Caleb had never heard of Noah Glover. Was he local to the Whiskey Bay area? Was he passing through? His truck outside was old and battered, and he wasnt exactly a poster child for professionalism. Caleb was definitely going to check him out.
Im up for that, Melissa said. Im excited to get started.
Noah gave her a nod. Until tomorrow, then. He gave a parting smile to Jules before he left the building.
He really seems to know what hes doing, Melissa said as she watched him leave.
You just met him, Caleb said.
Both women looked at him in surprise.
How can you judge his competency? Caleb doubted either Jules or Melissa had any expertise in construction.
He seemed open and straightforward, Melissa said. Talked in plain language. He came highly recommended.
Did you check his reviews? Caleb asked.
Melissa has a business degree, Jules said.
That was news to Caleb. He didnt know why it surprised him.
Of course I checked his reviews, Melissa said. I am aware of the internet.
Caleb wasnt sure whether to backpedal or press forward. I only meant...
Juless voice turned to a sarcastic purr. That sweet lil young things like us might not know how to manage in the big bad world?
He frowned at her. I wondered why youd trust him in a heartbeat and be so suspicious of me.
Experience and good judgment, she said.
Thats not fair.
I told you before, Caleb. Youre a Watford. There isnt a reason in the world for me to be fair to you.
* * *
He really is hot, Melissa said two days later.
Jules looked up from where she was stripping varnish from the wooden bar, expecting to see Caleb walk through the door. But he wasnt there. At least, she couldnt see him.
Melissa was pulling down the window trim, while Noah was outside setting up a survey level on a tripod.
Jules was momentarily confused and, she hated to admit, a little disappointed. Caleb might be annoying, but he was also interesting. He energized a room.
You mean Noah? she asked her sister.
Who else would I mean? Look at those shoulders and those biceps.
He does seem to be in good shape, Jules agreed.
She hadnt thought of Noah as particularly hot, although she supposed he was fairly good-looking in a rugged, earthy kind of way. He was dressed in a khaki green T-shirt and a pair of tan cargo pants. A tool belt was slung low on his hips, and his steel-toed boots were scuffed and worn. He had sandy-blond hair, thick and a little shaggy.
I cant stop staring at him, Melissa said.
I wouldnt have pegged him as your type.
The men Melissa had dated in college had been mostly preppy intellectuals, sometimes even poets. Occasionally, shed talked about seeing an athlete. There was one basketball player shed stayed with for a couple of months.
Hot and sexy? Whose type is that not?
Jules smiled, taking another look at Noah through her safety glasses. So you mean as eye candy.
Personally, she found him a bit dusty for eye candy. But if Melissa found him entertaining while she took on the drudge work of renovating, Jules was happy for her.
Dont let him slow you down, Jules said.
I can look and rip trim at the same time.
Make sure you dont stab yourself with a nail.
Theyre finishing nails, teeny-tiny finishing nails. Do you think if it gets hot enough hell consider taking off his shirt?
I think if you ask him we get sued. Sexual harassment goes both ways, you know.
I wont ask him, at least, not flat out.
You cant ask him at all. You cant even hint.
I can hope.
I suppose theres no such thing as the mind police, Jules said.
Melissa grinned. Thats a good thing. Because what Im imagining is probably illegal in most states.
Please dont tell me.
Youre such a prude.
Jules scrunched her eyes shut, not allowing any untoward mental pictures to form. Pink fuzzy bunnies. Pink fuzzy bunnies, she chanted out loud, bringing the harmless image into her mind.
Melissa laughed at her antics.
I obviously missed something. This time it was Caleb.
Jules popped open her eyes to find him standing in the doorway again.
Talk about hot and sexy. He wore blue jeans, an open-collar white shirt and a midnight blue blazer. He looked casual and classy all at the same time, putting the rest of the male world to shame.
Pink fuzzy bunnies? he asked with a raised brow.
