“Good. You’re here.” She jerked. Ned lounged against the open doorway, the door that had been closed just seconds ago. “We need to talk.”
“Did we have an appointment?” She hadn’t seen or talked to him in days. His appearance just as she’d been thinking about him was eerie. She fought the urge to feel her cheeks.
“Didn’t realize I needed one.”
“Well, no, but…”
He sank into a visitor chair and dropped a black leather valise on the floor. “I’ve been playing with the project plan.” His opening comment emerged a little too fast.
Her stomach clenched. Good-bye, fantasies about the man. Hello, pain in the—As project manager, of course she should expect him to be working with the project plan. But the way he’d said playing with it made her nervous. “Oh?” she finally managed to say.
He watched as if to gauge her mood. Then, like he just then remembered the purpose of his visit, he leaned over and pulled out a folder, flopped it on the desk. “Take a look.”
What had he found? “Looks okay to me,” she said after she’d perused the document inside the folder.
“To you, maybe. But not to me. This is so confusing. I don’t see how you folks get anything built.”
Her spine stiffened. She’d prepared the plan. It was her baby. “Confusing? How so?” She really didn’t want to know.
He drew his finger across the open page. “Here, for starters. All these columns.”
“Columns? This is standard action plan format—who, task, completion date, status, actual completion date.”
“It’s just so…confusing.”
“So you said.”
“Too much information crammed together.”
“You read sheet music and scores all the time. How is this any different?”
“Music follows a very rigid formula. A B-flat note always appears in the same place. Four-four time always has the same number of beats to a measure.”
She waved her hands. “Notes, measures, whatever. Those things make sense to you. Why would you expect to understand construction terms when you’ve never built anything?”
He straightened. In an exaggerated huff, he said, “It’s not the terms I don’t understand.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Deep intake of breath. “Like I said before. The columns.” He rose, moved swiftly around the desk, and leaned over her. “They’re so close together, so tight, they’re difficult to follow.” His finger touched her hand as he showed her. Was he talking about the project plan…or her?
She sensed his taut pecs and abdomen less than an inch away. Her frustration with Ned’s nitpicking fought with her body’s awareness of the man. Her lower parts woke up and reminded her they were there and ready for business.
She breathed out the words. “You…want…more…space?” She could use a little more space herself at the moment. Despite his ridiculous concern, she gave in to the force field that surrounded the man and turned her head to face him.
Ned’s lips were mere inches from hers. For the first time, she noticed the broad bow of his mouth. So inviting, so… Don’t go there, Shae.
His eyes met hers and held.
She had to do something. Either end it or give in to her impulses and let happen whatever was about to happen. Just minutes before she’d wondered, daydreamed about such a thing. Now the opportunity had reappeared. She knew what she wanted, but she didn’t dare. Her father would cut short his recuperation and pull her off the job in an unrecovered heartbeat if he discovered something was going on between her and Ned.
Ned watched the battle rage within Shae’s eyes. She glanced away, as if afraid of him. Then she turned back, unable to shut him out. She blinked fast several times, as if surprised by her own audacity. Finally, those gorgeous orbs went a blurry, inscrutable teal.
What on earth had made him approach her? It was impossible to concentrate on the document, because he was so focused on that lovely face and upturned nose. And her beckoning mouth. Ah, hell! This was the last place in the world, the last female for whom he should have this kind of feelings. But he’d checked better sense at the door. Carpe diem. Go for it!
In one swift movement, his arms went around her, pulled her from her seated position into his embrace. God, she smelled good. Unlike every other time he’d first kissed a woman, he paused, studied her expression, a combination of surprise and invitation. His eyes went to the mouth he was about to ravish and then sought her eyes, checked for acquiescence.
She stared back at him, her mouth forming a tiny o.
All the signal he needed. He wanted to crush his mouth against those luscious lips, but he took his time, started slow and sweet. Contact. Glorious days! He forgot his resolve and pressed her closer, deepened the kiss.
He was about to explore the inside of her mouth when she shoved out of his arms and backed away, a stricken expression slashed across her face. She brought a hand to her mouth. “What was that?” Her voice, though croaky, rose in alarm.
Surely she’d known what would happen? “I kissed you. Thought you wanted me to.” Okay, he’d wanted it, too. Initiated it. But a guy didn’t need cold water thrown in his face to know when he’d read a lady wrong.
She continued to finger her lips. “How’d…why?” Her eyes, though still wide, reflected alarm. Even a tinge of shame.
She hadn’t been openly flirting, but he knew the look he’d seen in her eyes. She’d wanted him to kiss her. But he was a gentleman. He wouldn’t push. “Sorry. I must have misread…”
Her voice unsteady, she closed the folder and handed it back, all the while not looking at him. “I’ll have the plan reformatted for you.” As if she needed to say something else, she added, “Revise the spacing. So you can read it better.”
He was at a loss what to say. Obviously, she didn’t want to pursue the kiss let alone talk about it. He was here under false pretenses. He’d manufactured his concern about the project plan, because he wanted to see her again. For some unknown reason, he’d been compelled to check out the vibes he’d felt the day they’d gone to visit the site.
