“How long?”
“I don’t have that answer. My guy said four to six months isn’t unheard of on a renovation this size. But we are in California without weather mucking up construction schedules.”
“How long before your work is done?”
“I need two more weeks to clear the house of everything worth sending to auction and then arrange the estate sale.”
“So I have three weeks to decide.”
“Have you picked a real estate agent yet?”
He shook his head.
“They’re going to tell you to keep some of the furnishings in the main rooms if you’re going to sell as is. If you’re renovating, then it’s best to purge everything and bring in a professional stager to sell.”
“Is your contractor able to do the work?”
She hesitated. “I asked him a favor to give an estimate, I didn’t imply that he’d get a job.”
Sheldon rocked back on his heels and tore his gaze away from the yard. “If you recommend him, it’s good by me.”
Avery tried not to think of the ethics behind her suggesting Liam for the work. “I’d recommend you get a couple of estimates before picking a team.”
He stared at her.
“I didn’t need two when I hired you.”
She couldn’t argue that.
“Let me see if he is available. If he is, I’ll put you two together.”
“Sounds good.”
Avery followed him out of the room and down the main hall.
“I found some items in your father’s study that you might want to look at.”
For a second, Sheldon stared, stone-faced. Once again his cold eyes had her taking a slight step back.
“Nothing, Avery. I want nothing from this house.”
“I won’t ask again.”
And just like that, he was smiling again. “You know how it is . . . self-centered parents who considered you only in passing.”
“Right.”
He nodded toward the door. “Walk me out.”
What she really wanted to do was get back to work and distance herself from this man.
Outside, the Santa Ana winds were kicking up dust and blowing leaves from the trees. She closed the door behind them to avoid it crashing against the wall inside.
He took the first step and turned. “Avery.”
“Yes?”
His lips pulled into a grin. “I’d like to take you out.”
His words didn’t register at first. She thought maybe he was suggesting a work-related meal . . . but they’d never done that, and there wasn’t a need.
“On a date. Dinner,” he clarified.
“Oh, ah . . .” Think, Avery . . . hell no. “I’m flattered.” In a creeper kind of way.
His smile tilted.
“I’m seeing someone.” Oh, Liam, don’t fail me now.
“Exclusively?”
She bobbed her head like one of those dolls. “Yup.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I thought you said after your divorce you poured yourself into your work and that nothing got in the way of your getting the job done.”
This was going from bad to worse. Not to mention get a hint, dude. “It’s new. Besides, I’m working for you, and that wouldn’t feel right even if I was available.”
He smiled again. “So if things don’t work out with you and . . .”
Avery didn’t offer a name.
“You’d say yes? After the work is done, of course.”
No! She couldn’t say that.
Her skin itched. “You’re a very nice man.”
Not the right words. She could tell by the expression on his face.
“Well, then. We’ll revisit this conversation when the job is over.”
Before she could suggest he not ask again, he bounced off the stairs and ducked behind the steering wheel of his Volvo.
Avery scurried inside and leaned against the closed door.
With a shudder, she rested her head in her hand. She didn’t see that coming. How the hell was she going to handle him?
“I’m blowing off krav on Tuesday,” Avery told Liam over the phone later that night.
“Brenda’s going to make you work harder on Friday.”
“I know. But I can’t help it. I have a late appointment with an art dealer and a whole house filled with old furniture. I have no idea how long it will take. I want this job done as soon as possible.”
“Late hours and stress. You sound like me.”
Avery kicked her feet up on her coffee table and drank from her bottled water. “Who would have guessed?” She considered telling him about Sheldon but decided to hold off. She’d been keyed up about the man all day and needed time to sort out how to handle him.
“I have back-to-back inspections all week, and my second crew is starting a job in Santa Monica.”
“More work than you can handle?”
“No. I probably need to hire a couple more guys and tell my secretary to increase the payroll.”
Avery watched her feet as she spoke on the phone. “You have a secretary?”
