3
“T
hese are the calls that came in last night.” Griff Coleman handed a legal pad to Marcus that contained a list of twelve names and telephone numbers, along with the damages to each of those twelve names’ homes. “The last two are minor smoke and water damage. I already have a call in to the company we use in Fort Worth for fire and flood cleanup. Luckily, we haven’t had to use them much in the last few years. The rest of the houses on this list will need a lot more.”
Marcus scanned the list. The three houses that had been completely destroyed sat at the top of the list. Nothing could be done on those until the owners decided if they wanted their homes replaced as they had been originally built or if they wanted something different. The remaining nine listed damages from half the house burned to replacing a few roof shingles.
He looked a second time, but didn’t see Grace Simpson’s name. “Mattie didn’t call about Grace’s house?”
“No, not yet. The damage there wasn’t too extensive. Maybe Mattie decided to wait until this morning to call about repairs after she talks to Ms. Grace. Rye told me Ms. Grace had a mild heart episode and is in the hospital for some tests.”
Marcus’s entire body tensed to discover Grace was in the hospital. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah. Rye said he talked to Mattie while we were waiting to find out about you. Something about an exacerbation of a heart something.” Griff shrugged. “That’s all I know.”
Rayna’s grandmother being in the hospital had to be the reason he’d seen Rayna there last night. Grace’s condition must be more serious than anyone thought or Rayna wouldn’t have flown here from San Francisco. When she left Texas, she’d vowed never to come back to the state.
He made a mental note to visit Grace later today, after he figured out his schedule for calling the people on this list.
The other part of Griff’s comment didn’t make sense. The whole ceiling in Grace’s home collapsed on top of him. It had to have more than minor damage. “Wait. Wasn’t it Grace’s house that Nick and I went into last night?”
Griff shook his head. “No, her house is across the street from that one. The fire damage wasn’t as bad on her side.”
Relief swept through him that Grace’s home had been spared. “I guess I got turned around in the smoke. I thought her house had a lot more damage.”
“She was lucky. As were a lot of the folks in Parker Place. The remaining eight homes in the development didn’t receive any damage at all.” Griff glanced at his watch. “Speaking of Parker Place, I’m on my way there to help with the cleanup. Emma put out the word for help in preparing food for the workers. The kitchen at Café Crystal is full of volunteers. All the restaurants are chipping in to help.”
“I’ll go out there after I finish these phone calls—”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Griff said with a frown. “You’ll stay here and ice your wrist. No lifting anything heavier than an ink pen. Got it?”
“I want to help, Griff.”
Griff tapped the legal pad in Marcus’s hand. “You’re helping by taking care of the people on that list. That’s your main job now.”
“Yeah, okay.” Marcus knew helping people repair their homes had to be the highest priority. Still, he wished he could help physically at the site of the fire.
“Coffee’s fresh and Dax bought donuts before he went to Parker Place.” Griff picked up his cell phone from the desk, clipped it to his belt. “Make the appointments for whenever it’s convenient for these people.” He tapped the pad again. “Rye, Dax, and I will arrange our schedules to fit theirs. I’ve already talked to James Parker about postponing construction of the house we’re building now in Parker Place. He agreed without hesitation. Once we finish the repairs, we’ll start working on the new houses again.”
Hearing James hadn’t hesitated to put the new houses on hold didn’t surprise Marcus. A truly good guy, James had moved to Lanville a year and a half ago and soon fell in love with Teanna Caldwell, who helped run the local pharmacy. After James and Teanna married, they’d financed the new housing addition named Parker Place. Thirty-five homes would eventually fill the development . . . some rentals, some that people could buy. Coleman Construction had the contract to build all of them.
“Some of these people might not want to wait for us,” Marcus said as he studied the list. “They might hire another construction firm.”
“True, and that’s their choice if they want to do that. I don’t think they will, since they’ve already called us.”
“Y’all will have to hire more workers so we can take care of everyone without them waiting too long.”
“Mom will be in later to take care of placing ads for more help. You’re in charge of the hiring.”
Marcus blinked. “I am?”
Griff nodded. “Rye, Dax, and I talked about it this morning before they took off. We decided it’s time to give you more . . . managerial duties since you’re our foreman. Plus a few days here in the office will give your wrist time to heal the way it should. More duties mean more pay. You’ll see a raise in Friday’s paycheck.”
Completely surprised by Griff’s statement, Marcus didn’t know what to say. Even a small raise meant he could afford to finish the remodeling on his house quicker than he originally planned. He would enjoy walking through his home and seeing all the rooms finished and decorated. “I . . . Thanks, Griff.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You don’t know how hard we’re going to work you.”
“I’m ready.”
“Good.” He glanced around the office, as if making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. “I’m heading out. Call my cell if you need me.”
“Okay.” Marcus held out his hand to shake. “Thanks again, Griff.”
Smiling, Griff accepted Marcus’s hand. “You’re welcome.”