Inside joke, Melissa said. Its our mantra to keep nasty images at bay.
Caleb glanced around. Is there something nasty?
Not at all, Melissa said, her blue eyes flashing mischief before she looked out the window again.
Jules told herself to stop ogling Caleb. Can we help you with something?
Ive been doing some research on your project, he said as he stepped inside.
She adjusted her gloves and went determinedly back to working on the varnish removal with a paint scraper. Youre just the Energizer Bunny, arent you?
He kept moving toward her. Youve obviously got a rabbit theme going here.
Stay back, she warned. This stuff is dangerous.
He stopped but frowned. Do you know what youre doing?
Yes. She dug the blade into the tacky solution and scraped it off in a layer.
Have you done this before?
I watched a YouTube video. She wiped away the goo with a rag and started on another strip.
So, your answer is no.
My answer is its none of your business.
He seemed to find her response amusing. Youre very prickly.
And youre a cocklebur.
A what?
A prickly plant. Something that digs in and sticks to you and wont let go.
Oh. Okay, my mind went to a completely different place with that.
Jules struggled not to smile. She didnt want to encourage him. Or maybe she did. She didnt like that he felt so free to interfere in her life, but shed admit he was at least as entertaining for her as Noah was for Melissa.
A low clatter sounded from the window where Melissa was working. She swore.
Jules quickly glanced up. You okay?
Caleb was there before Melissa could answer, removing an L-shaped piece of window trim from her hands and untangling another piece from around her feet. Are you hurt?
Im fine, Melissa said. I just got distracted for a minute.
Where are you putting all this? Caleb asked.
Theres a disposal bin in the parking lot.
Caleb spotted a pair of work gloves in a box by the door. He helped himself and gathered up a full armload of discarded trim.
Youre not dressed for work, Jules felt the need to point out to him.
Not exactly, he agreed. But I might as well help a bit while we talk.
Were not done talking?
He didnt answer, just shook his head as he left through the door.
Youre as bad as me, Melissa said.
Jules realized she was watching Calebs backside as he walked away. Is it that obvious?
Youre as bad as me, Melissa said.
Jules realized she was watching Calebs backside as he walked away. Is it that obvious?
It is when you start drooling.
Youre such a comedian. Im trying to figure out what hes doing here.
Thats not what your expression says. But, okay, lets go with that. What do you suppose hes doing here?
He said hed done some research on our project.
What does that mean? Melissa asked.
Im assuming more on why we should remove the noncompete clause.
That seems likely. Hes coming back.
I see that.
Caleb gave Noah a curt nod of acknowledgment as he approached the restaurant doorway.
Jules found the view of him equally pleasant from the front. She didnt have to like him to admire the breadth of his shoulders, the swing of his stride, and the square chin and neatly trimmed dark hair that made him look capable of taking on...well, anything, including her.
A wave of heat passed through her body and sweat tickled her forehead. She swiped awkwardly at her hairline with her bare forearm as he walked back inside.
He looked around the open space. What else needs doing?
Your work is done, Jules said.
He might be pleasant to watch, but she was coming to the conclusion that it might be dangerous for her to spend much time around him.
He removed his jacket and set it aside, rolling up his sleeves.
You have got to be kidding me, she said. Youre going to ruin that shirt.
He shrugged. I have other shirts.
Its white.
He glanced down at himself. So it is.
Say whatever it is you came to say, and get out of here. Go back to your regularly scheduled life.
He put a mock expression of hurt on his face. I dont know how to take that.
Yes, you do. Youve got your own construction project to worry about.
Thats the thing.
Here we go... She lined up to scrape off another strip of varnish.
I want to show you some of the numbers from my other Neo locations.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him look into their small toolbox. Showing off your profits? she asked.
He ignored her gibe. And the plans for the new location. He selected a claw hammer. Whats your seating going to be here?
None of your business.
Jules. There was exaggerated patience in his tone. Were not going to be able to work this out if youre going to be hostile.
