Hearts Under Construction Read online

  “Yeah, thanks a lot.”

  “I think you can handle yourself.” Jax smiled. “As I told you, I’m taking some classes with an eye to teaching at the local college eventually. Right now, I need the business to help fund my education, but one day I’m hoping to be able to sell it, when I’ve completed the education requirements and when the right buyer comes along.

  “That means I need someone like you for the position, with more experience and a more forceful personality. Ellie’s too nice to deal with some of those tough guys on the home sites. And I just don’t think she could handle it alone.”

  Cole piped up. “Remember, this is a trial thing. I’m not sure I’m ready for a lifetime commitment. We’re just trying this thing out, right?”

  “I know all about you and commitments. That’s why you’re not married.” Jax laughed.

  “And your excuse is?”

  Jax shrugged. “Seriously, Cole, I appreciate you at least giving this job arrangement a chance. The business needs someone like you. We both know your reputation. You’re not afraid to let someone go, if need be. You’ve got a good business head on your shoulders.” Jax twirled a pencil between his fingers. “Lucky for me, the advertising company in Chicago had a corporate takeover. When you told me you’d lost your job, this seemed the perfect fit. For both of us. Of course, I know you’ll miss the adventure, the travels, the million-dollar clients.”

  Cole shrugged. “Those things have their place. But they come with headaches, too. I’m ready for a change.”

  Jax lowered his feet to the floor, laid the pencil on his desk, and picked up his coffee. “I’m glad to hear that. I was hoping you could manage to stick around long enough to make some money here.” Jax winked before sipping his drink.

  Cole shrugged. “Okay, so I’m not exactly Stanley Stability. You don’t have to go into my sordid past. I’m turning over a new leaf. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accepted.”

  Jax cocked an eyebrow. “So, why the sudden change of heart?”

  Cole looked toward the window. “I’m not sure. Just feels like this is right, you know?”

  “Good. I knew I was taking a risk when I asked you. I’d hoped you would stay.” Jax quickly added, “But I understand it’s a trial thing. No promises.”

  Cole nodded.

  A knock on the door caused them to turn.

  “Come in,” Jax said.

  Ellie stepped inside and paused. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you had someone still with you.”

  Jax perked up. “No, no, come on in, Ellie.” He stood and walked over to her.

  “I need to be going, anyway,” Cole said.

  Jax closed the door then turned to them. “No, I need to talk to both of you, won’t you sit down?”

  Cole settled back into his chair, and Ellie sat down in the remaining one beside him. Jax returned to his seat. “We’re going to be working closely together. All of us.” Jax looked at them in turn. “Cole’s going to relieve me of some of my responsibilities out on the job sites.”

  “But, I—”

  Jax held up his hand. “I know you’ve been doing that, Ellie, but it’s too much for one person. Of course—”

  “Too much for one person, Jax? Have I not handled things well by myself? Remember the Ollis job? Didn’t I come through for you when there was a mix-up with the contractors? How about the Person house, didn’t I handle the cabinetry problem without your help?”

  “Well, yes, Ellie, you did, but—”

  “Then I don’t see why we need to change things. We were handling situations just fine before. Why the change? Why couldn’t you leave things as they were? It makes no sense, Jax.” Her eyes flashed, she straightened in her chair. “Just last week, wasn’t I the one who wouldn’t give up when—”

  Jax held up his hand to silence her, but anger wouldn’t shake her free.

  “—the Mills were—”

  “Ellie.”

  “—angry about the—”

  “Ellie.”

  “—foundation crack? Didn’t I put in extra hours to get that matter settled? And when—”

  “Ellie, enough.” Jax’s eyes pinned her. “As I was saying, Cole will oversee things, and he’ll need you to carry out assignments that he can’t do.”

  She paused a moment, took a deep breath, then blew it out. “I see. In other words, he’s my supervisor.”

  Jax studied the pencil in his hand before looking up at her. “Yes, Ellie, he is your supervisor.”

  Cole watched her. He knew she was upset, but he didn’t know how to fix things. “Look, I—” He almost reached for her hand, but the look on her face stopped him cold.

  Their eyes locked for one electric moment. “That’s fine. I’m glad I don’t have to do all of that by myself anymore. Makes my job easier.”

  Jax put on a pleasant expression. “Great.”

  Alex rang over the intercom, notifying Jax of an important call. The three decided to meet later.

  Cole followed Ellie out the door, not nearly as convinced as Jax that things would be so great.

  Chapter Two

  The next morning, after making the necessary notations, Ellie shook hands with the Wilsons and said goodbye. She felt energized after every house deal. Of course, things didn’t always run smoothly, and the pesky modifications could drive her crazy at times, but all in all, she decided, she loved her job. Maybe she’d reward herself with a mocha.

  She heard Jax’s voice as she neared his office. Perhaps now was not a good time. But Jax had insisted that since they hadn’t met again yesterday, due to unexpected calls, he wanted to meet with her today. She peeked around the doorway. Still talking on the phone, he motioned her to enter. Ellie took her place in the chair.

  “All right, Chad, do what you need to do to keep them happy. Drop the price, throw in the appliances, whatever.”

