Prologue
Tanner
Several Weeks Ago
Hammer and Stein Construction headquarters never fails to send shivers down my spine. The offices are full of people who don’t work with their hands for a living like I do, prancing around the offices in suits and ties while I’m striding down the hall wearing steel-toe boots and dust-ridden jeans. It couldn’t be helped. I was walking along the property where we will be breaking ground tomorrow when I got the call from the big boss.
Samuel Hammer, my boss, is the type of man that you don’t fool around with. He’s the ‘rule with an iron fist’ kind of man. Thankfully, I’ve been working with him for several years now and we have an understanding of how each other works. He knows I will do my absolute best to run a safe and on-time job, which is how I earned the largest undertaking the company has had this year. In return, he will give me the space I need to complete the job without breathing down my back. We make a good team.
Before the holiday season, the company put in a bid for a complete overhaul of a city block. That particular section of the city has basically been abandoned, full of vacant lots with run down buildings. The city reached out to every major construction company in the area for their project, and we happened to be the lucky bastards who were hired.
In the empty lots, once bulldozed and leveled, will be a towering luxury condo, complete with upscale restaurants, coffee shops, and whatever else the upper elite deem worthy.
Say what you want about Chicago, but the city is doing its damndest to try to revitalize it.
As I reach the conference room at the end of the hall, I attempt to straighten my t-shirt and open button-down shirt that is part of my everyday wear. As much as I don’t like being down here, I would rather look a bit more put-together and professional, but what’s a man to do?
Letting out a deep breath, I gently tap on the door, the sound of voices seeping through the wood paneling.
The deep, rumbling voice of Samuel calls out, “Come on in, Tanner.” Turning the handle, I step inside the long room, the wall of windows giving a view of the city beyond. Samuel’s sitting at the head of the table, and the other upper management people in their tailored suits are sitting around the edges. It takes several long strides for me to reach Samuel, extending my rough hand toward him in a firm handshake.
“Mr. Hammer,” I nod. I’m not entirely sure why I was called up here for an impromptu meeting, but I try to portray confidence as he gestures to an open seat. Clearing my throat, I sit, awkwardly glancing around the table.What the hell is going on?
The table grows silent as Samuel leans forward, settling his arms on the table. Sweat begins to break on the back of my neck, my unease breaking to the surface. “Now that everyone is here, Stein and I are announcing the expansion of Hammer and Stein Construction.” The suits sitting around the table are all smiles, nodding their heads in excitement while I’m just as confused as I’ve always been.
“This is a project we have been planning for several years and is somewhat of a passion project for me. I want Hammer and Stein to be the go-to Construction Company in Illinois, and that means expansion. It won’t be ready for some time, but all of the people in this room are in the running for this business venture. Some of you, I know, are wondering what that means.” He glances down each side of the long conference table, and I fight not to fidget under his gaze. “For some of you, like Mr. Williams here,” he gestures toward me, “means that a vertical movement up the ladder is a possibility. Along with an increase in salary, of course.”
Is he saying he wants me to be one of the heads of the new branch?What the fuck? In the background, his droning turns into a low hum as I take in the weight of his announcement. This means that if I do my job above and beyond expectations, I’ll have a spot in upper management.
Holy shit.
As if I wasn’t already nervous enough about this project, now I have a significant pay raise and promotion in the works. This could be a huge step for me. Sudden panic settles into my bones at the added pressure of this job.
I have to blow this whole thing out of the water.
The meeting continues for thirty more minutes, none of which applies to me. So, what do I do with the added time? My mind plays through every possible outcome of this project, running through the different scenarios and looking for ways to bypass any foreseeable problems.
Everything suddenly focuses when the sound of my name catches my attention. Snapping up, my head swivels around the table to identify who was trying to get my attention.
It was my goddamn boss.
“Mr. Hammer?”
“I was saying how big of a deal this could be for you, Tanner. This project will determine where you head next. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome of your work.”
Standing, I work a gulp down my suddenly swollen throat. Offering my hand, I thank him before quickly leaving the building as fast as my feet can carry me.
Chapter 1
Kate
Present Day
There’s still so much to do. Glancing around at the aftermath of our engagement party, cups are resting on every surface, food crumbs are littered everywhere, and gifts are scattered around the living room. Tanner’s parents were the last people to leave, and Cindy had done her best to clean up what she could before they left. John even carried two bags of trash to the chute for us, but the apartment is still a mess.
Closing my eyes and sucking in a deep breath, I take a moment to breathe out some of the stress the party caused before cleaning up the mess. Warm, strong arms wrap around my waist as Tanner holds me, nuzzling his nose in my neck. “Sweetheart,” he murmurs, his lips dancing down my throat with his kisses, “Leave it. Come to bed.” He holds me tighter in his arms and I melt into his embrace. He’s not making this easy. He never does.
“I will, but this needs to get done,” I sigh. “You don’t want roaches, do you?” He chuckles against my neck, his breath brushing across my skin. “I’ll be there in a minute. It’d be faster if you helped, you know.”
