She didn’t look around.
“I might need help and money, but notyourhelp and money.”
He grunted. “Well, sorry to say, but that’s what you got.” His phone buzzed. He pressed a button, barked in a command and looked out the window. “Good, he’s arrived.”
“Who has? What’s going on?”
Rob walked to the window and waved. He turned to Flo. “It’s David. I’m bringing him in to help advise us on some of the construction issues.”
“What the hell?”
“Haven’t you understood by now? Flo, you always used to be so quick.”
She eyed him dangerously. Much more of that and she’d put into use the right hook which she’d once used on him.
He ignored her warning scowl and took a further step toward her, and her heart beat a little faster. It had nothing to do with anger.
“Flo, you signed the partnership papers the other day, right?”
She nodded. “How do you know?”
“Because I, Flo, am your new partner.”
He didn’t wait to see her response, which was just as well, as she wasn’t sure if she’d scream, thump him or burst into tears. Instead, he went to the front door which rarely got used, and opened it for David.
“Morning, Rob. Flo,” greeted David. “An interesting place you’ve got here,” he said, looking around. “It’s great you’ve kept it untouched all these years. We’ll be able to keep all this after ripping it apart and strengthening it.”
“Ripping?” She looked from one to the other of them. “No one, and I repeat, no one, will be doing any ripping. In fact”—she strode over and pushed them toward the door—“you can both leave right now.”
She reached around them, opened the door and pushed them out. “And, gentleman, don’t bother coming back.”
David looked from the door to Rob. “What’s going on? I thought you’d bought into the business with Flo?”
Rob shrugged. “Yeah, I have. I just forgot to tell her. I couldn’t quite figure out how to, so I reckoned I’d let it take its course. Must say that I didn’t imagine it going like that. But Flo always was on the fiery side.”
David grunted. “Well, as we’ve got some time on our hands, do you fancy going out to Christchurch and looking at some property there?”
“Sure. But I heard all that was underway.”
“Change of plan.”
“Nothing to do with a certain woman who happens to be my sister, is it?” asked Rob with a grin.
“Might be,” said David. He didn’t grin.
Rob looked puzzled and shook his head. “But—”
“I know, don’t ask,” said David.
Rob cocked his head to one side and shook his head again.
“Don’t,” warned David.
Rob took a deep breath as they walked to their cars.
“I’m sorry, David, but I don’t understand.”
“Look, I’ll level with you. You know my business, it’s always been about knocking down damaged houses and putting good, solid modern buildings in their place.”
