“I, uh, didn’t know that.” He paused, as if to regroup. “I also want to approve the work schedule.”
She rolled her eyes. This was getting ridiculous. “We’ll certainly involve you at every step of the process.”
“Not good enough.”
Without realizing she was going to do so, she said, “I’ll have some wine now.”
Interesting. After her earlier refusal, he would have bet she’d make it through the entire meal without any alcohol. Did this mean he’d backed her into a corner? Or was it a brilliant negotiating strategy on her part?
She sipped her wine, unconsciously running her tongue over her lips after she put her glass down. God, did she have any idea what she was doing to him? How could this woman wearing such puritanical garb be so seductive? Focus, Ned. Time to make his announcement. “I want those review and approval provisions, because I’ve decided to be my own project manager.”
She had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from spitting out the wine. “What? Why?”
“Mike told you I wanted the project manager to report to me. Although you weren’t particularly crazy about the idea at the time—”
“I said ‘no way’.”
“I believe you said you needed time to think about it. I’m serious about being project manager. With this throat thing, I’ll be available. I definitely have the interest. And with your lack of experience—”
“If you became the project manager, you’d compound that situation even more. I at least have grown up in this business and have the appropriate schooling. You don’t have the least idea what a project manager does.”
She was right and clever enough to use that particular liability to weaken his point. “I’m a fast learner. Plus, I’ve got more to lose than you, since I’m the one paying the bills.”
“Have you ever pursued a project like this?”
“No.”
“Been a part of one? Worked with subcontractors?”
“Had my home in Brentwood remodeled a few years ago. Subcontractors were involved.”
“Did you have direct contact with them?”
Man, did she have to get so picky? “I, uh, left that up to the contractor I hired.”
She didn’t reply, although she did hold up her glass as if to say, “Touché!”
“You’ve made your point, Shae. I admit I have very little—okay, no experience with construction. But my point is, that doesn’t matter. I’m the client.”
Had to get this settled fast. With each passing minute, it had become more difficult to remain on point. Whenever he looked her in the eyes, he saw the verdant waters of Fiji, which enticed him to throw caution to the wind and come swim in their depths. His groin reacted involuntarily, made him squirm in his seat.
He refilled her glass. “Good stuff, isn’t it?” Hoped she hadn’t noticed him going light on the stuff after his first sip, designed to encourage her to join him. Wine, any alcohol, was on his doctors’ no-no list.
She stared at her glass as if she’d never seen it before. “Yes, it is. But I really shouldn’t.” Nonetheless, she continued to sip.
“We seem to be at an impasse. What do we do about it?”
A crooked smile slanted across her face. “Arm wrestle?”
He felt the underside of her arm. “What kind of muscles are you hiding from me?” As soon he’d touched her, he knew it had been a bad idea.
She eyed his hand on her arm, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she said, “What do you think? Could I beat you?”
She stared him down, as if issuing a challenge. And challenge it was, to keep his wits about him. He’d gone too far. He’d underestimated how little wine it would take for her to relax. She was in no condition to continue talking business, even though it would probably net him the deal he wanted. Maybe her, if he were cad enough to take advantage of her semi-inebriated state.
Before he could settle their bill and pour her into a cab, though, the easy listening music in the background switched to a vocal. One of his, the management obviously catering to his good will. As the music began, the vocal split into two totally unique tracks, one rasping and the other clear and penetrating. They wove themselves together to produce yet a third melodious sound.
“That one of yours?”
He shrugged. “Guilty.”
She sat up straighter, eyed her wineglass. Her eyes narrowed as if some new thought had struck her. “You set that up, didn’t you? Plied me with alcohol so I’d let down my guard. Softened me up with that romantic song. Acted like you actually cared what I thought.”
“No, Shae. I never meant to, well, okay I did try to help you relax with the wine—you seemed so stiff and unsure of yourself—but I had nothing to do with the—”
She flung her linen napkin on the table. “I can’t think straight. Too much wine.
She rose abruptly, knocked the chair backward. In her attempt to steady it, she bumped against the table and toppled his wine glass. Since he’d hardly drunk any, the contents streamed across the tabletop and dripped down on him.
She paused long enough to murmur, “Sorry. I’m no good at this.”
Then, with studied effort, she headed for the door. Surprised, Ned remained seated while he stared helplessly at the red stain growing on his slacks.
So much for settling this tonight.
Chapter Four
Ned slipped out of his wine-drenched slacks and the navy jacket which had miraculously escaped the spill and hung them on the small valet chair in his room at the Woodley mansion. Under a hot shower, he slaked soap over his body to wipe away the smell of wine while he replayed the events of the evening. What happened? He’d been making progress renegotiating the contract the way he wanted it. He was sure of it. Then his song came through the sound system and she’d fallen apart.
In all fairness, she hadn’t dumped the wine on him. At least, not intentionally. His glass just had the misfortune to be full when she knocked against the table as she fled the room.
So where did tonight’s debacle leave him? If he broke the contract with Two Rivers, the other general contractors in the area probably wouldn’t buy into his serving as his own project manager. He needed that degree of participation to keep costs down, so he couldn’t afford to lose Two Rivers. He picked up the phone and punched the number.
