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seven
scarlett
Present Day
Ibite back the urge to shriek as I slip my feet into my sneakers. Today, we meet the contractor and his team for the new TAG Center and putting my dream into motion seems surreal. I’ve overseen other therapy buildings and projects, but something about this one being close to SoS and being able to name it makes it special.
Truck after truck lines the gravel drive as I pull my little compact car up to the job site. Men with hardhats gather around with coffee thermoses in their hands, yellow vests glaringly bright in the early morning sun, and steel-toed boots give them extra height. Rebar rises out of concrete and I steer clear of steel beams stacked in piles taller than me, inhaling the crisp air mingled with smokey exhaust from rumbling machinery.
Greyson chats it up with one of the crew members, their backs to me, but there’s no mistaking my friend in his denim jeans and SoS t-shirt down to his dusty, but trusty boots and backward ball cap. My heart hiccups, but I breathe around it, chalking it up to nerves.
“Good morning, gentleman. I take it things are right on schedule?” Both men turn around and one smile in particular starts a flutter in my stomach.Is this some sort of heart burn that happens as we age? Can I pretend it is?
“Scarlett, this is Kellen Payne. He said you spoke on the phone.”
Kellen is a very handsome man, and he knows it. Honey blonde hair cropped close at the sides, but slightly longer on top, and a square, clean-shaven jawline meant for movie stars. Jade green eyes sparkle like jewels, gliding up and down my body before returning to my face, his plump lips frozen in a megawatt smile. Normally, I’d be okay with an appraisal of my figure, but something about Kellen’s gaze feels almost odd. I can’t place my finger on it, so I push it aside for my manners.
“Nice to put a face to the voice. Thank you for letting us come out here to check on the progress.” And by progress, I mean, the wood and metal frame of the main building already erected and the beginnings of the stable roped off with stakes and orange flags.
“My pleasure.” His flirtatious voice is deep like on the phone, and I can’t deny he has a certain sex appeal that makes women go nutty. “If you’ll follow me, I’d like to go over the plans we’ve started on. If that would be all right with you?”
He gestures to the table behind them, and I follow him and Grey, just now noticing the scowl on his face.
“You, okay?” I ask, placing my hand on his elbow.
“I’m fine. It’s just early.” He takes off his hat to run his hand through his dark brown strands before putting it back on his head.
“Late night?” I’m totally fishing to see if he’s been talking with that woman from speed-dating. I haven’t asked, haven’t wanted to explore why it might bother me if he has.
He squints at me before shaking his head. “No. You?”
Chuckling, I continue following Kellen past a chemical toilet, wrinkling my nose at the potent scent. “No way. You know I don’t do late nights on a work night.”
“Didn’t know if any of those guys would make you change your mind.”
Before I could reply, Kellen turns to me, turning up that blinding smile and I can’t help but return it. It is really dang pretty. I’m positive I don’t understand a word he’s saying as he walks me through the projected timeline and what his men are required to do. Who cares about pouring concrete or water lines, pipes, or bricks? I mean, I should. This is my project, but based on his recommendations, I shouldn’t have to worry too much.
“So, what do you say?” he asks silkily as a blush creeps over my cheeks.
Grey rolls his eyes at me, and I lower my head, a little embarrassed by my inattention.
“Oh, it sounds perfect. Thanks. I’ll be more excited once it’s more than just a pile of dirt and metal.”
Kellen laughs a deep chuckle and replies, “I asked if you’d like me to walk you around so we can make sure the plans match what you want.”
Again, my face heats. I’m usually more professional than this and it doesn’t help that Greyson is standing here watching me lose all my marbles over this handsome man.
“Uh, yeah, sure, I have time for that.”
Greyson falls in line with us as we walk, and it’s not long before Kellen turns to address him. “Mr. Lee, Jack over there has a question about the property lines. Would you do me a favor and talk to him about it? Thanks, man.” He points to a worker on the far end of the job site holding a map. Greyson’s jaw ticks as he looks Kellen up and down before back tracking.
“Sure thing. See you later, Scar.” He squeezes my arm, his eyes never leaving the man next to me. Oh boy. Grey’s protectiveness over me is something I’m used to, but Kellen watches him leave with a heavily curved eyebrow.
“Boyfriend?” he asks, a twinkle in those mossy eyes.
Taking a deep breath, I huff out a laugh. “No, just my very good friend.”
“Well, in that case, would you mind if I asked you out?”