He’d crossed the line. Embarrassed her. She’d been right to back off. With as much dignity as still remained, he headed for the door. He paused to add, “Thanks.” She could determine for herself whether he referred to redoing the report or for forestalling the kiss. He made himself take several steps down the deserted corridor before he spit out, “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”
****
Shae stood to the side of her office window and watched Ned head to his car, his gait fast and determined. No looking back. Once inside the vehicle, he slammed the door and burned rubber in a speedy exit.
Mentally, she waved good-bye to what might have been while she swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. Damn! They wouldn’t stop. She was no better than a mopey teenager. Her dad would consider it a sign of weakness. But she’d been strong, hadn’t she? She’d ended it, regained her business persona.
She’d enjoyed the kiss, oh God, how she’d enjoyed it! All those things she’d heard about physical attraction were really true—escalating heartbeat, insides going to jelly, even her toes had curled. But she’d had to stop herself, curtail the direction things were leading before it was too late and she was hopelessly enmeshed in an affair she had no idea how to handle. No way could she jeopardize this deal.
He was a big star, probably accustomed to casual affairs. He might be curious about this hometown honey, but once the novelty of hooking up with her waned, Shae would be left to pick up the pieces. Couldn’t risk that or her dad’s wrath over such unprofessional behavior. So she’d stopped it. Not as soon as she should have. To herself, she could admit she hadn’t wanted to stop at all. But she couldn’t let it go on. .
You have no idea the sacrifice I just made for this company, Dad. Would it be worth it?
Chapter Six
In the days following Ned’s visit to her office, Shae threw herself into construction planning
so she wouldn’t speculate about what might have been if she’d allowed his kiss to continue. But thoughts of him intruded nonetheless. At first, she worried her rebuff of his advances might cost them the contract. But when Dave told her Ned had called to ask the date and time of today’s orientation meeting with the project crew, she knew they’d at least survived that incident.
Since Dave was more familiar with the crewmembers, he’d handle the meeting. All she had to do was be there and look boss-like. She’d been so busy with the Sullivan’s Creek project, she hadn’t been able to get out to the sites to visit the crews and get them used to her new role as much as she would have liked. Of course, she knew some of them from their infrequent trips into the office, but she’d been office manager then.
Her phone rang. “Dave, I’m glad you called. I’d like to go over the agenda one more time before the meeting. We only discussed it in passing the other day.”
“Uh, that’s why I’m calling. I’m at the emergency room at the hospital with the wife. They think it’s her appendix.”
“Oh, Dave. I’m so sorry. Don’t worry about a thing. Your place is with her right now.”
“Appreciate your saying that. But what about the meeting? I suppose we could postpone, but most of them are probably already on their way.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“You sure you’re up to it?”
“Sure. Why not? I’m not you, but they’ll realize it’s an emergency and go along with it.”
“I’m not much of an agenda man, but there’s a list on my desk with my talking points.”
“Okay. I’ll go find it. Now, you get back to your wife. Give her my best. Call when you can.” She put down the phone, considered the task ahead. Even though she wasn’t much of a speech person, she could do this. Right? Dave’s notes should be enough to get her through.
As if she didn’t have enough on her mind, she ran into Ned on her way to Dave’s office. The memory of his kiss flooded her mind, despite her best efforts to forget it. How was she supposed to act around him now? She waited for him to provide a cue.
“Understand there’s a crew meeting. Thought I’d sit in.”
Rather than tell him his presence wasn’t necessary or even desired, she replied, “Right. Dave told me you planned to be here.”
“Where is he, anyhow? Wasn’t in his office.”
“Dave has a family emergency.”
He frowned. “That’s too bad. You still going through with the crew meeting?”
“I’m going to lead it.”
“You?”
“I’d postpone it until Dave can be here, but it’s too late.” She crossed her arms in front of her. “We wouldn’t want to lose valuable time, would we?” Did she sound too sarcastic? “It’s quite routine, really. We’re just going over when we’ll need them and who’ll be assigned what jobs. That kind of thing. Pretty boring.” She ducked into Dave’s office. To her relief, Ned didn’t follow.
Dave kept an orderly desk, and his notes lay in the middle. Unfortunately, Dave was also a man of few words, at least on paper. She’d have to improvise. No problem. She was up to speed on all the project details since her disastrous dinner meeting with Ned.
Shae approached the all-purpose meeting/banquet/ break room from the rear to assess her audience before she took center stage. Ned stood behind the rows of seated crewmembers and shook hands with a couple stage-struck well-wishers. Apparently he’d forsaken his preference for a low profile today.
She breezed past them and made for the front. “Good morning, everyone. Dave Hale was called away unexpectedly with a family emergency. I’ll be filling in for him.” She went on to tell them they had signed on for what was to be the most ambitious building project the area had ever seen and they should feel honored to have been selected. She was about to thank them for signing on, when a hand went up in the front row.
“How’s your dad doing, Ms. Harriman? Is he coming back soon?”