“Yup. My sister.”
“So it’s a family business.”
“No. She’s in school for a psychology degree and helping me while she lives here. I told her she didn’t have to, but she insisted.”
“Sounds like a winning combination for everyone.”
“She wants to meet you.”
Avery froze. “Ah . . .”
“Let me rephrase that. I’d like you to come over for dinner and meet my family.”
She didn’t mean to hesitate, but the words took a while to form in her mouth. “I just got used to talking to you on the phone . . . and texting.”
“Am I pushing you outside your comfort zone?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled.
“Liam.”
“No pressure,” he told her. “We have Sunday dinners almost every week. The invitation is open. This weekend, next weekend.”
She pushed off her sofa and walked into her open kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine. “Meeting your family implies . . .”
“Implies what?”
“I don’t know, but it implies something. I’m pretty sure I’m not ready for that something.”
He was laughing now. “You think about it.”
She rummaged through a drawer, looking for a wine opener.
“I will.” She should just say no.
“I have to go over some invoices and bury myself in paperwork for a couple hours.”
“Aha!” She found it.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing. Fine. Go. I have some busy work to do myself.” Like opening the bottle of wine.
“Avery?”
“Yeah?” She pulled the foil off the bottle and tossed it aside.
“I miss you already.”
Her fingers stopped playing with the bottle as she sank into his words. “I saw you yesterday.”
“That doesn’t stop me from missing you today.”
Had anyone ever told her they missed her? Other than her girlfriends? Sure, the occasional guy on rotation would offer a Miss ya, babe. Need ya, babe. But what they missed was the horizontal time. Not one of them suggested they stick around once she called it off.
She poked the wine opener into the cork. “You haven’t been gone long enough for me to miss you,” she told him.
“Uh-huh.”
“And don’t call me a liar. That’s rude.” He’d been implying she was a liar since they first met. Today she wanted to cut him off before he had a chance. Even if most of the time he’d been right about the white lies that had passed her lips.
“I didn’t say a thing.”
The cork gave way. “Good.” The wine went in the glass and she lifted it to her lips. “I’ll see you on Friday, right?”
“I’ll be there.”
She sipped the wine, welcomed the flavor on her tongue. “Good.”
“Good night, Avery.”
“Good night.”
For several seconds she looked at the dark screen on her phone. What the hell was happening in her life? She dropped her phone on the counter, grabbed the bottle by the neck, and walked over to her couch. After switching on her TV, she vowed to stay awake long enough, or drink half the bottle, so she wouldn’t toss and turn, thinking about him.
Chapter Eighteen
Avery arrived at Brenda’s studio early, determined to get some extra time on the mat. All the time off made her feel weak and rusty.
She dropped her bag by the door and started to call out to Brenda when Avery realized she was talking on the phone.
“I told you I have a client on Friday night. We have to meet after nine.”
Avery’s footsteps stopped. Even as she listened in, she scorned herself for eavesdropping.
“I think about you, too,” Brenda said.
It had to be Brenda’s mystery guy. Not only was the woman saying romantic words Avery didn’t think Brenda could piece together, but she spoke them in a softer, gentler way.
“It’s only a few hours.”
Avery turned her head and forced herself not to listen.
Was that Brenda giggling?
Did Brenda giggle?
Avery paused again.
Stop listening.
Her shoes squeaked on the mat. The sound shot through the silent room.
“I’ve got to go.”
Oh, shit. Busted.
“Hey, Brenda.” Avery recovered quickly. “I’m early.”
Brenda poked her head out of her office. “Nice of you to join me.”
“I called.”
“Yes, you did. But did you work out while you were on vacation?”
Avery didn’t think drinking champagne and eating wedding cake constituted a workout.
“That’s what I thought. Fifty burpees, twenty-five squats, and three minutes of plank.”
At Avery’s thumbs-up, Brenda turned back into her office.