“What the heck?” Frankie shook her head. “I had no idea you and Nick knew each other.”
“Technically, we don’t. He came highly recommended to Glen. When I received his refusal on my project, I called him directly.”
“I still can’t believe he said no.”
Katrina frowned. This was the second time Frankie reacted intensely to Nick’s decline of the job. “Why does his refusal come as a shock?”
“I’m sorry, Katrina, it’s not my place to go into the details of Nick’s business.”
I was right! He was hiding something.
“Katrina, I know you’re in a hurry to get the renovation started, but if you can give Nick a few more days, he’ll change his mind.”
“I’m sure Mr. Porter and I can come to an agreement beneficial to us both.” Now that Katrina’s suspicions were confirmed there was more to Nick than the surface showed, the tables had turned in her favor. As her grandmother had taught her, this was the perfect timing to take advantage of the opposition.
****
After leaving a second construction site, Katrina’s impatience grew. She gripped the steering wheel and pressed the Off button on the radio. She expected to find Nick at his office, but only encountered an employee who had stopped by to pick up his paycheck. At first, he wasn’t as forthcoming about Nick’s whereabouts as she hoped, but after a bit of feminine charm, she had him eating out of her hand. He gave her the addresses for three possible locations. At the first two, she’d come up empty.
Now driving across town to get to the last one, Katrina wondered why she was going through all this trouble. Her money and connections could have someone working on her renovation today and probably at a much-cheaper price. If she didn’t find him here, she’d have to seriously consider the alternative.
Unlike the first two smaller construction sites, the third one bustled with activity. The old church had been converted to a library because it had been declared a historical landmark, but was now in need of much repair.
She stepped out of the car. Whistles and howls filled the air. Katrina smiled at the men before opening the large wooden door. Her four-inch stilettos clicked loudly on the concrete as she walked. The library looked completely different than she remembered. Its shelving and rows of books were now gone. The antique stained-glass windows and pine wood-workings were being preserved and support pillars were hoisted between the archways. The workers shouted to each other over the hammering sounds echoing off the walls.
A cute young man wearing a yellow hard hat approached. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Nick Porter. Please, tell me he’s here.”
“You just missed him. I think he’s on his way to the office.”
She rolled her eyes and raised a hand in the air. “Are you kidding me?”
“I could give him a call and maybe get him before he hits the highway.”
“No, thank you, that won’t be necessary. I won’t be retaining his services after all.” She gestured toward the building. “He obviously has his hands quite full here.”
He flashed a big smile. “Yeah, Nick scored with this job. We thought we were out of work, but Nick came through.”
“That’s great.” Another confirmation of company trouble? “I’d better go. Thank you for your time.”
His cheeks flushed. “My pleasure.”
Katrina retraced her steps to the door, lingering at the exit. She glanced up for one last look at the breathtaking stained-glass windows. Small intricate pieces of glass were bonded together to form a pattern arrangement of blues, greens, yellows, and reds.
Her attention was then drawn to the sound of a crackling coming from the ceiling just above her. She watched as a trickling line split into several directions. Katrina held a breath. The inevitable was obvious, but her feet wouldn’t move. Plaster began to shower downward like a heavy rainfall.
Suddenly, a set of strong arms encircled her waist and held her tight, forcing the breath from her chest. Her feet were air-lifted off the concrete floor and she was yanked backward, slamming her and her rescuer into a wall. An image out of a romance novel, where the hero sweeps the woman of his dreams into his arms, declaring his everlasting love, flashed through her mind—until another large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling, crashing loudly on the floor before shattering into thousands of tiny pieces.
Katrina no longer saw a vision of two lovers, but one of her body crushed under the debris. She inhaled several deep breaths.
Hammers stopped and the rush of work boots scuffled across the concrete. “Nick, you okay? Is the lady hurt?” a man asked.
“That was a mother of a close call,” another man said.