Melissa spoke up. Thirty-four at the tables, twelve at the bar and another eighteen on the deck.
Jules glared at her.
What? Melissa asked. Its not exactly a state secret. All he has to do is pull a copy of the business license.
Neo will have one-seventy-two on two floors, plus fifty seasonally on the patio. Were not your competition. He approached the window opposite Melissa and wedged the hammer under the trim.
I agree with that, Jules said. It would be no contest at all.
Why would anyone choose the Crab Shack? Melissa asked.
They wouldnt, Jules said.
Because they love seafood. And because nobody wants to eat at the same place all the time. And because if they came to Neo, theyd see the Crab Shack and maybe become curious.
Or maybe theyd come to the Crab Shack and learn about Neo. Jules didnt know why she tossed that out. It sounded ridiculous even to her.
Sure, Caleb said.
Dont patronize me. We both know thats not going to happen. What youre offering us is your leftovers.
Neo is a nationally recognized chain with international awards and a substantial marketing program. Im not going to apologize for that.
Fancy it up all you want, but the result will be the same. Neo wins, the Crab Shack loses. Were far better off being the only option at Whiskey Bay.
Can I at least show you my floor plans?
Sure, Melissa said.
Melissa.
Whats the harm in looking, Jules? Arent you even a little bit curious?
Jules was, but there was no way shed admit it. Go ahead and look if you want. Im not interested.
Ill bring them by later on, Caleb said as he ripped down a long strip of window trim.
He is not changing our minds. Jules put complete conviction into her tone, even as she struggled to drag her gaze from Caleb.
* * *
Due to the curve of the shoreline, Caleb could see the Neo construction site through the window of his great room. He could also see the Crab Shack, where lights were on tonight. And he could see the Parkers houseall dark there.
Jules wouldnt even look at the plans, he said turning back to his lawyer, Bernard Stackhouse.
What did you expect? Bernard asked in an even tone.
I thought she might look. I hoped shed look. I hoped shed see reason and stop being so stubborn.
And then do things your way?
Bernard was sitting in one of Calebs leather armchairs. His suit was impeccable as always, and he looked distinguished with a touch of gray at his temples. He could flare into passion in a courtroom when the need arose, but Caleb knew it was an act. He wasnt sure Bernard even felt emotions. But the man wasnt shy about using sarcasm.
I absolutely want her to do things my way.
His way was the closest they could get to a win-win. But Jules wouldnt take that. She wouldnt even consider it. She insisted on going for a win-lose.
Her sister, Melissa, seems a whole lot more reasonable, he said.
Can she change Juless mind?
Im not sure shes trying. But she did like my restaurant plans. Calebs gaze was drawn back to the still, silent darkness of his construction site.
He could picture the finished building in his mind, the exterior, the interior, all the people theyd employ and the happy diners enjoying the picturesque waterfront. He was growing more and more impatient to get there. Every day he had to wait he couldnt help calculating the cost: the leased equipment, the crew on standby, the delay in opening that was going to cost him money. If this had to end in a win-lose, he wanted to make sure it wasnt him on the crappy end of the deal.
I did find an interesting new option, Bernard said.
Caleb turned. And youre just speaking up now?
I thought you wanted to vent.
I did want to vent. But I want a solution a whole lot more.
Why dont you sit down? Bernard asked.
Exactly what kind of an option is it? Was it so shocking that Caleb couldnt be trusted to keep his feet?
My necks getting sore from looking up at you. Sit down.
Caleb thought better on his feet. But he was curious enough to go along. He perched on the arm of the sofa.
You look like a coiled spring, Bernard said.
You drawing this out wont make me less coiled.
This isnt a five-second explanation.
I hope not, because youve already used up two minutes in the preamble.
Bernard smiled. Youre a lot like your father.
Youre just going to pile it on, arent you?
Theres an easement, Bernard said.