Once Griff left, Marcus wandered to the break room and helped himself to an apple fritter and a large mug of coffee. He devoured a third of the fritter on his way back to the office. Laying it on a napkin on the desk, he wiped his hands on his jeans and sat down, prepared to begin making phone calls.
Before he had the chance to punch in the numbers of the first customer, the front door opened. He lifted his head to greet whoever walked in. The greeting died in his throat when he saw Rayna.
Her eyes widened the way they had at the hospital last night. Slowly, Marcus rose from his chair. He watched her close the door and take a few steps into the room. She’d come into the place where he worked. He couldn’t avoid speaking to her. “Hey, Rayna.”
“Marcus.” Her voice sounded hoarse, raspy. It reminded him of the way she’d said his name while on the brink of orgasm.
Don’t go there, buddy. That part of your life is gone.
“You work here?” she asked after clearing her throat. She must have heard the huskiness in her voice, too.
He nodded. “I’m the foreman.”
“Oh.”
While she glanced around the spacious, airy office, Marcus took the opportunity to let his gaze wander over her. She wore a simple olive green T-shirt, faded jeans, and white running shoes today. Ivory combs held her hair behind her ears. She looked every bit as stunning in the everyday clothes as she had last night in the silk blouse and creased slacks.
He didn’t know what to do, what to say. For someone who had no trouble talking to anyone, his tongue seemed glued to the roof of his mouth. All the confusing feelings he’d experienced last night came barreling back to swamp him . . . feelings he didn’t know how to handle.
He had to push everything aside and be professional in order to get through the reason for her visit. “I assume you’re here about Grace’s house.”
His statement seemed to shake her from her shock. “Yes. It suffered some damage from the fire last night. Mattie told me I should contact Coleman Construction.”
Marcus smiled at the thought of the young, cute brunette with the freckles scattered over her face. “Mattie’s a good kid. She takes great care of Grace.”
“Twenty-six is hardly a kid, Marcus.”
“Anyone younger than thirty is a kid to me.”
Her lips quirked in what Marcus could call a small smile, if he used his imagination. “You’re only thirty-three.”
“Some days I feel older than that. I guess that happens to everyone.” He motioned toward one of the two chairs before the desk. “Sit down. Let’s talk about Grace’s house.”
She peered into his mug before she sat. “Do you have any more of that coffee?”
“Sure. I’ll get you some.”
He found another ceramic mug in the break room’s cabinet and filled it with the hot brew. After splashing a generous amount of creamer in it, he peered into the cardboard box of donuts. Locating a chocolate-covered old-fashioned, he laid it on a napkin and headed back to the office.
“Here you go.” He set the mug and napkin on the desk in front of her.
Rayna stared at the donut and coffee for a long moment before looking back at him with a deer-in-the-headlights expression. “You remember how I fix my coffee and the type of donut I like?”
Marcus shrugged. “I remember a lot of things.”
Including one Sunday morning when he’d gone out early to pick up muffins and donuts. He’d brought them to Rayna in bed and proceeded to place pieces of a chocolate old-fashioned donut on her nude body. Starting at her neck, he’d eaten the pieces as he made his way down her silky flesh. After he finished the last crumb that he’d placed at the top of her pubic hair, he’d feasted on her pussy until she’d cried out from her climax.
She looked at the donut, then back at him. He thought he saw lust flash through her eyes as if she, too, thought of that morning. Or perhaps he imagined he saw lust. Maybe deep inside, he wanted her to remember the amazing sex life they’d shared and hurt the way he had at the loss of something so extraordinary.
He didn’t imagine the way her hands trembled when she picked up the mug and sipped her coffee.
“It’s good. You always did make great coffee.”
“Thanks, but Griff made the pot.”
“Griff?”
“One of the triplets who owns Coleman Construction.”
She smiled for real this time, making her hazel eyes sparkle. “Triplets? Really?”
“Yep. You may have seen two of the brothers last night with me at the hospital. Rye and Dax.”
“I thought those guys looked a lot alike.” She pinched off a bite of her donut, popped it into her mouth. “They have interesting names.”
“They’re great guys and terrific bosses.”
She glanced at his wrist. “Are you okay?”
“Sure. Just a mild sprain. No big deal.”
Marcus couldn’t believe he sat here and carried on a normal conversation with his ex-wife. She’d trampled all over his heart when she’d left him five years ago. Anger had consumed him for months that she could’ve thrown away their love when they needed each other the most.
He supposed time really did make things better.
Although he’d never forget the pain and heartache, he could look at Rayna now and remember the good between them instead of concentrating on the bad. He had no choice. If he kept concentrating on the bad, it would eat him up from the inside out.
He realized several moments had passed without either of them saying anything. He drew the legal pad closer to him, flipped it to a clean page, and picked up a pen. “Do you know about the damages at Grace’s house?”
