever planned on hiring them had never heard of the DiAngelo name.
After securing the window, she packed her tools away and joined Dino in his truck. “So, you really think this will keep us busy for the summer?”
“And then some. Relax, will you? Let’s go check it out. I’ll have a better idea of the numbers after we give it a go see.”
They traveled the winding two-lane road through the hills of Woodside until they came upon the driveway that led to the Davis home. Dino turned left at the main gate, following the directions to take another left at the fork in the road. Once they cleared a patch of trees, they parked in the circular driveway in between a metallic silver BMW and a black Porsche Carrera 4S. They were met by a striking older woman wearing a green silk shirt and expensively tailored black slacks.
“Hello, I’m Jane Davis.” She extended her hand to Dino. “Welcome.”
Dino removed his hat before taking her hand. “Hi, I’m Dino and this is my cousin, Jay.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Jay scanned the plush surroundings, trying her best not to appear uncomfortable. She gave the elegant blonde with the welcoming blue eyes one of her best smiles, and when the woman returned it with one of her own, the tension dissipated from her shoulders.
“Pleased to meet you both. Let me take you to the house.”
They followed the golf cart down a narrow dusty road coming across a home nestled among a patch of oak trees that Jay remarked would have to be scaled back if the Davises decided on doing any necessary roof repairs. Dino removed a notebook from his front pocket as he exited the truck and jotted down a list of supplies and tools required for the job while Jay opted for a complete tour of the house. She examined every room for signs of potential problems, from structural abnormalities to possible termite damage considering the age and deterioration of many of the wood surfaces. There would be no way to tell the extent of the electrical problems or water damage, evident in the yellow discoloration of many of the walls, until she removed most of the sheetrock for further evaluation. Regardless, the master bedroom deck was unsafe and needed to be completely rebuilt, along with the roof that would need to be replaced with something newer and more durable. After probing the house inside and out, Jane handed them a list of specifics for the interior of the home. Jay was so focused on the list in her hand that she didn’t see the person headed through the front door as she was headed out.
“Whoops! Sorry,” she said to the woman she’d just knocked to the ground. She could swear she saw lightning flash in the blonde’s eyes and would have thought them hypnotic if they didn’t appear as cold and remote as an Alaskan glacier.
“No problem.” The woman ignored Jay’s outstretched hand and stood, brushing off her butt with her Stetson.
“I’m really sorry. Are you sure you’re okay?” The more she studied the cowgirl with the intense gaze, the more she could see the similarities between the younger woman and the elegant Jane Davis. Suddenly, it dawned on her. This was Jane’s daughter. Fuck
ing perfect! What a great first impression.
“I’ll live,” the woman said and motioned to Jane with her finger. “Mom, can I see you in the kitchen?”
“Of course, dear. Could you two please excuse us for a moment?”
As soon as mother and daughter were out of earshot, Dino motioned with his head for her to follow him outside. “Way to go, Cuz. You just knocked the big boss lady on her ass.”
Like she needed a detailed account of her fuckup. She kicked at the wooden porch with her work boot, her eyes remaining glued to the kitchen door. The familiar weight of failure hung heavily in the pit of her stomach, and she wondered how long it would take either of them to return to tell them both thanks but no thanks.
*
“Mom, who are those two?” But more importantly, who is she?
“It’s just the contractors, dear—Jay and Dino DiAngelo. They were inspecting the house. I would have asked you to join us but didn’t know you’d be back from your ride so soon.”
Coal had taken Dax up the eastern ridge for an afternoon ride when she spotted the white work truck entering through the front gate. As she rode briskly back down the hill to check on the new visitors, she spotted Jay climbing out of the truck. She also noticed the shorter, stockier man with her, but had to be honest, he wasn’t the one who had caught her attention.
“Mom, I thought we were going to discuss this.”
“We discussed it yesterday and you agreed to help. Nothing fancy. Besides, it’s only the two of them. They’ll do whatever you need.”
Oh, she needed something all right, and it was more contact with the hard body that had slammed into her. Jay DiAngelo was one tall drink of cold water on a hot day. The naturally tanned skin, her long, lean form, and those honey eyes would have left her mesmerized in any other situation. Being cool around her mother had been difficult, especially when Jay flashed her that cocky “I know I can affect you” grin. The hand that Jay had extended to her was obviously used for hard work. Contractor’s hands—callused and strong. Her temper had got the best of her when she ended up on the floor, but her anger didn’t stem from the fact that she would have a nice bruise later. This Jay DiAngelo was the hottest woman she’d ever seen, and her mother wanted to hire her to work around her house all summer. This couldn’t be happening.