“If we’re partners then we can also check with each other. You have far more experience in this business than I do. I’ll make it a point to check with you if it’s somethingI’m unsure of.”
“Go with your instincts, Jack. You’ve done a great job so far. Let’s do this. You take care of the college dorm contracts and troubleshoot any of the other sites if I’m not around. I’d like to spend a bit more time on the new project with themill building.”
“How’s that coming along? Any more problems since the vandalism last week?”
“Another hitch in a permit but it’s fixed now. The delays are driving me crazy. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been crabby lately.” The other reason for his frustration smelled like a floral arrangement and sent his blood pressure soaring, not to mention made his pants too tight.
“I might be a bit short on patience right now too,” Jack admitted. “Jonathan has an ear infection and was up all night. Callie offered to stay up with him but she’s exhausted with being pregnant and all. I wouldn’t let her. Shedidn’t argue.”
What would it be like to have a child and wife you loved enough that you’d stay up all night to help them? Would he ever get the chance to find out? He’d been so busy with his company that dating hadn’t been high on his list of priorities. Plus he’d spent the last few years pretending to be with Heather so Victor Cabrini didn’t suspect anything. How do you explainthat to a date?
“Is everything okay with Callie’s pregnancy?”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Jack stilled. “The doc seems to think so, but she’s had some cramping that’s making me nervous. She says it’s only some early contraction stuff and nothing to worry about, but since I wasn’t around for her first pregnancy Ididn’t see it.”
The concern in his cousin’s eyes was apparent.
“It would kill me if something happened to this baby, especially if it was because Callie didn’t get enough sleep or did too much. I finally have her and Jonathan and I don’t ever want to chance anything happeningto them again.”
“If you need some time off to help her, let me know. We’ve got other people who can step in.”
“She’ll be all right.” Jack looked like he was trying to convince himself. “I stop in most days at lunch time since I’m in the area and Heather checks onher often too.”
“I’m glad that you and Callie finally have the chance to be a family. I’m a bit envious actually. Now. Certainly not for the past few years.”
“You should try it sometime, Scott. Not the being-on-the-run part, but the married-to-your-best-friend thing. There’s nothing better than having a woman next to you in bed at night and not only for the sex. Though I won’t lie and say that isn’t great too. But the same woman every day that you love and respect, right by your side,it’s amazing.”
Thoughts of Heather next to him in bed did things to his blood that didn’t need to be happening right now, in his office. But a lady like her would never settle for a blue-collar worker like him. It would never happen.
