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The pit sweat was getting worse from looking at Noah. My no-nonsense, would-you-like-to-hear-about-my-degrees-from-Georgetown veneer was getting blurry from being bombarded by lust and discomfort in equal measure. To say we were speaking acquaintances would be an overstatement. Hissing acquaintances. Acquaintances who basically despise each other. It was deeply unfair for a chauvinist jerk to be that incredibly juicy looking. Even when he was pissing me off, I wanted to ride him. He had huge, ridiculous biceps, rounded shoulders, and a broad chest. I was pretty sure the thrum of nerves pulsing through my body was ninety-percent sexual.
He looked up, met my eyes. I smiled, gave a wave to say hi. He turned back to the register and waited, not acknowledging me. Typical.
Jerk.
I rolled my eyes and ate the crust, which was all that was left of my sandwich. The man was so irritating. I did not look forward to having to deal with him over this project. Even if he was the best man for the job. I didn’t need him to act smarmy and overeager like Ray Forrester had, but a simple hello or a freaking nod would not have killed him. I could be civil, even if he wasn’t. Inwardly, I seethed. I downed the last of my tea and noticed that Trixie and Michelle were flat staring at me.
“What?”
“Steam came outta your ears, girl,” Michelle said.
“He gets on my nerves. I’ll rise above it. The project is too important to this town for me to let my personal feelings get in the way of professionalism. I can do this.”
“No offense but you look like you could spit nails at him,” Trixie observed.
“Only if they’re under his tires on his stupid, jacked-up truck,” I said through gritted teeth.
He went out the door, still not looking at me. I didn’t follow him with my gaze, but I knew he was getting in that jacked-up-high dual-wheel pickup that looked like something an insecure hillbilly teen would drive. Even his car got on my nerves.
I would be perfectly businesslike when I dealt with him, when I awarded him the build because of the quality of his work. Not because he was going to win any personality contests. And if I hoped he would choke on his sandwich, I’d keep that information to myself.
3
Noah
My phone rang, and the caller ID showed “N RENNER”. I was groaning inwardly. This was it, the sorry-we’ve-decided-to-go-in-a-different-direction call. The ringing continued. I had to answer it and not just send it to voicemail. Better to rip off the Band-Aid than have to call her back.
“Hello,” I said gruffly.
“Mr. Jeffries, this is Nicole Renner—”
“Let me guess,” I cut her off. “You’re going with the cheapskate. Have fun with the repairs and probable lawsuits.” I snapped.
“Actually, I was calling to inform you that you’ve been awarded the community center job, but if you don’t want it, I have two other eligible bids to pursue. Have a good day,” she said crisply.
“No. Wait. Shit,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.
I was so shocked that the city planner with her stuck-up, know it all attitude was offering me the build of a community center the town had needed forever. Nicole calling to award me the job was the last thing I’d expected when the phone rang. And I’d acted like an ass. I needed to apologize.
“Look, I’m sorry I—”
“Assumed that I was stupid? Or sorry that you were incredibly rude to your new boss?” she asked coolly. “Because there’s more than one breach of professional etiquette in question here. Perhaps I gave you too much credit in assuming you could behave in a civil manner during the construction project. If I overestimated you, it’s good to discover that before the contracts are signed.”
“You didn’t overestimate me, and I never said you were stupid.”
“Maybe not to my face. Despite the fact that I hold a master’s degree—”
She had me there, but I wasn’t going to admit it.
“I know, Georgetown. I’m pretty sure you’ve told me that twice. Maybe just get a t-shirt that says so. It’ll save you the trouble of announcing it to everyone,” I grumbled, realizing after I ran my mouth that I wasn’t doing myself any favors in proving I could be a professional despite the fact that she got under my skin like a hundred mosquitos at once. “Look, we got off on the wrong foot here and that’s my fault. I’m sorry that I—”
“Again, I called to offer you a job, if you can manage a respectful declarative sentence in response, I’d appreciate it. I have a busy schedule and frankly you’re over the five minutes I allotted for this call. I still have to confirm a meeting date with the deputy mayor and the contractor who has the job.”
“That would be me. When do you want to meet?”