Her hero ignored the men and set her on her feet. His warm brown eyes went cold and dark.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I…I was…looking for you.” Winded, her breaths were heavy.
Nick’s brows drooped, and his lips pressed firmly together.
He was not happy to see her, but Katrina couldn’t have been more pleased to find him—even though the near-death experience played havoc on her nerves. Her search was over, and the incredibly attractive man she had been seeking had rescued her.
“Didn’t you see the warning signs outside and the hard hat guideline on the door?”
His voice demanded attention, but her throat was too tight to voice a response.
“You could have been seriously injured.”
“Stop yelling.” The air returned to Katrina’s lungs, and with the breath, her body shook in realization of what almost happened. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Nick’s grip softened on her arms, his close proximity warming the chill and fright flowing through her body.
He eyed his workers. “We’re fine, thanks, guys. Get the mess cleared and then check the ceiling for impending disasters.”
The men nodded and left.
Nick turned. “You need to get out of here.” He removed his hard hat and placed it gently on her head.
A warm hand held her elbow and led her out of the building. Once outside, Katrina inhaled a deep breath of air, hoping to gain control. “Thank you.”
“Thank you. That’s all you have to say?”
Nick was loud again. “Please, stop,” she pleaded. “Damn, you’re relentless, cut me a bit of slack. I’m a little shaken by what happened, or by what almost happened in there.”
His brows wrinkled and he jammed his hands on his hips. “Why are you here?”
“I told you, I was looking for you.”
“Well, don’t. Stay as far away as possible, because whenever we’re near each other, someone ends up hurt.”
Katrina raised both hands in the air. “You’re impossible and getting on my nerves. Do you know how much time I’ve wasted searching for you today? Why are you so difficult?”
“Look, lady, after what we’ve been through the last twenty-four hours, do you really have to ask?” He stepped back. “You said you were looking for me?”
She squinted, trying to read this guy. Did he have an abrupt change of mood? “I came here to persuade you to take on my project.”
Nick laughed. “How many times do I have to say ‘no’ before you understand?”
“Then why were you snooping around my house? You were obviously reconsidering your decision.”
“Not after last night.”
“Oh, come now, can’t we get past that? We were both at fault. You came to my house unannounced. I was scared. I also apologized for hitting you.” She straightened her shoulders and held her ground. “Can we move on and talk business?”
Nick shook his head. “I admire your determination, but you’re wasting your energy. I’m still not taking your project.”
She held up a finger. “Give me one good reason why.”
“I did. I’m busy and don’t have the crew to spare.” Nick crossed his arms over his chest.
“Your so-called busy schedule consists o
f one front porch that should take until the end of the day to complete, and a siding job done tomorrow. That leaves you one job.” She pointed a well-manicured fingernail at the building. “This crumbling old library. I’m wondering why your company came so highly recommended if you can only handle one job at a time. You seem to have enough crew, so what’s the real reason behind your refusal?”
Nick inhaled a deep breath, opened his mouth, and then closed his lips tightly.
Gram would be so proud of her right now. Putting a man in his place was a gift she had passed on to Katrina. A ringing cell phone stopped her boasting ego. Katrina kept her gaze locked on Nick while she slipped a hand in her purse to retrieve her cell phone.
“Hello, Glen, yes, I’m fine. I’m actually meeting Mr. Porter right now.” She winked at Nick, which only increased the furrow between his brows. She had previously studied his handsome face, but while Glen gave her the details of her grandmother’s office documents, she let a discreet gaze linger over the rest of him.
Scuffed work boots led to faded blue jeans, fitting his long legs perfectly. A black T-shirt hugged his muscular chest and arms, pulling tight when he crossed his arms. Very nice, indeed. A shiver ran down her spine as her gaze continued past his broad shoulders to his chin. Last night, she assumed his chin held a five o’clock shadow, but his jaw line was purposely trimmed that way. The thin beard and layered hair would have had her grandmother tagging him a hooligan, but every masculine detail of this man appealed to Katrina. Perhaps a bit too much.
