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“Coffee.Alwaysbegin with coffee.”
Lourolled out of bed. “Comingright up,YourHighness.”Hespoke without a hint of sarcasm.Severalminutes later he returned with a tray laden with two steaming mugs and the newspaper.Hegot back into the bed, handing her a cup and began to read,Gaylelooking over his shoulder.
“Thisis the projectIwas telling you about,” she said pointing to the article.
“Youthink the owner really bribedBillingsto obtain the building rights?”
“I’dbet my last tube of lipstick on it.”
Loufurrowed his brow. “Whatcan we do about this?”
“Nothingwe can do.Iwas up at the site yesterday.Theyalready broke ground.Theowner is getting away with it.”Somethingtickled the back of her mind.
Louswung his legs over the side of the bed.Hehadn’t touched his coffee.
“Goingsomewhere?”
“Ihave an idea.”
“Umokay.”She’dbeen hoping to stay put for a while, maybe go for another round.Butthe determined look onLou’sface told her it would wait.
“Coming?” he said, pulling on his pants.
Sheknew that look.WhenLouwas driven, no one could stand in his way.
Sheplaced the empty mug on the nightstand and tossed the covers aside. “Youbet.”
* * *
Wyattwas back upon the roof, two other guys working nearby, whenLoushowed up at the site.
IfWyattcould, he would have taken the day off as a mental health day.
Theimage of seeingLilyin the arms of another man was seared in his mind, the ache far deeper than he could have imagined.
Onelie after the other.
Shesaid they were broken up.Buthe’d seen them with his own two eyes.
Atleast she’s okay,Wyattthought, irritated with himself for caring.
Lastnight after seeingLilyand the man he assumed wasPeter, he left the lobby with his tail between his legs.Jameswatched the entire episode with apparent delight, leavingWyattwith the urge to reach across the counter, take him by the collar, and teach him a thing or two.
Thezip-zip of nails being drilled into the roof tore him from the unwelcome memory.Hehad four other laborers inside the house, putting the finishing touches on the bathroom and kitchen cabinetry.
Hisguys were working overtime.Hehad the best team inBreck.Butit wasn’t enough.Heneeded more skilled workers if he was going to meet the increased need for housing in the area.
AndJoeyhad called to say he would be late.Again.Pammy’spregnancy had been smooth-sailing.Wyattsurmised something else was going on with his little brother.
Joeyseemed to be losing his feel for the business.Hewas a hard worker but unlikeWyatt,Joeysort of fell into the family business by default.Hewas skilled but the passion wasn’t there.
Fromhis bird’s-eye vantage point,WyattwatchedLou’sRangeRoverpull up the new gravel-paved driveway.Awoman exited from the passenger side.
Wyattwas not in the mood to giveLouanother update.Theywere back to being behind schedule.HeknewLouwould be okay with a short delay—he’d made that clear—butWyatthad a backlog of projects that had to be started before the long winter arrived.
Whatchoice doIhave?
Louwas the homeowner, and he the employee.
