FIVE
“LAST ONE,” SAID CLAIRE, GRINNING at Mike as they started pulling wire for the rough in on the penthouse level of the Ashton Court building.
They’d follow the architect’s basic plan until someone bought the top floor. Anyone who spent the kind of money she imagined Luke was charging for the penthouse would want to customize everything. She wouldn’t be surprised if it sold as soon as it went on the market. The location was fantastic, close to downtown without all the hassle, and the view, when she could bring herself to look out the windows, was spectacular.
Things hadn’t gone back to normal after Pete’s death and the hassle with the illegal ammo, but they’d at least been able to find a rhythm. After the police started looking at one of the framers, it seemed to light a fire under them, and they moved faster through the top floors than they had through the rest of the building. They’d finished on the penthouse level before the police made their arrest. Almost as if they knew it was coming and wanted to finish before they ended up down a man.
The whole thing left a sick feeling in Claire’s stomach. The detectives hadn’t been able to connect the guy they’d arrested to Pete’s murder, and without a witness, it didn’t look like they would. Claire was increasingly sure that’s what it had been – murder, not an accident on the job. The ATF would put the guy away for a very long time, but it wasn’t justice for Pete, and who knew if he was the only one involved. It didn’t seem likely. Claire’s crew had pulled together, building a wall around her and each other, but everyone was glad when the framers finally finished and were off the job site.
“You remember I’ve got to leave at one today,” said Mike, reminding her for the third time that week. He and his wife were going to find out the sex of their baby, and he’d been so nervous and excited, he practically vibrated with it.
“Wait, what do you mean?” she said, teasing him. “You can’t leave early today. I need you here.”
“I can’t,” he protested and then he turned and caught her smiling at him. “Very funny, boss. You try keeping a pregnant lady happy.”
“No thank you,” she said, still smiling at him. Mike’s wife adored him. Claire had a hard time believing she’d give him trouble about anything. They were so sweet together; it was almost uncomfortable to be in the same room with them. Almost. Part of her she hadn’t realized existed wanted exactly the same thing Mike had, but she wasn’t about to cast Luke in the role of daddy.
“And,” said Mike, creasing his brow in mock disapproval. “You better not mess with me if you don’t want your tamales supply cut off.”
“Ugh,” she said, clasping her hands to her chest. “Not the tamales. You’re killing me here. You wouldn’t really cut me off, would you?”
“It would be better for both of us if we never had to find out,” he said, nodding sagely.
“Fine,” she said with a laugh. “Then you better stop screwing around and start pulling wire.”
She turned back to the wall, reaching out to grab one of the metals studs when her vision blurred. As soon as she was sure she could look down without getting dizzy, she glanced at her watch. Apparently it wasn’t just talk of tamales that was making her hungry. She hadn’t eaten since five that morning and it was almost noon. She’d stop when Mike left and get a decent lunch. There was a food cart not too many blocks from the job site that was supposed to have great fish tacos.
Instead of growling at the thought of food, her stomach gave a little flip. She turned back to the wall, slowly this time, hoping by the time lunch rolled around it would have settled. If she didn’t have time to eat, she certainly didn’t have time to be sick. Her phone buzzed, and she smiled when she slid it out of her pocket and saw Luke’s number.
“Hey Masters,” she said, walking away from where Mike was working so she could have some privacy. Her guys obviously knew she was dating the client. Again. But after the way they’d run interference for her when she and Luke split, it didn’t seem smart to make too much of it in front of them. “Miss me already?”
“Always, sweetheart. Listen, I need you to meet me at my office. I’d pick you up, but I can’t get away. I can send a car for you if you want.”
“You don’t need to do that. Is something wrong?”
“Not a thing. We’ll have company, so you may want to swap your work clothes for that sexy librarian thing I love, but I’ll take you anyway I can get you.”
“Sexy librarian?” she asked, smiling in spite of herself.
“You know that skinny black skirt and the blouse that makes me want to rip off the buttons with my teeth.”
“You’re kidding right?” He never said anything about her clothes before. She had no idea he’d even been paying attention.
“You can wear whatever you want, but you always complain when the rest of us are in suits and you’re in your work clothes. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me, but if you’re going to change, I vote for the librarian thing and don’t forget the shoes. God, I love those shoes. I know it’s short notice, but can you be here at one thirty?”
If she left right away, she’d have just enough time to bolt to her place and change, but that still didn’t explain what they were doing at Luke’s office and who the extra suits were.
“I can hear you thinking again,” he said, and she could picture him smiling on the other end of the line. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. It’s a good thing. Can you get away?”
“I’ll be there,” she said. “But you’re going to have to feed me after we’re done doing whatever it is you have planned. I had a hot date planned with a fish taco.”
“I’m pretty sure I can do better than that.”
SHE BLEW INTO Luke’s office with two minutes to spare. By the time she’d wrapped things up on the jobsite and made it back to her apartment, she’d barely had enough time to change her clothes and grab a granola bar to eat in the car. Colin, Luke’s personal assistant, smiled when he saw her walk through the door.
“You can go in, Claire. They’re waiting for you.”
“Thanks, Colin.” She debated asking him who was waiting, but he was so loyal to Luke she wasn’t sure he’d tell her, and she didn’t want to put him on the spot.