Rude, but his concern seemed genuine. Be nice, Shae. “My dad had a close call with his heart. He is recuperating at a local rehab center. His doctors haven’t given him a return to work date yet. But thank you for asking. And I’d like to thank—”
“How soon can he have visitors?” another guy asked.
“Visitors?”
“Yeah. A bunch of us would like to check in on him. See for ourselves how he’s doing.”
Just what she needed, crewmembers who’d report her every move to her dad. It was difficult enough to keep Dave’s visits and contact with her dad to a minimum and not deprive either of the other’s company. Smile. Don’t shut them out entirely, or they’ll push back. “That’s, uh, very kind of you. I’ll tell him you asked. But for now, his visitors are confined to Dave Hale and me.”
“Speaking of Dave, why isn’t he here today?” The first guy again.
In a steely tone, she said, “Like I said already, Dave was called away for a family emergency. It was too late to cancel, so I’m here in his place.” She attempted a reassuring smile.
Not good enough. First guy replied, “Uh, do you know enough about construction to lead this meeting? Maybe we should postpone until Dave’s here.”
Her entire body tensed, her throat constricted. How dare he question her credentials? Tim Harriman wouldn’t take such treatment from a crewmember. Her father would put this guy in his place.
“What’s your name?” she asked the disrespectful man.
“Pete Martin. If you were out on the sites half as much as your dad was, you’d know my name by now.”
“I agree, Pete. I should have visited more. Instead, I’ve been busy planning for the largest project in this company’s history, a project that’s going to keep you employed and well-paid during what is an otherwise serious downturn in our industry.” She took a breath, gave her words enough time to sink in before continuing. “Moving on, I wanted to say—”
“No disrespect, ma’am,” the second crewmember cut in, “but Pete just had the balls to ask what the rest of us have been thinking. Are you qualified to lead this monster of a project while your dad’s out?”
The room went absolutely quiet. Everyone had diverted their eyes in embarrassment during the first question. Now, they all turned to her to hear her response.
She gripped the edge of the lectern to keep her balance. Didn’t they get it? She was in charge, and they weren’t supposed to question why or how. She didn’t have to justify herself to these people. She was here as a favor for Dave. In fact, she had half a mind to walk out on such disrespect. She fought off the urge to check out Ned, because she knew he was taking in this apparent mutiny, waiting to see how she’d deal with it.
Though Shae fought to keep her cool, she couldn’t help but ask, “Just when did the crew start questioning the credentials of their superiors?”
Almost to a person, the group moved back in their seats as an audible, collective gasp swept through the room.
What was so shocking? She’d merely told them the way it was.
She attempted to stare down the entire assemblage, but her tear ducts betrayed her. No, no, no, no! She couldn’t cry now. Not when she had to hold her ground. Especially not in front of Ned Collier. She had to get out of there.
In the steadiest tone she could manage, she said, “I was going to welcome you all to the project before I was interrupted. Despite your misgivings about my qualifications, that still holds. Welcome, all of you. A copy of the preliminary schedule is on the table in the back. Further details can wait until later.”
She didn’t say good-bye or thank them for coming. She seized hold of whatever dignity she still possessed and charged from the room. Back in her office, she leaned against the locked door to stop shaking. When the shudders didn’t abate, she staggered to her desk and slumped into her chair. First objective: get her breathing under control.
Why hadn’t they listened to her? Or given her their respect. Because she was a woman? Sure, she didn’t know them as well as she mi
ght have hoped, but this Sullivan’s Creek project had eaten up so much of the time when she could have been out visiting the crews. So she had no management experience? Her dad had picked her. He owned the company. His decisions shouldn’t be questioned.
Brisk knocking cut into her thoughts. “Go away!”
No go. The knocking continued. “Shae? Open up.” Ned.
“Not now, Ned.”
The noise subsided, but she was sure he was still there. “This can’t wait. C’mon, let me in.”
“No! Go away. I need privacy.”
“No time for that. We need to talk.” The determined edge to his voice signaled he wasn’t listening to her any more than the crew had.
She dragged herself to the door. “Oh, all right!”
He burst into the room as soon as the lock tripped, then immediately closed the door behind him.
She didn’t know what to do, other than stuff the tissues with which she’d been swabbing her face into her pants pocket. She leaned against the front of her desk. Couldn’t give him the impression he could simply barge in and demand a meeting every time he had a question. “Okay, I’m listening. What’s so important to justify your intrusion?”
“Have you heard from Dave yet?”
“No. But I haven’t checked my messages.”
“How soon can he get back here?”
“His wife is probably having an emergency appendectomy by now. I doubt we’ll hear from him until at least tomorrow.”
“That may be too late.”
He didn’t shout, but it was clear he was more than a little concerned about the scene she’d just escaped. “Why? What’s going on?”
He pursed his lips. “Several crewmembers are talking about signing on with other crews.”
Just because she’d left the meeting abruptly? “Let them. Work is pretty scarce right now.”
“They said there are still a couple medium-sized projects in progress. Nowhere near as massive as this one, but they think they can get along with those general contractors better. I tried to persuade them to hold on another day until Dave returns.”
Tough Enough to Tango Page 6