Jace?”
“This is Lori Hutchinson. Lori, this is my foreman, Toby Edwards.”
The man smiled at her and tiny lines crinkled around his eyes. “So you’re the one who saved this guy’s as … sets.”
Lori felt Jace tense. “I’d say I was just lucky to inherit some money,” she told Toby. “Speaking of money …” She turned to Jace. “Were the funds transferred into the Mountain Heritage account?”
He nodded. “Yes. We’re expecting materials to be delivered later today.”
“Good.” She glanced around, feeling a little excited about being a part of this. “It’s nice to see all the work going on.” It was a little noisy with the saws and nail guns.
Jace watched Lori. He wasn’t expecting her here. Not that she didn’t have a right, but she was a big distraction. He caught the guys watching her, too. Okay, they were curious about their attractive new boss. He hoped that was all it was. There could be a problem if she stopped by every day. And not only for his men, either. He eyed her pretty face and those big brown eyes that a man could get lost in.
No way. One woman had already cost him his career and future, and maybe his daughter. He wasn’t going to get involved with another, especially in his workplace. Or any other place. He thought about the cozy dinner last night in the Hutchinson kitchen.
It was a little too cozy.
Enough reminiscing, he thought, and stuck his fingers in his mouth, letting go with a piercing whistle. “Let’s get this over with so we can all get on with our day.” All work stopped and the men came to the center of the main room.
“Everyone, this is Lorelei Hutchinson. Since Lyle Hutchinson’s death, Lori will be taking over in her father’s place. It’s thanks to her we’re all back to work on this project.” The men let go with cheers and whistles. Jace forced a smile, knowing this was a means to get this project completed. But damn, being beholden to a woman stuck in his craw. “Okay, now back to work.”
“Thank you,” Lori said. “So many people in town have been looking at me like I have two heads.”
“Has someone said anything to you?” he asked.
“No, but they’re wondering what I’m going to do.” She shrugged. “Maybe I should just make a big announcement in the town square. ‘Hey, everyone, I’m not here to cause trouble.’”
A strange protective feeling came over him. “Now that the project has started up again, maybe they’ll stop worrying.”
“I hope so. I’m bringing my sister and nephew here to live. I want to be part of this community.”
“What you did for Mac Burleson yesterday was a pretty good start.”
“Oh, Mac. Is he here?”
Jace nodded. “Yeah, he was here waiting when Toby opened the gates.”
She glanced around the area. “How is he doing?”
“Good so far.”
She looked up at Jace. “There he is. Would you mind if I talked to him for a moment?”
“No, not a problem.”
She walked across the large entry to the wall. Jace watched her acknowledge a lot of the workers before she got to Mac. She smiled and the man returned it. In fact he was smiling the whole time Lori was talking. Then he shook her hand and Lori walked back. “I just hired Mac to paint a couple of bedrooms at the house.”
“Hey, are you stealing my help?”
“No. He’s agreed to come over this weekend with his brother and paint the upstairs. I don’t think my nephew wants to sleep in a pink room.”
Jace nodded, knowing she would be erasing the last of her own memories of her childhood. “There are other bedrooms for him to sleep in.”
“I know, but it should have been changed years ago.”
“Maybe there was a reason why it hadn’t been.”
She looked at him. He saw pain, but also hope. “Lyle Hutchinson knew where I was since I left here twenty-two years ago. My father could have invited me back anytime. He chose not to.”
Lori turned to walk out and he hurried to catch up with her. “Look, Lori. I don’t know the situation.”
She stopped abruptly. “That’s right, you don’t.” She closed her eyes. “Look, it was a long time ago. My father is gone, and I’ll never know why he never came to see me. And now, why in heaven’s name does he want me to run his company?”
“I can’t answer that, either.”
“I’ve dealt with it. So now I move on and start my new life with Gina and Zack. I want them to have a fresh start here, in a new place, a new house and especially a new bedroom for my seven-year-old nephew.”
Jace frowned. “I take it Zack is without his father.”
Lori straightened. “His parents are divorced.” She glanced around. “I should be going.”
“I need to get back, too.”
They started walking toward the door. “If there’s anything you need,” she offered, “just give me a call. You have my cell phone number. I’ll be at the bank most of today.”
He walked her out. “I can handle things here.” Then he felt bad. “Maybe in a few days if you’re available we could go over some samples of tiles and flooring.”
She looked surprised at his request. “I’d like that. I want to be a part of this project.”
Her steps slowed as she made her way over the uneven boards. He took Lori’s arm, helping her along the path.
“What about the bank?”
“I doubt Mr. Neal will enjoy having me around.” She stopped suddenly and nearly lost her balance. “Oh,” she gasped.
“I got you.” He caught her in his arms. Suddenly her trim body was plastered up against him. Even with her coat he wasn’t immune to her soft curves. And he liked it. Too much. He finally got her back on her feet. “You need practical boots if you come to a construction site. Go to Travers’s Outfitters and get some that are waterproof. You don’t want to be caught in bad weather without protection.”
She stopped next to her compact car. “I need a lot of things since I’ll be living here awhile.”
“Like a car that will get through the snow. This thing will put you in a ditch on the first bad day. Get something with bulk to it. You’ll be driving your family around.”
She nodded. “I guess I need to head down to Durango and visit a dealership next week when my sister flies in.”
Before he could stop himself, he offered, “If you need any help, let me know.”
She gave him a surprised look, mirroring his own feelings.
Two hours later, Lori glanced across the conference table at the Destiny Community Bank’s loan officers, Gary Neal, Harold Brownlee and Larry McClain. The gentlemen’s club. “I disagree. In this day and age, we need to work with people and help adjust their loans.”
“In my experience,” Neal said, “if we start giving handouts, people will take advantage. And no one will pay us.”
She tried to remain calm, but she was so far out of her element it wasn’t funny.
“I never said this is a handout, more like a hand up. All I suggested is we lower the interest rates on these loans.” She pointed to the eight mortgages. “Two points. Waive the late fees and penalties. Just give these families a fighting chance to keep their homes. We’ll get the money we loaned back.” She paused to see their stunned looks and wondered if she were crazy,