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It hadn’t been until he reached college that he found his classes interesting enough to try and get decent grades, and even then he’d been half-hearted about his assignments. He was aiming for the NFL. Grades wouldn’t matter if he went professional.
Now he was ready to date one of the smart girls. He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.
It only took him a few minutes to get ready. Instead of waiting for Olivia at his house, he decided to go back to the main cabin and see how far the crew had gotten on their projects today.
As he walked outside, his father’s truck pulled onto the property. His father had mentioned he might come up with Lucas on Saturday to help, but Carson wasn’t expecting them until the morning.
His father parked near the guest house, and he and Lucas climbed out. Their father was the one responsible for his sons’ height. He was six-foot-five with a build that would’ve lent itself to football if his father had been so inclined. He’d gone into accounting instead and did taxes for half the town’s businesses. His blond hair was receding, and a slight pot-belly attested to all of the time he spent behind a desk. But he’d worked construction while paying his way through college and had done most of the home repairs so knew his way around power tools.
Carson went to meet them. “I thought you weren’t coming up until tomorrow.”
His father opened the truck’s back door and pulled a suitcase out. “I figured there would be some things we could do tonight. And this way we’ll be ready to start work first thing in the morning.” He grinned at Carson. “I need to keep an eye on my investment. Lucas and I will share your second bedroom.” He headed to the guest house, a spring in his step.
Lucas pulled his suitcase out of the back with less enthusiasm. “I never should’ve told him you’ve got women staying up here. He’s making sure you’re not throwing wild parties in the jacuzzi instead of working on renovations.”
“Sorry,” Carson said. “No parties. Andwomenaren’t staying up here. Just Olivia is.”
Lucas sniffed him. “Are you sure? You smell awfully good for a construction worker.”
“Do I?” Carson asked in irritation. “I knew using that shampoo was a mistake. I smell like a garden now, don’t I?”
Lucas sniffed again. “Whose shampoo were you using and why?”
“Olivia’s because she sprayed me with paint, and I didn’t want it to dry in my hair.”
Lucas chuckled and lifted his suitcase’s handle. “So things are pretty much the same between you two?”
No, but how much did he tell his brother? “I’m pretty sure things will improve from here on out.”
His father emerged from Carson’s house, showing too much energy for this late in the day. “Come on, Lucas. Bring your stuff in.”
Lucas lugged his suitcase toward the door. His father joined Carson, surveying the progress on the deck. “Your crew has already left for the day?”
“I let them go a little early today.”
His father shook his head in disapproval. “You can’t do that when you’re behind schedule. Some overtime is worth it at this point. You’ve got to take this project seriously.”
Carson bristled. “Iamtaking it seriously.” Of course, his father would have to show up on the one day he’d let the crew go home early.
Olivia chose this moment to stroll out of the cabin. She was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a snug red T-shirt. Not dressy, but it was still clear she wasn’t in the middle of some construction project. Her purse, sandals, and hoop earrings, gave her away. She was wearing makeup and her hair was in dark waves around her shoulders. Simple and yet beautiful. How had he never noticed back in high school how pretty she was?
Olivia’s gaze bounced questioningly between Carson and his father.
His father said nothing, but Carson didn’t have to look at his expression to know what he was thinking.Sure, you’re taking the project seriously.
“Olivia,” Carson said, “This is my father, Kevin Clark. Dad, Lucas has told you about Olivia working for me in place of Matt.”
His father shook Olivia’s hand, all politeness. “Good to meet you.”
She repeated the greeting and her eyes went to Carson, waiting for an explanation.
Carson cleared his throat. “My dad and Lucas are staying the weekend to help with the construction, and they came up early. Without telling me. They want to get some work done tonight.”
“Oh,” she said. The word sounded too bright as though she was trying not to feel awkward about this turn of events.
He already felt awkward enough for the both of them. He was going to have to back out on what should be their first date. He took his wallet from his pocket and pulled out some bills. “But you can still go to town, get food, and bring back something for us.” It was perhaps a poor consolation for missing dinner but it was the best he could do with his father standing right there being all judgmental about his work habits.
She glanced back at the house. “I could just make you something. That would be faster. And then I could finish painting that room.”