“He’s in the red, Katrina.”
Glen’s last comment caught her attention.
“Big trouble.”
“What?” She finally had an answer to Nick’s mysterious behavior. “Are you sure?”
****
Nick’s brow rose. How dare she take a call in the middle of their meeting—argument? And how dare she stand there checking him out.
Damn meddling woman! When he saw the plaster cracking along the ceiling, and Katrina standing beneath it with terror blazing in her brown eyes, he nearly lost his mind. He didn’t think he’d get to her soon enough.
Cradling her in his arms had been more than enjoyable. The sweet scent of coconut and wild berries from her hair put him under a spell. Nick didn’t want to let go. He shook his head. Katrina was nothing but trouble. Why couldn’t she just take ‘no’ for an answer and stay away.
Her voice drew him from his inner argument.
“This news couldn’t have come at a better time. Yes, please send them by email. Thank you, Glen. I must get back to my meeting. I’ll call you in the morning.” She slipped the phone in her purse.
“We are not having a business meeting, and if we were, I wouldn’t appreciate you taking a phone call in the middle. Is that how you conduct business?” Nick snapped, scrunching his face in a scowl.
“I assure you, I conduct my business in a highly professional manner at all times, whether I’m having a meeting in a corporate office or in an unusual circumstance such as this.”
“Well, our so-called business meeting is officially over.” He moved to walk away, but a hand gripped his shoulder.
“We’ve just begun, Mr. Porter.” Katrina smiled. “You can’t afford to turn me down.”
She didn’t wait for his rebuttal.
“I know about your business. That it’s in the red, your suppliers are knocking at the door, and the bank is ready to foreclose.” She paused, hand on her hip. “So, I ask you again, Mr. Porter, for the sake of your business, can you really afford to reject my offer?”
“How do you know so much about my confidential business?” He straightened his back and stood tall, angered by the invasion of his private business matters. “You’ve crossed a line here.”
“Why do you insist on making this so difficult? I’m offering you enough money to remove all your financial problems with the bank, your suppliers, your employee payroll—everything.”
“The lady only buys the best. I see what’s going on. Spoiled little rich girl doesn’t like to be told ‘no,’ so you came all this way to rub my company’s demise in my face, knowing I can’t refuse.”
“I’m not a spoiled rich girl.”
“You’re not? Well, you sure act like one.” His tone sharpened. “You make demands and when I refuse, you travel thousands of miles to convince me. You prance around a dangerous construction site in your sexy pantsuit and high heels, distracting my men. And the topper is…you poke your nose in my personal financial business. Just how far will you go to get my services?” He could hear his pulse’s erratic beat. He had gone too far.
Katrina swung and connected a hand to his cheek. An ear-splitting slap sounded through the air. A few men walking across the parking lot stopped dead in their tracks, their heads turning at the explosive noise.
Nick’s right cheek stung as if on fire.
“I’m leaving before this business transaction ends here and now.” Katrina put her hand back on her hip.
He clenched his jaw, preventing himself from wincing in pain. His only consolation would be that her hand stung just as much from the sharp connection.
“As much as you may dislike me, Mr. Porter, you need me. This is the final time I will request you accept my home’s renovation.”
With a shake of his head, he stretched his arms outward. “Why me? Why are you willing to pay any price for me to do this project? You could get someone as equally qualified for less.”
“True, but you were recommended by someone I trust. She claimed you’re the best and—”
“Faith Witherspoon.”
Her shoulders sank at the mention of her relative’s name. “Yes, my grandmother. How do you know her?”
“That’s not important. You can tell your grandmother while I appreciate her recommendation, I still don’t want her hand-out.”
“I can’t do that,” she whispered.
“Why?”
“She passed away.”