On the other end, in a somewhat muffled voice, Shae replied, “Dave?”
“Uh, it’s Ned Collier.”
No immediate response. Finally, “Oh. I, uh, hi. If this is about your ruined pants, I plan to make full restitution.”
“Appreciate the offer but not why I called.”
“No? Then why did you?”
Did this woman really want his business? Her directness threw him. “I plan to drive out to the property tomorrow. Would you like to ride along? You’ve probably been there several times as the infrastructure went in, but it would give us another chance to discuss the contract free from distractions.”
At first, she hesitated. “Discuss business in the car?”
“I just thought…never mind. I’ll meet you at your offices Monday morning.”
Brief silence. “No. I’ll go. I’ve, uh, only been there once. When Dad first signed the contract.”
Really? Her old man hadn’t seen fit to keep his daughter in the loop about his biggest project ever? Just how much had the guy told her about Sullivan’s Creek before he handed the reins over to her?
One more reason he should drop Two Rivers as his general contractor. But if he started over with another outfit, the time required for them to come up to speed would slow completion of the first plat. He needed to complete and sell those unsubscribed houses as soon as possible to see a return on his investment. “No better time than tomorrow morning for you to meet the site of what could prove to be the most important work you’ll ever do. Providing we can come to terms.”
They made plans for him to pick her up the next morning at eleven. Her reluctance to be alone with him was puzzling.
It wasn’t like he was going to ply her with liquor when they got there. Couldn’t be his celebrity, if her pluck at their first meeting was any indication. Whatever. She must really want to keep the contract to get past her hesitation and agree to accompany him.
****
Shae tied her hair back in its usual ponytail the next morning and donned an old pair of blue jeans, a red T-shirt, a tan windbreaker, and work boots. No need to obsess over wardrobe today like she had the day before. Look where that had gotten her. She experimented a little with the foundation she’d felt obligated to buy from Cecily. The woman hadn’t been completely mad. This stuff really did improve her complexion.
Despite the comfy apparel, though, once ensconced in Ned’s tiny sports car, the body wearing it was anything but relaxed. She tried to focus on the proposition she was about to make. The one she’d practiced in her head all morning. But Ned hadn’t been sitting twelve inches away then, and his aftershave, or whatever scent he was wearing, hadn’t clobbered her olfactory senses like it was now.
Once they were underway, she willed her voice to sound natural. “I did some thinking after I got home last night.” He didn’t need to know she’d been sleeping off her drunk when he’d called or that she downed three cups of black coffee this morning. The hangover more or less under control, she’d called Dave and made him late to church brainstorming additional ways to cut costs.
She removed a piece of paper from the pocket of her windbreaker. “I’ve diagrammed the gist of our negotiations thus far. A column for your requirements and another for Two Rivers’ responses. It’s not comprehensive. But it’s a start at consensus.”
He lifted a brow, and the effect nearly made her forget what she was about to propose. How could someone so challenging be so intriguing?
“Come up with anything we can use?” His tone was nonchalant, but she was sure he was interested by the way his eyes flickered.
“Maybe.” She paused, then plunged in. “Every point you’ve brought up seems to either revolve around reduced costs or more direct participation by you.” She held her breath, waited for him to reply, but he remained silent. “Why not turn over the supplier data you’ve compiled to us and let us go after similar deals with our local vendors?”
“You think they’d agree to lower their prices?”
“They won’t be happy.” An understatement. It would place years of hard-won affiliations on the line. Moreover, she hadn’t run this past her dad, although Dave had reluctantly conceded it was the best, and maybe only, way to keep the deal. “But when we point out to them that they risk losing business they may never regain to outside competitors, I think they’ll go along.”
He returned his attention to the road. They drove in silence for several minutes, until Shae’s impatience got the better of her. “So? What do you think?”
“Interesting thought. But so far, just a concept.”
She was ready. “Here’s the thing. I can’t guarantee we can get these concessions, but if we do, they’ll be on an ongoing basis. The suppliers you’ve talked to were probably ready to give you a short-term deal to get your business, but I doubt they were willing to agree to the quoted prices for more than the first six months.”
He liked her proposal. The way the fingers of his right hand tapped on the steering wheel and the fact he speeded up told her so. This time, she made herself remain patient, not push for a response.
“Why didn’t you bring this up last night?”
Unexpected question. Her case rested on his trust in her and her ability to pull off what she’d proposed, so she had to be totally up front with him. “Dinner meetings aren’t my cup of tea. I wasn’t at my best last night. Anything I was about to propose was put on hold when I realized how tipsy I’d become.”
“Didn’t mean to make you ill at ease. I do a lot of business over meals. Apparently that’s not your thing.”
“I, uh, no, it’s not.”
“I’m glad you agreed to try again today.”
“I’d like to get this settled as much as you.” That didn’t sound very friendly. She tried again. “I really did want to see the property.”
