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“Someone finally bought that old place?”
“Sure did, and it’s a total gut job. There were structural issues.” Daddy sounded practically gleeful at the prospect. I pictured dollar signs floating around his head like little cartoon hearts.
“I’m really happy to see that house get the love it deserves, but whoever bought it either has too much money or is an idiot.”
Daddy was silent, his fingers playing a rhythm on his Thermos.
“Well, I’d say it’s probably the former.” Daddy paused. “I don’t think anyone can call Holden St. James an idiot.”
“What?” I screeched, whipping my head around to look at him and jerking the steering wheel in the process, causing us to briefly veer off the road and onto the shoulder.
“Eyes on the road, Sutton!” Daddy yelled, bracing himself. “Jesus remember me, how many times can a man almost die in one week?”
Car in the proper lane, I took a deep breath.
“Did you just say Holden St. James bought the old Bradford place?”
“If I answer that question, are you going to be able to maintain control of the vehicle?”
I rolled my eyes, but kept them facing forward — both for safety and so Daddy wouldn’t see it.
“You’re getting dramatic in your old age. I was just surprised. It doesn’t seem like someplace Holden St. James would be interested in living. I pictured him in a sterile, ultra-modern penthouse where every single piece of furniture makes a statement and is uncomfortable.”
“Think highly of the boy, do you?” Daddy drawled, his voice thick with sarcasm.
I shrugged, reaching for my coffee. Daddy cleared his throat pointedly, and I immediately returned my hand to the wheel.
“I’d be a better driver if I was fully caffeinated,” I mumbled. “Oh! I bet he’s going to flip it. That makes sense. The property value on that place will probably be insane once you’re done with the renovation, especially with all the land it sits on.”
“No, I’d say he means to live in it.”
“What makes you think so?” I asked, unsure why I found the idea of Holden living in the Bradford place so unsettling.
“He’s been really involved with every step of the process. Not in a pushy way, like some clients,” Daddy was quick to clarify. “He just seems genuinely interested in the process.”
I snorted. It was just like Holden to feel like he needed to oversee the project. He probably didn’t trust Daddy to do a good job. The arrogant jerk.
Daddy continued, unaware of where my thoughts had wandered. “I mentioned at dinner last night that I was going to swing by today to check progress, and he agreed to meet me there for the walkthrough. Well, actually he said I shouldn’t be working right now, but I brought him around to the idea.”
I blinked so rapidly that the lines in the road all blurred into one long streak. Shaking my head, I tried to find something to say that didn’t make me sound either insane or unsupportive, or a combination of both. Because what I absolutely refused to do was think about why my first thoughts about Holden being present were all centered on the fact that my hair was a mess, I had no makeup on, and I was wearing a bright yellow sweater that could fit a person roughly four times my size. Instead, I settled on the one topic I knew would make Daddy mindlessly happy.
“I guess it’s a good thing he probably has five trust funds. That’s going to be an expensive job. Although I’m sure you gave him the friends and family discount.”
As I expected, Daddy’s face broke into a gleeful smile. “Of course I gave him the discount.” His smile stretched wider, straining his cheeks. “After I raised all my prices.”
“You old dog, you,” I chastised teasingly, steering the car onto the long winding road that would take us away from town and toward the Bradford house.
“A man’s gotta put food on the table.”
I grunted, fighting my own smile, and reaching for my Thermos.
“Hands on ten and two, Sutton.”
Foiled once again, I placed my hand back on the wheel and contemplated the prospect of meeting Holden St. James on the battlefield, unkempt and uncaffeinated. My sweater was telling no lies today; I may have risen but I sure as hell was not shining.
8
“Here we are,” I announced unnecessarily as we turned into the driveway. “Wow, it looks so different already.”
