“Oh.” She took a deep breath. “When I saw the will that day, I read the clause about the remodel. It was on my mind when I talked to Jake at Convo Construction a couple days later. I asked him if they did that sort of thing, and he said he’d get me a bid. I forgot about the conversation until the bid came in, and then everything happened with Dad and I didn’t have a chance to talk with you about it.”
“So it was fate?”
“Or your mother watching over you.” Bella nudged him.
“Do you believe that?”
She paused. “I do. I think of running a race, and the first thing you do when you cross the finish line is look for the people you came with. I think our moms are up there and they have our backs.”
Adam smiled ruefully. “All this time I was worried about my father cursing me from the great beyond.”
“Silly. Light and love always win.”
“I’m beginning to see that.” He kissed her softly.
They reached the ballroom, where residents of The Cove danced to a quartet, sipped from long-stemmed glasses, and glittered with diamonds and jewels. A sense of accomplishment filled Bella. “They’re mingling,” she whispered.
“That’s what you do at parties,” Adam whispered back, making Bella giggle.
Bella spotted Lincoln West and Emmet Rockwell, neighbors and old college roommates, on the edge of the dance floor, chatting. The company was on the NASDAQ, and their stock was up by seven this week.
A loud Texas drawl cut through the elegance of the evening. Every head turned towards Jamon West, who was chatting up a server. She looked less than thrilled to be in the spotlight and raised her tray of drinks to block her face. Jamon wore a large black cowboy hat and black Wranglers with his tux, standing out like a cactus in the desert.
Adam tensed beside her. “I can feel our property value dropping.”
Bella giggled. “Come on. He’s the nicest guy.”
“Still,” Adam hedged. “Something needs to be done about his—style.”
Bella glanced around the room. Yeah, everyone was staring at Jamon like Mrs. Poole stared at her when she poured a bowl of cereal for herself. “He just needs a little help with his image.”
Adam’s head perked up. He scanned the room quickly and practically dragged Bella to the corner where his PR advisor was sitting in a chair, reading something on her phone. “Gemma, I have a new project for you.”
Bella loved Adam’s deep voice. It was positively scrumptious. She cuddled a little closer.
Gemma stood and smoothed her dress. “Does this mean you’re taking me off of paid leave?”
Adampfted. “As if you ever stop working.”
Gemma’s eyes widened.
“But no. I have a project for you.” He motioned for her to follow them to a spot where they could see Jamon but he wouldn’t know they were watching him. “There’s your new assignment.”
Gemma’s nose wrinkled. “What—exactly—do you want me to do?”
Adam glanced at Bella. She jumped in, trying to soften Adam’s assessment of the Texan. “We’d like you to take a little country out of the boy.”
“Refine him,” added Adam.
Gemma’s jaw set. “I’m … I’m …”
“On the clock.” Adam smiled. He put his arm around Bella and whisked her onto the dance floor.
Bella giggled as she caught sight of a fuming Gemma. “You’re going to hear about this one.”
Adam shrugged.
Bella slapped his arm.