She had one more item to broach, but they were slowing. Must be nearing the property. Shortly, a small sign saying “Future home of Sullivan’s Creek” appeared. The scene caused her to catch her breath. She had expected a flat farm field. Although the area before her had surely been that not long ago, now it was a vast network of winding roads, several hills, trees, and even a few small footbridges. Of course, there was no green grass yet, which would not appear until each housing unit was finished.
“Ned, I didn’t expect anything like this. It’s so…”
“Extensive? It’s going to be quite the place to live when it’s done.”
It hit her like a wrecking ball. She wanted to be part of this. A major part. Not just to keep the company afloat and not just to show her father she was capable of making this happen. She wanted this for herself, to make this man’s dream happen in this incredible place. Her next proposal had to clinch the deal with Collier.
Ned unlatched the gate that protected the property from outsiders, then drove the car a little farther on to what appeared to be a temporary parking/staging area. She threw open the door and jumped out to get a breath of air and a better look. Ned followed behind.
She pulled her jacket tight to ward off the day’s unexpected chill, smelled late spring in the rich, loamy scent of the soil and the emerging vegetation across the road, where the fields were under cultivation.
When she’d learned Sullivan’s Creek was several miles out of town, she’d pictured cornfields, barns, silos, cattle. All great for the Iowa economy but not exactly her idea of a residential community. The landscape was rolling prairie, primed for summer vegetation.
Her ace in the hole could wait a few minutes more. First, she wanted to explore, take in her surroundings.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Ned had come up next to her while she’d been engrossed studying the land.
“Yes. It is. I understand your passion for this project.” Time to launch her idea. “One more thing. We’re willing to accept you as project manager.”
“Yes?”
“Provided we can agree on certain conditions.”
Ned had moved a few paces ahead. At her words, he stopped and turned. “And those would be?”
“Dave or I sign off on all your decisions.”
“What good does that do me?”
“It gets you a title and a reason to hang around the site without intimidating the crews with your developer status. That’s what you really want, isn’t it?”
He booted a clump of dirt out of his way. “How can I make decisions with those limitations?”
“You can. You just won’t be able to execute them until Dave or I buy in. That safeguard is in your best interest. Otherwise, you’ll set yourself up for certain failure with your lack of experience.”
“What if neither of you signs off?”
She’d anticipated this reaction. “Then you call a meeting of the three of us and state your case.” She tried not to sound too anxious, but either he agreed to her proposition, or Two Rivers couldn’t go ahead with the deal, as much as they needed his business and as much as she wanted to prove herself capable of leading a project of this scale.
He stuck his hands in his pants pockets and wandered off.
She gave him his space. Away from town, away from everyone else, with just this deal to consider, she hoped he’d realize the gem she’d offered him. He probably wouldn’t obtain any arrangement quite so permissive with their competitors.
She tried not to watch him pace. Didn’t want him to see her own tension. But despite the do-or-die nature of the moment, she was tempted to catch a glimpse of his back end every so often. He looked good today. Damned good. His black jeans seemed molded to his body. How had he been able to sit in his tiny car? At least the warmth generated by admiring his body helped cut the chill in the air.
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He returned after a few minutes. “You’re a tough negotiator. Your dad would be proud.”
“Do we have a deal?”
“We’re close. I want to see it on paper first.”
She clapped her hands. “That’s fantastic.”
“Didn’t say yes…yet. But I like your ingenuity. I want to build in some kind of fallback position for me, should you and your superintendent nix something I really think we should do. I think that’s possible. Don’t you?”
No. But she wasn’t losing the contract over it now. “I think so. Shall we shake on it?”
“Let’s shake on getting this far.” He held out his hand.
As they made contact, as if on cue, the sun came out and caught him in its shimmering rays. For a second, she forgot about the deal. She simply stared at this gorgeous creature and enjoyed how the light blue pullover hugged his chest, revealing high, tight pecs.
He noted her gaze and edged toward her, the glint in his eyes going smoky. A bolt of panic seized her. Omigod. He’s going to kiss me. If he does, he’ll find out what a fraud I am when it comes to sex. She could fantasize about his buttocks all she wanted, but following through on that daydream wasn’t in the cards. Especially with a guy like Ned Collier. Or should she say Jake Bonneville? She and Jake lived in different worlds.
She had to do something fast to avoid embarrassing them both. In the instant before his lips would have touched hers, she said, “Tell me more about this place. Why the name Sullivan’s Creek?”
“Huh?” Ned attempted to adjust gears. He’d almost kissed her. In the middle of a business deal. What had gotten into him? Fortunately, Shae had the presence of mind to avert disaster. But why? She’d been the one with the come-hither look. He’d merely—okay, he’d willingly, been ready to follow through. “Jake Sullivan was my grandfather. I took my performing name from him and his favorite car. The creek you’ve probably seen on the various plats in the project file.”
“You inherited this land?”
“It should’ve gone to my mother. But she prevailed upon Gramps to deed the land over to me on his death. My parents’ art gallery was doing pretty well by then, and she wanted me to have something to fall back on if my music career tanked.” How ironic. His mom might have been psychic, except now it was this very land that might tank him.
Tough Enough to Tango Page 4