Grief clouded her stare. Oh, damn! He had taken down this strong woman within seconds by mentioning her grandmother who obviously meant a great deal.
“I’ll see you at the house tomorrow morning around nine to go over the renovation details.” Katrina raised her head proud, turned, and walked to her car.
Nick probed the inside of his cheek with his tongue. She had won this battle, but he sensed a war clearly in the making.
Chapter Four
Katrina ran a few errands and spent the remainder of the afternoon downtown. She had forgotten how much she loved Montreal. As a child, she’d visit the downtown area with her mother every chance they could to shop, go to the movies, or just take in the engaging atmosphere. The hustle and bustle of the city was similar to Paris, which had eased her homesickness when she moved.
The time was after six when Katrina arrived back at the cabin. She managed to carry her armload of purchases in one trip, tossing the boutique bags on the sofa and the groceries on the counter. She kicked off her shoes and lifted a foot to her knee, rubbing her heel with her thumb. Her cell phone rang. Katrina reached in her purse and checked the incoming number. She frowned before pressing End.
Hearing a vehicle in the driveway, Katrina pushed aside the curtain to peek through the window. In bare feet, she rushed out to the porch. “Frankie, what are you doing here? Don’t you ever relax?”
Frankie waddled into the cabin. “My relaxing doesn’t start until the kids are tucked in bed. Thomas is on bath duty tonight so I slipped out to bring you supper.” She held out a casserole dish.
Katrina flipped a corner open on the lid. The tantalizing scent of chicken potpie steamed out and filled her nostrils. Her mouth watered. “You shouldn’t have, but I’m so happy you did. I picked up a couple of things in town this afternoon to stock the cupboards, but nothing tops your meals.” She waved her hand toward the living room. “Do you have to hurry home? I’d love some company.”
“Let’s see…rush home to my chaotic family or have a peaceful visit here?”
Frankie tapped her finger against her chin. “Now there’s a tough decision.”
Katrina tossed Frankie a pillow to put behind her back as her friend sat on the armchair.
Frankie pointed to the casserole dish. “Eat while the food is warm.”
“Are you sure?”
Frankie nodded.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you.” Her friend rubbed her hand in circles over her large belly. “I’ve eaten enough for the two of us and then some.”
Katrina laughed, and then licked her lips as she removed the lid from the container.
“I guess I don’t have to ask where you’ve been all day.” Frankie stared at the bags on the sofa. “What did you buy?”
“A few pairs of shoes.”
“Like you don’t have enough already.” Frankie teased while sneaking a peek in the bags. She held up a pair of strappy beige heels with a rounded open toe and adjustable ankle strap. “These are gorgeous.”
Katrina fetched a plate and cutlery before sitting at the kitchen table. Her stomach growled as she cut into the potpie. “You want those shoes? They’re yours.” She would do anything for Frankie, needing her dear friend in her life now more than ever, so if she could make Frankie’s day brighter with a pair of shoes, Katrina wouldn’t hesitate.
Her friend burst out laughing. “Our feet are normally the same size, but my ankles are so swollen right now the strap wouldn’t reach the link on the other side.”
“Oh, Frankie, this is delicious.” Katrina shoved another forkful of potatoes, carrots, peas, and chicken in her mouth. She held up the fork and waited to speak until she swallowed every delectable morsel. “Those shoes will compliment the cream-colored skirt in the next bag. Take them home. You can wear them after the baby’s born.”
Frankie quirked her head to one side. “No, I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you could.”
“Katrina, no.” Frankie’s usual bubbly nature turned gloomy. She stared at the shoes lying on her lap.
“I’m sorry, Frankie. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Katrina dropped her fork on the plate, stood from the table, and then gathered the bags from the sofa. Her heart sank, thinking she had offended her friend. Clothes she couldn’t fit in would be the last thing an eight-month pregnant woman would want to look at. Katrina walked by Frankie to put the bags in the bedroom.
Twist Of Faith Page 4