She said it like it wasn’t that big a deal, but I frowned. “This is a huge day for you. You’re finalizing the specs for your café and setting a date to open.” There wasn’t any way I couldn’t not be here for this. At least for a little while.
Guilt tugged at my gut because I would’ve preferred spending the entire day with her. I wanted to get a feel for the building and surrounding area, the foreman and crew she’d be working with. Safety was always paramount in my mind.
Luckily, Mia had chosen a building that wasn’t just perfect for her store for monetary reasons but also when it came to safety. The corner that her café’s building sat on was well lit and highly trafficked. There were plenty of office buildings just a few blocks over, but this particular street housed an array of mom-and-pop stores, a pet groomer business, a used bookstore, and more. It was the perfect location for a coffee shop.
And the area was known for its lower than average crime rate. I looked up the crime statistics in the area the same day Mia told me the exact location of her store.
“Barry,” Mia said.
I turned to face the man walking our way. I read it immediately as the foreman for this job. A yellow hardhat rested underneath his left arm while he wore a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a dark khaki colored button-up. The clipboard and pencil behind his ear gave him away instantly. But I didn’t need to look at his attire to know who he was.
Yes, I’d also looked him up since Mia gave me his name.
Barry Whitfield of Whitfield Construction & Co. His company had done a lot of work in the area in recent years. It made sense to utilize his services for this job.
“This is—”
“Brutus,” I completed Mia’s introduction for her, sticking my hand out to Barry. When he took it, I squeezed a little harder than necessary. Our eyes locked, and I narrowed my gaze slightly.
Barry gave me a nod, silently conveying that he understood my protective instincts over this woman and her pursuits.
“Pleasure,” Barry said.
“I’m so excited,” Mia squealed. I heard the barely contained excitement in her voice. She looked up at me. “Thank you for coming,” she said, taking my hand.
I covered her hand and brought it to my lips.
A minute later, the three of us walked through the front part of the building. Barry went over the specs and the layout, mentioning where everything would go. I listened closely while also keeping an eye on Mia. Her excitement was still apparent, but she also asked insightful questions and brought up possible workarounds when Barry told her that something couldn’t be done the way she wanted.
Mia had clearly done her research and she wasn’t a pushover. Not that I thought she was, but watching someone you care for so immensely having their dream unfold for them before their eyes was like experiencing the removal of an eclipse. Where everything illuminates and suddenly you forgot there was ever any darkness.
“What about the security system?” I asked after about an hour.
Barry blinked, and Mia came to peer at me with a wrinkle in her forehead. “I assumed I could wait until the end to get that installed,” she answered.
I shook my head. “No,” I replied fervently. “Security needs to be a priority throughout the renovation process.” My gaze shifted over to Barry. “Who have you worked with in the past?”
He rattled off a couple of security companies in the city. All of them had decent reputations and their equipment was okay, but I wasn’t satisfied.
“What is that look?” Mia questioned.
“You need better security.” I didn’t give a shit that Barry was standing right there and had highly recommended the companies that he listed. “I’ve seen the camera shots from some of those companies and you can do better.”
Mia shook her head. “But anything better is going to cost a lot more, right?” She turned to Barry, and I gritted my teeth. The sight of her turning to ask another man for something I was an expert on rattled my chest.
I moved in between her and Barry, effectively cutting him out. “Give us a minute,” I said over my shoulder told him.
He nodded and then said something about going to check out the pipes in the area that would be the kitchen.
“You don’t trust the companies he mentioned?” Mia asked. “I’ve looked a few of them up and they all have good reviews.”
I snorted. “Yeah, those are the reviews they haven't deleted. You need something more efficient and reliable.”
“But efficiency and reliability come with a cost.”
“One that’s worth it if something happens.”
She spread her arms. “What could happen?”