  Jax lifted a weak smile toward Ellie and shrugged.

  Poor Jax. Business was not his forte. He wanted to teach. Who could have known his father and mother would die in an auto accident and leave him the family company? It saddled him with a profession he wouldn’t have chosen for himself.

  Jax hung up the phone. He smiled and leaned over the desk. “So what can I do for one of my favorite employees?”

  “You’d better be careful. Alex might hear you,” she teased.

  He waved off the matter and reached for his mug of coffee. “We’re not exactly engaged, you know.”

  Ellie smiled at her friend; Jax was more like a brother than a boss. They’d met six years prior when his family had joined her church.

  After a quick swallow, Jax put his cup down and looked at her. “I guess you want to know about Cole?”

  “Well, the thought had crossed my mind.” She smiled at him. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Jax, but—”

  He held up his hand to stop her. “It’s all right. You have a right to know what’s going on.”

  Jax got up and walked over to close the door. He settled back into his chair and took a deep breath. His eyes fixed on his desk. “It’s like this, Ellie.” He stopped long enough to look up at her. “I needed someone to relieve me of some responsibilities.”

  “But why—why Cole?”

  Jax gave her a sympathetic look. He got up and walked around the desk to the chair across from her. “Look, Ellie.” He grabbed her hand. “You’re an excellent worker. I know you wanted this promotion, and I’m sorry I couldn’t offer it to you, but honestly, Cole has more experience in the business realm. He’s just a better fit for the job.”

  “So you feel he is more qualified?” Her nose pointed up.

  Jax nodded. “It’s not that he’s better than you, just more experienced.”

  The words pierced her pride, exposing raw layers of pain. She said nothing.

  “Things won’t change all that much. You’ll go on doing what you’ve been doing.”

  “But you said yourself he is my supervisor, right?” She knew her question sounded childish, but rig
ht now she didn’t care.

  Jax shrugged. “I guess, technically, yes. But you don’t have anything to worry about.” He squeezed her hand like an encouraging brother. “Your work is better than good enough. You’re the main one keeping us going right now. If you weren’t writing those offers and overseeing the construction sites, I don’t know what I’d do. Chad, Morgan and Tim do their best, but they just don’t have the drive that you do.”

  She softened. “I’m sorry, Jax. I’m just a little edgy.”

  “Dieting again?”

  She winced a little before nodding.

  “Ellie, you are perfect the way you are. Why do you always diet?”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I like food. Fat grams stick to my body like leeches on reverse.” Then in the moment of silence that stretched between them, she was struck with inspiration. “Want to go to lunch?”

  “It’s nine-thirty,” he answered dryly.

  He could be such a spoilsport.

  Jax shook his head and walked back over to his seat behind the desk.

  “So, what exactly is Cole going to be doing?”

  “He’ll be helping me some with the banks and financial side of things, but mostly, he’ll be checking out job sites, gathering information, overseeing things.”

  “Like employees?”

  Jax nodded and shrugged.

  A knock sounded at the door. “Come in.”

  “Hey, two of my favorite people.” Cole’s smile almost chased away Ellie’s bitterness.

  Almost.

  “May I come in?”

  “Yes, I was just leaving, anyway.” She stood and crossed the room. He stepped in front of her.

  “Seems we’re both always coming or going. Don’t leave on my account.” His eyes held her in place. Her breath caught in her throat. “Please.” He said the last word for her ears only.

  His scent, the depth in his voice, the intensity in his eyes, unnerved her. “I have to go,” she squeaked. Quickly, she brushed past him and darted through the door. Once outside Jax’s office, she gasped for air, realizing only then she had barely breathed from the moment their eyes met.

  After lunch Ellie gathered her things and walked toward the kitchen where she heard Jax’s voice.

  “I’ll be back later, Jax. I’m headed to the Gregory job site,” she told him.

  Cole rounded the corner. “Hey, is it okay if I tag along? I need to check on some things.”

  Ellie stopped. “Well, uh—”

  He held up his hand. “I won’t bite, I promise.”

  Ellie wished she could make the same promise. Her lunch salad had done little to improve her spirits.

  Cole looked at Jax. “I’ll check on the mechanicals and make sure we’ve got the appropriate permits. Check on the guys’ progress.”

  Ellie felt her face flame with heat. Those were her responsibilities. She glanced at Jax, but he quickly turned away. “I’ll see you later.” He waved them off and headed back toward his office.

  Her mouth opened like a baby bird’s at mealtime. She glanced up to see Cole staring at her and clamped her mouth closed. Cole and Ellie walked outside to her car and climbed inside.

  “Nice car,” he said, stroking the leather upholstery.

  “Thanks.” Once she closed her door and started the engine, Ellie clicked on the radio station, turning it up loud enough to discourage any conversation. She knew this whole mess wasn’t really Cole’s fault, but who else could she blame? Jax was her friend and trying to run a business, she couldn’t blame him. Things were what they were. She’d have to get used to it. Still, it would take a while for her wounded pride to heal.

  Cole reached over and turned the volume down. “Do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?”

