“Apparently not enough. I’ll get back to you.”
Pressing the disconnect button, Scott fumed, wishing for an old-fashioned phone he could slam down. It might release some of his anger. Another damn problem. This project was cursed. First the bid going too high, then having to form a partnership with Heather. The stupid permit application being lost, and now this. Only three days after finally getting the permit to build.
Slumping down into his desk chair, he pulled at his hair then scrubbed his face. The stubble on his chin reminded him he’d been burning the midnight oil a few too many times in recent weeks. Trying to get the memory of Heather’s soft skin out of his mind. No, he shouldn’t be thinking of her. She’d shut him down too often. When would he get the message?
Like when her voice didn’t go all smoky and her breathing stayed even. She wasn’t as unaffected by his nearness and touch as she wanted him to believe. He’d bet every last dollar he had on that. Shit. If he couldn’t find the damn loan payoff, he might have to give away every last dollarand then some.
After two hours digging through every file cabinet he had, he finally found the payoff notice. Thank God he’d saved it. What the fuck had happened to make the bank think he’d defaulted? They’d gotten information from somewhere. Where? Or should he say who?
Who would benefit from his losing the building? One of the other bidders? Heather? But they were in a partnership. She still had the building project. Unless she wanted it for herself as she originally had. But she hadn’t had enough cash. Had she gotten more funding and tried to sabotage him?
First thing he needed to do was get the bank loan straightened out. Making a few copies of the loan payoff, he stuffed one back in his files and headed out the door. When he got to the bank, Bill couldn’t apologize enough after seeing the statement. The banker couldn’t tell him where the incorrect information had come from, though.
Now to deal with the possible troublemaker.
Her office was on the fifth floor of a swanky building near downtown Waterbury. Entering the suite, he noted the elegant secretary sitting at an impressive oak desk outside a few closed doors. She looked up, smoothed a strand of her flawless blond bun into place, and smiled.
“Can I help you?”
“I’d like to see Ms.Silva, please.”
Scanning the calendar that sat at her elbow, she asked, “Do you have an appointment?”
Obviously he didn’t, considering she’d just checked. “No, but she’ll see me. Tell her Scott Holland ishere, please.”
“She asked not to be disturbed. I can take a message and have her get back to you as soon as she’s available.”
The woman’s glance to her right gave away where her boss was. Striding down the short hall, he peeked through a large window into a conference room as heels clicked on the floor behind him. Heather stood inspecting a blueprint. Their projector one of hers?
“I’m sorry, sir, but you can’tgo down there.”
“Apparently, I can.” Tapping lightly on the glass part of the door, he pushed it open and strolled in.
“Scott, I wasn’texpecting you.”
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Silva. I told him youwere occupied.”
“It’s okay, Wendy. This is Mr. Holland, my business partner in the mill building renovation.” She threw him a forced smile. “He’s welcome here, though it would have been nice to know thathe was coming.”
Wendy nodded politely and scuttled back to her desk.
“Thanks for calling off guard dog Barbie.”
Something was off about Heather’s appearance. It took him a second, but when she moved to the side of the table and bent over, he realized she wasn’t wearing any shoes.
As she slipped the spiked heels back on her feet, she apologized. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to come in.”
“Don’t bother putting them back on for me.” The sight of her bending over in her slim fitting skirt and the long, trim legs emphasized by the heels made his pants get snug. Why couldn’t all of him stay mad at her?
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Her voice reeked of sarcasm.
Leaning against the table, he scanned the papers on it. Yup, the plans for the mill building. Her original ones, or the ones they’d come up with together? Hard to tell, since it was only the first floorplans in view.
“I had a call from my bankerearlier today.”
Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. “Nothing bad I hope.”
Was she playing the part of concerned partner because she already knew what he was about to say, or did she really care?
