“Good God.” She covered her chest with both hands. “What is it with you sneaking up on me?”
“Why didn’t you show up this morning?” Jamal asked.
She jutted her chin in the air. “Professional emergency,” she answered. “The guy who owns this called me last night and asked if I could get it done right away. He found a buyer for it. He agreed to pay an extra twenty percent for the rush job. I couldn’t pass it up.”
“And it didn’t occur to you to call and let me know you wouldn’t be working at Belle Maison today?”
She shrugged. “Guess I forgot. You know how that is, don’t you?”
His entire body tensed. He forced himself to swallow the temper that flared at her flippant jab.
“I’m sorry,” Phylicia said with a slight grimace. “That was uncalled for. I’m usually not this petty. And definitely not this unprofessional.”
He didn’t want her apology; he just wanted to know where they stood.
“Be straight with me, Phylicia. Are you pulling out of the job?” Jamal asked, his chest tightening painfully as he anticipated her answer.
“No,” she said. “I agreed to work on the house.” She stooped to pick up the putty knife that had fallen when he startled her, then stood and faced him again. “However, I am requesting a couple of days off so I can get this armoire done. I usually wouldn’t leave in the middle of one job to work on another, but this antiques dealer is new to the area. If I can make a good impression on this job, there’s potential for more work.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “And you’re not going to just find another project to work on after you’re done with the armoire?”
“No,” she stated. “That’s not how I operate. And frankly, I need the money you’re paying me.”
“So that’s the only reason you’re staying on?” he asked. “Because of the money?”
She looked up at him, the indifference in her expression slicing through him. “Isn’t that why we all work?” she asked.
“Not everyone.”
“Unlike some people, I don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing when I want to work. Now, do you have a problem with me taking a few days off?”
“What if I do?”
Her lips thinned into a tight, angry line. “Then I guess I’ll have to tell my other client that he’ll have to wait. I don’t want word getting out that Phillips’ Home Restoration doesn’t complete a job. My reputation is everything to me.”
Jamal nearly choked on the anger climbing up his throat. “You know I would never say anything to hurt your business.”
“You also said you wouldn’t tear down my mother’s room. I’m not sure I’m willing to risk my professional reputation on your word.”
He clamped down on the retort that nearly spewed from his mouth. He couldn’t trust himself to speak.
Then again, there was nothing left to say. The damage was done, and likely irreparable.
He stared at her for several long moments, his chest developing a painful ache as she stared back with more animosity in her brown eyes than he’d ever been subjected to. Maybe her staying away for a few days was a good thing. He couldn’t take her looking at him with such bitter resentment.
“Finish your armoire,” he said. “I can take care of the Victorian.”
She didn’t say anything else. Just nodded and turned back to the piece of furniture.
Jamal stood in the shop several moments longer, deciding whether he should apologize yet again. But what had his previous apologies gotten him but more of her extremely cold shoulder? She was still too raw. Maybe after a few days, after she’d had time to move past her anger over the room, he could get her to see reason.
Chapter 11
For the nexttwo days, Jamal poured everything he had into working on the B&B. He arrived at Belle Maison an hour earlier than usual and stayed well after the contractors departed. By the end of the day he was too exhausted to do anything but shower and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The quicker he got the work done on the house, the less time he’d have to deal with Phylicia’s stony attitude when she returned.Ifshe returned. He fully expected her to come up with another excuse to stay away.
He was installing the new fixtures in the downstairs bathroom when he heard a truck pulling into the driveway. He was instantly ashamed for thinking she would back out of the job. When it came to her work, Phylicia kept her word.
