Rachel quickly headed for the front door. With Charlie in her arms, she handed Jack the key. He twisted it around a few times but the door wouldn’t budge.
“Are sure this is the right one?”
“Here, let me try. It’s pretty temperamental. You need to sort of twist and push down. Can you hold Charlie a minute?”
Jack looked surprised at the request, then quickly nodded. He held out his arms and Rachel handed the baby over. While she fiddled with the key, she couldn’t help noticing the way Jack held Charlie, very carefully and gently, as if cradling an armload of Baccarat crystal. His face wore an amazingly tender expression, which didn’t change one bit when Charlie started climbing up his chest and tugged at his hair.
Rachel gave the door the necessary twist and jiggle and it finally popped open.
“There we go,” she said leading the way inside. “I know it doesn’t look like much. I’d just like to fix it up enough so that I can rent it out. ”
Jack carefully handed Charlie back, then walked in and looked around at the large, main room. “Okay, let’s see what we have in here.”
A small kitchen was built in one corner, separated from the rest of the lay-out by a snack bar. There was a wood-burning stove on one wall and a short hall that lead to a bedroom and bath.
After touring the layout he returned to the main room where she waited. “The walls and ceilings in the back rooms don’t seem to have any damage. A fresh coat of paint back there should do it. This room, though, is pretty bad.”
He stared up at the ceiling, then reached up to push at the tiles on the ceiling. Once again, she was treated to a view of his great body in action. Long lean legs and slim hips, broad shoulders and long, muscular arms. It had been awhile since she met a man so totally, blatantly attractive. If he really took this job, she’d have to see him every day. What a distraction that would be.
Did she really want that? She wasn’t looking for a man in her life right now. That wasn’t in her plan.
Get a grip, Rachel. A guy like that definitely has as girlfriend or a wife. Or some significant other lurking around.
He turned to her suddenly, and Rachel felt her face flush, as if he could read her thoughts.
“I have a few ideas about what we could do in here. Would you like to hear them?”
Rachel felt her mouth go dry and didn’t answer at first. Charlie grabbed her earring, and she shifted him in her arms. “Sure. Go right ahead.”
“I’d put a new roof on, of course. The building is so small, it’s worth it to do the whole roof, not just a patch job. The renovation in here could be interesting….”
He picked up a scrap of paper and a pencil from the counter and sketched out the floor space. Then showed Rachel how he would remove the damaged ceiling tile and open the space to expose the rafters and make a vaulted ceiling, with a skylights in the main room and kitchen.
“Wow, that sounds great.” Rachel looked up at him. “But what’s that all going to cost? I think it might be too expensive,” she said frankly.
“Well…let’s see. What was the other contractor charging you?”
Rachel told him the figure, sure that this job would be at least double.
Jack looked down at his sketch again. “Sure, I could do it for that much.”
“You could?” Rachel looked at him with disbelief. His ideas were the most creative she’d heard from any of the contractors she’d spoken to. George Nolan was reliable, but a real no-frills outfit. Jack Sawyer had a much more artistic perspective. How could his price be so low? Something wasn’t quite right here.
“Are you sure that’s a realistic price? I mean, there won’t be any surprises for me later when I get the final bill?”
“I work on my own. I don’t have a big crew to pay and a lot of overhead costs that larger outfits have to figure in. And I have some great cheap sources for my materials.” Sensing that she wasn’t totally convinced, he added, “And I need the work. The job I had lined up for this month just fell through. I could start in a day or so, and be done in a few weeks.”
“Really?’
“Absolutely.”
He suddenly looked a little anxious about her reply. She guessed he really did need the work. Then he smiled at her and met her gaze with his soft dark eyes. A reassuring look that said, Trust me. I’m a nice guy.
Rachel did want to trust him. Still, she’d learned better by now. Or hoped she had.
“I’ll need references. And a written estimate and a contract,” she said. “You’re licensed and bonded, right?”
“Of course. I’ll have the references for you tomorrow.… So, we have a deal?”
“Yes, it’s a deal.” Rachel extended her free hand. He looked surprised at first, then took it in his own. His grip was strong and warm. His touch was…distracting. He gazed down at her, a warm light dancing in his eyes.
By the time he’d let go of her hand, Rachel felt her pulse speeding double time.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all, she thought. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. His sudden appearance, just when found herself in a bind, seemed like a gift from the universe. She’d just have to get her hormones under control.
Maybe some speed walking in the early morning would help. She needed the exercise anyway to burn off the last of her baby weight.
He’d better not take his shirt off while he was working. Maybe she’d have to write that into their agreement.
“I just need to take some measurements in here for the estimate. I don’t have my tool box with me, though. Can I use this?” He picked up a metal measuring tape and yard stick that had been left on the counter top.
“Of course. Help yourself. I’ll wait for you outside, okay? It’s a little stuffy in here.”
“Sure. I won’t be a minute.” He smiled at her again and Rachel knew her need for fresh air didn’t have anything to do with being in the cottage.
Rachel headed for the door, brushing disturbingly close in the small space before she stepped outside again.
Once outside she gulped in a few breaths of cool, fresh air, eager to clear her head. She stepped over to the cool shade and set Charlie down on the grass, then sat down beside him.
She was glad to have a moment on her own, to get herself together. It wasn’t like her to get all rattled just because some hot guy smiled at her. She didn’t like the feeling. Not at all.
He soon stepped out of the cottage and closed the door. Then he stood a moment looking at her and Charlie where they sat. A slow, warm smile spread over his face and Rachel felt completely undone again.
She scooped up Charlie, forcing a bland expression and hoped she wasn’t blushing again.
Jack followed Rachel back into the store. She went behind the counter and then handed him a business card. “Here’s my phone number, in case you need to call. Do you have a business card, Jack?”
“Sure…” He took out his wallet and flipped it open. Then suddenly flipped it closed. “I’m sorry… Looks like I’m all out. Here, let me jot down my cell number for you.”
Rachel nodded, handing him a pen and paper. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“I’ll be here around noon, is that okay?”
Rachel nodded. “Sure, that will be fine.”
He’d said he was just passing through and now she wondered if he lived far away. Would he need to take a room someplace in order to be back here in the morning?
Well,