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She looked at him and nodded.
“My brothers and I just finished putting in a wine cellar, in the basement, and there is this big beautiful window in the center of the room and we were thinking of doing something to it to lessen the amount of sunlight entering the room but also enhance the feeling of being in a wine-tasting room. Do you think you could come by and take a look at it and perhaps create something in stained glass to enhance the room?”
Her cheeks turned a shade of red and she stared at him.
“I don’t know. I usually don’t do such large pieces.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything and you are pretty talented. We’d pay you of course.”
“So like a private job?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what I would charge you for it, Caldwell. It would depend on the size and exactly what you were looking for in the design.”
“I know. That’s why it would be great if you could stop over. Do you think sometime this week, maybe in the afternoon so that you could see how much sun comes through?”
“Can I think about it?”
“I won’t take no for an answer. I know how talented you are. I won’t hire anyone else to come in. I would really like you to come up with something.”
She hesitated a few seconds and then said okay. He wanted to leap for joy. This was going to work out perfectly. They’d get her to their place, get her to accept the job, and then make sure each of them visited her and talked to her as she worked so she would be more comfortable with them. They could probably talk her into staying for dinner or sharing lunch? This was a great plan. His brothers would be thanking him. Big time.
“So how about tomorrow afternoon? Maybe around one?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Do you know where we live?”
“Of course I do.”
He raised one of his eyebrows up at her. Did she already have feelings for them? Did she drive by their place to catch a glimpse of them? God he hoped so.
“It’s the one with the very elaborate entryway built up with stone pillars. There’s no other place like it around Chance,” she said, bursting his pleasure bubble, but he recovered quickly. The sight of her hazel eyes alone did wonders to him.
“Great. So I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She said good-bye and then she walked toward the diner. He would call his brothers immediately and let them know his plan. They would be thanking him for this for a very long time.
* * * *
“Are you serious? He just asked you that?” Marlena asked her as Mercedes and Adele smiled wide.
“Yes. I was shocked. I guess there’s a first time for everything. I’ve never done such a huge job before, and it sounds huge.”
“You’ll be working in their home. That means they’ll be watching you, talking to you, and trying to make a move,” Adele said.
“No. It’s strictly business if I even take it. I want to feel them out.”
“You want to do more to them than that. Why are you denying this opportunity?” Mercedes asked.
“It’s not professional to like a client. It should remain businesslike.”
“Yeah like that’s going to happen. Caldwell, Monroe, and the sheriff have had their eyes on you since you moved here. What makes you think that you can keep this all business?” Marlena asked her.
“I need to. I would never mix personal life with business. I learned the hard way where that leads. Now that Caldwell asked me to do something at his home professionally I need to keep that line drawn. Besides, I don’t want to get involved with another man. I want to build up my confidence and start establishing my own goals and achieve them.”
“So let me get this straight. If they ask you out or want to pursue a relationship after you’re working for them, you’ll decline?” Mercedes asked her.
