"I didn't have time to make coffee this morning," I said by way of thanks.
Cooper sat at his desk, rolling his chair forward.His desk was covered with excess papers.He claimed he knew where everything was, but it looked disorganized to me.Then again, I didn't like to work with paper.I preferred hands-on activities.That's why I was almost never in my office and spent most of my time on site.
He gestured at the chair across from him."Sit."
I sank into the stiff chair, wondering why we'd bought such uncomfortable seating.
"I rarely have guests.I don't want to hear any complaints about the chairs or the coffee."
"I'm just here for the schedule.Then I'll be on-site for the rest of the day."
He turned the screen so I could see the schedule."If you work a few more hours a day, you could get your portion of the work for this project done before you start on the bakery.If you could squeeze in some of the electrical work on other jobs in between the bakery, we should be okay."
I worked in tandem with the rest of the construction crew, juggling my work with the other tasks that needed to be completed.Hudson performed the same act with plumbing.But the good thing was, there was wiggle room for me while I worked on the bakery.
It made sense to put more hours in now so that I could clear my schedule for Reina’s place.
Cooper leaned back in the chair, scrutinizing me."What's with the concern about the schedule?I could have done this for you without you having to come in."
"I just needed to—" I caught myself before I saidget out of the house."Figure it out so I can reassure Reina that the bakery is my top priority."
"I assume you'll want to be the project manager for that one.I know you don't normally manage the entire renovation, but it might be helpful for this one, since you suspect the issue was the electrical."
"I can take lead on it."I wanted to make sure that the work was done correctly."She's going to want to upgrade the kitchen while we're in there."
"She knows that she covers the difference between the amount the insurance is willing to pay and the upgrade?"Cooper asked.
"I explained that to her."
He leaned back in his chair."You're living with your client.Is that going to be a problem?"
"She's Tom's younger sister.I'm just doing her a favor.She wants to get back into her place as soon as possible.It's more convenient for her to live near the bakery for those early morning wake-up calls to bake."
"I didn't realize you were close to Tom's sister."
I looked away."I'm not actually."
"Then why offer her a place to live?"
"I promised Tom I'd take care of her.I'm fairly sure that extends to offering her a room when her apartment burns down.Besides, I have the space."I shrugged to show him that it wasn't a big deal, but inside, I was reeling.
His gaze narrowed on me."We've had a rash of contractors hooking up with their clients lately.Am I going to have the same problem on this project?"
"She's like a little sister to me."I shook my head, even as a voice inside said that wasn't true.She was more like a fantasy I had when I was a teenager, wanting to hook up with a girl in my childhood bedroom.
He raised a brow."Is that so?"
I shifted on the stiff cushion."Is there anything else?I should get to work."
"It sounds like Tom wouldn't want you touching his sister," he said cryptically.
I reeled back as if he'd hit me."Of course not.Why would you even say that?"
He ticked the names off his fingers."I don't know.Maverick and Belle.Hudson and Angela.Ford and Natasha."
I bit off a curse."I'm not my brothers.I can control myself."
He raised a brow."So you admit there's an attraction."