  Great. Just what she wanted. “Sure, what’s up?” She tried to make her words sound cheerful, as if his presence didn’t bother her in the least. And it didn’t, really. Though his cologne was a little distracting. Made her think of a log cabin in the woods. And, of course, a log cabin made her think of maple syrup and pancakes.

  “Look, I don’t know what happened, really, but for some reason, we got off to a bad start. I’d like to change that.”

  “There’s no problem,” she said, as if voicing it made it so.

  “Come on, Ellie, we both know there’s a problem. I know I can’t fix it, but I’d like to start again.”

  “You can’t fix it because there’s nothing to fix.” Couldn’t he just let her lick her wounds and allow her time to get over the disappointment?

  “He says you’re a great worker—”

  Oh, now he was patronizing her. “You don’t have to rattle off my attributes, Mr. Preston. I’m not someone who has to be praised to be happy.” Her breath came in short gasps, but she continued. “I’m not mad. There is no problem.” She kept her gaze fixed on the road, her voice even and calm. Though she didn’t look at him, she could sense he was smiling at her. A taunting smile. Mocking her. Okay, she might have to hurt him.

  “Suit yourself.” He settled into his seat. “I just didn’t want you to feel threatened, that’s all.”

  “Why would I feel threatened?” Now, he was making her really mad.

  “Because I’m your boss.”

  He was gloating, pure and simple. “Why would that make me feel threatened?”

  He shrugged. “I think you feel threatened because you don’t like change.”

  She gasped and turned to him. “Look, Cole, you know nothing about me, so please don’t try to analyze me!”

  She pulled onto the side of the road at the job site, slammed into park with more force than she’d intended, and jumped out of the car. Cole followed suit. She knew she would regret her anger later, but for now it simmered like a sauna bath.

  Instead of taking the usual care when walking at a construction site, she plunged the heels of her shoes into the muddy ground. When she lifted her left leg, her shoe stayed put. She teetered and swayed like a Hawaiian dashboard doll. Desperate to maintain her dignity, she jerked on her foot and fell into the waiting arms of Cole Preston.

  The construction workers whistled and cawed from the house. Ellie wanted to curl up and roll away.

  Cole whispered into her ear, “What shall we do for an encore?”

  She turned a disgusted face at him and yanked herself free from his arms. “You are the most egotistical man I have ever met!”

  He laughed out loud and bowed as she made her way past him.

  Her only solace came from flicking specks of dirt from her shoes across his pant legs as she went.

  Ellie took a sip from her teacup. “Thanks, Mom. This hits the spot.”

  “Your headache is better, then?”

  Her mother’s worried gaze met Ellie’s. “I’m much better.” Ellie could see her mom visibly relax. “What would I do without you?”

  Her mom waved her hand. “You’d be just fine. The Lord would give you someone in my place.”

  “No one could ever take your place, Mom.”

  Her mother fidgeted with her teacup and glanced around the room. “Ellie, don’t you think your couch would be more functional if you placed it against that wall? Then you could see out the patio while—”

  “Oh, here we go. I’ve told you, Mom, I’ve got enough battle scars from my childhood. Remember? From when I bumped into furniture that you kept switching around the room?”

  Her mother’s mouth formed into a pout and she hung her head.

  Ellie laughed, causing her mother to brighten.

  “Don’t you get bored with it the same way all the time?”

  Ellie shook her head. “I like to keep things the way they are. Why fix something that’s not broken?”

  Her mother remained silent, giving in on the issue as if it were the first time, though they had had the discussion many times before. “Ellie, your headaches usually come on because of stress. Anything you want to talk about?”

  Ellie put her cup on the coffee table, straightened he
r pillow and leaned against the back of the sofa. “It’s Cole Preston. I try, Mom, I really do, but I just don’t like the man.”

  “What is it you don’t like about him?”

  “Everything. He’s pushy. He’s demanding. Always trying something new.”

  “Ah.”

  “Ah, what?” Ellie couldn’t hide the edginess in her voice.

  “Well, honey, it’s just that you’ve never adjusted well to change.”

  “Mom, please, I’m not a child anymore. I can adapt.”

  Her mother raised an eyebrow.

  “I can,” she repeated, defensively. They sat a moment in silence. She hated it when her mother was right. “Okay, so I don’t like change,” she admitted with some reluctance. Ellie sighed and adjusted her blankets. She looked at her mother. “I’m still struggling with this whole partnership thing.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, it’s just not fair.” Oh, she could kick herself for sounding so childish. Her mother stared, saying nothing. Ellie felt like a bug under a microscope. With everything in her, she tried not to squirm. She knew she was wrong. She had to let her bitterness go, but could she? Sighing, she leaned back into her pillow.

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Ellie. As you get used to his ways, you’ll get along fine.” Her mother smiled.

  Ever the optimist, Ellie thought. “Is Dad coming for dinner?”

  Her mother came over and fluffed the blanket around her. “Yes. In another hour or so.”

  “The vegetable soup smells so good.”

  “You’d get a decent meal once in a while if you could get away from work long enough to come to our house. I had an awful time finding enough food in your cupboards to come up with dinner.” Her mother finished the last tuck on the blanket and stood up. “By the way, why do you have so much cabbage in your refrigerator?”