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Zach headed to the pipe area and searched through the sizes until he found the piece he’d need cut. When Macy came in beside him, he pointed to the pipe.
“I need a three-foot piece,” he told her. “And even though you nearly doubled over with laughter, I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back with you about those house plans.”
Macy pulled the piece from the others stacked along the wall. “No worries. I know you’re busy.”
“I’m not too busy for friends. Would you want to come over to the house Friday night and we can discuss this more in depth?”
Holding on to the pipe, Macy nodded, her ponytail shifting over her shoulder. “Sounds good. I’ll close up at six and head on out. Is this the only piece you need?”
Once he finished giving her his entire order, because he really didn’t want to have to make another trip, he waited for Macy to get it all together.
His cell vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he cringed when he saw the number. Martin’s office. Fantastic.
Zach slid his finger across the screen and held the phone to his ear. “Zach Monroe.”
“Zach, this is Martin.”
Shoving a hand in his pocket, Zach leaned against the door frame leading into the room wher
e Macy had gone. He waited for Martin to continue.
“I’m calling about your building permit.”
Words no contractor ever wanted to hear, let alone from the man who annoyed said contractor just because he breathed. From the tone of Martin’s voice, Zach was already pissed.
“What about it?” Zach asked.
“The plans you submitted were not approved.”
Did he sound smug? Zach gripped his cell and gritted his teeth. “And why not?”
“The plans for the kitchen were not satisfactory in regards to the exhaust and how the electrical would be run.”
Zach cupped the back of his neck and dropped his head. There wasn’t a doubt in Zach’s mind that Martin was taking great delight in this moment. That suit-wearing jerk had never made it a secret he didn’t like the Monroes. Not that Zach cared, but there was no way he would let this small-town politician ruin Chelsea’s dream.
“What exactly is the problem?” Zach wanted details, not just a smug asshole telling him he couldn’t do something. Although there was no doubt in Zach’s mind there was nothing wrong with the plans, other than his name had been on them.
Martin went into some nonsense about the exhaust needing to be on the other exterior wall to free up the second exterior wall for the double ovens and stove. Because the house was so old, they felt it best to be routed differently.
Focusing on the bright yellow sale sign hanging above a display of lightbulbs, Zach replied, “Fine. I’ll draw up new plans and have them for you by the end of the week. Is there anything else?”
Because once he drew up new plans, Zach didn’t want Martin coming back and saying there was a problem with the bathroom or the steps or some other issue. Zach could see Martin being a pain in the ass during this entire project.
“Nothing regarding the house,” Martin told him. “But there is something I want to say.”
Macy came back through with the pipe. “I’ll put it up at the counter,” she whispered as she passed through.
Zach nodded, then focused back on the sign. Whatever Martin was about to say was only going to make Zach even pissier. “And what’s that?” he asked, eager to end the call.
“You may think you have some hold on Sophie, but I know you’re just stringing her along.”
Zach jerked at the bold statement from the prick. “What?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know she broke things off with me,” Martin retorted. “I’m sure you were just waiting for this to happen. She’s always been infatuated with your family, and I see how you look at her.”
Sophie broke things off with Martin? Good for her. Martin was an ass. And how had anyone seen how Zach looked at Sophie? He tried his hardest not to look at her.
This breakup was not good news for Zach. There went one of his best excuses for keeping his distance from her. She deserved better than Martin, but definitely better than anything Zach could offer.