“I went out there before I came here and looked around. There’s a lot of water everywhere. The roof and kitchen wall were burned enough that there are small holes in both.”
“I have other customers to contact about their repairs and I have to set up appointments with everyone at their homes. That’ll take me most of the morning. I could meet you at Grace’s house this afternoon. How about three-thirty?”
“Whatever works for you. I’m going to the hospital to visit Nana as soon as I leave here. Other than that, my schedule is open.”
“Tell her I’ll get over there to see her after lunch, okay?”
Her eyebrows shot up in obvious astonishment at his request. “Do you see her often?”
“All the time. I visit with her at least once every couple of weeks.” He tilted his head when her expression didn’t change. “That surprises you?”
“Well, yes. I didn’t know you’d stayed close with her. She doesn’t mention you to me.”
“She doesn’t mention you to me either. It’s probably better that way.”
“I guess.” Rayna cleared her throat, set her mug on the desk. “I’ll go so you can get back to work. I’ll see you at three-thirty.”
He noticed she didn’t look him in the eyes again as she wrapped the rest of her donut in the napkin. She held it in both hands as if it was something precious.
A few years ago, Marcus would have done almost anything to hurt Rayna as much as she’d hurt him. Seeing her looking so dejected made him long to make her feel better. He followed her to the door, put his hand over hers on the door handle before she could press it down.
“Would you rather work with someone else?” he asked, his voice gentle. “I can have one of the Colemans meet you at Grace’s house. Or you can hire a different company.”
“No,” she said, staring at his hand on top of hers, “I don’t want to hire a different company. I know Nana would want me to hire Coleman Construction. I think the more important question is . . .” She looked into his eyes. They stood close enough for him to see the gold ring that circled her hazel irises. “Can
you
work with
me?
”
4
R
ayna held her breath while waiting for Marcus’s answer. He’d been incredibly nice to her, much nicer than she deserved. If he’d pushed her out the door without a word spoken, she wouldn’t have blamed him.
“I’m a representative of Coleman Construction,” Marcus said. “If you hire the company for Grace’s repairs, I won’t have any problem working with you.”
Disappointment flashed through her when he removed his hand from on top of hers. Since he had been nothing but professional with her, Rayna decided she had to be the same way. “I’m definitely hiring Coleman Construction. I’ll meet you at Nana’s house at three-thirty.”
“I’ll be there.”
She opened the door and stepped out into the warm, humid morning. She’d never cared for the humidity in the summer when she lived in Texas, but it hadn’t made her feel as if she’d been hit in the face with a wet wash cloth the way it did today. Her five years in the cool San Francisco summers had spoiled her.
A shopping spree for tank tops might have to be added to her to-do list today. That would mean a trip out of town since Lanville didn’t have any clothing stores. Or at least there hadn’t been any here five years ago. She knew little about the town now.
Perhaps a trip around the square should be added to her to-do list, too. Or she could ask Mattie or Nana.
Rayna glanced at her watch. 8:40. Nana should be awake and ready for a visit by now.
She munched on her donut on the drive to the hospital. She remembered so many occasions when Marcus had bought her a chocolate old-fashioned. Their favorite donut shop had been located only four blocks from their house in Irving, so he’d gone there often. Probably more often than he should have, considering she’d never been able to resist them . . . especially when he incorporated one into their sex play.
One Sunday morning, he’d let her sleep in since she didn’t have a shift at the hospital. She’d awakened to the wonderful smell of fresh coffee, and to his lips moving down her spine. He’d dropped soft kisses all the way to her cleft before she rolled over. He sat on his knees, completely naked, holding up one of her favorite donuts. When she started to sit up to take it from him, he’d gently pressed between her breasts to keep her lying flat. Then he’d torn the donut into small pieces and scattered them down her torso.
Rayna remembered the way he’d plucked up the bits of pastry with his lips before licking the spot clean with his tongue. He’d moved slowly down her body . . . much slower than she would’ve liked. By the time he’d eaten the last bite of donut, she’d been ready to push him to his back and ravish him.
He’d stopped all her thoughts of ravishment when he’d lain between her legs and started licking her pussy.
His mouth on her had always shot up her desire in a matter of seconds. That time had been no different. He’d barely touched her clit with the tip of his tongue when the orgasm had roared through her, heating her blood, melting her bones, dissolving her muscles. She’d been too weak to do anything but lie there and attempt to catch her breath while he kissed his way back up her body. When he reached her mouth, he’d kissed her to breathlessness again as he plunged his cock into her channel. Another climax had rocked her at the same time she felt Marcus tense from his release.
Desire had always smoldered just beneath the surface. A single look from Marcus and her body began to ready itself for his possession. His lovemaking had ranged from sweet and loving to take-her-against-the-wall rough.
She’d loved every moment of it.
Rayna waved one hand before her face as she pulled into a parking space at the hospital, trying to cool herself from the heat of her memories. Her nipples beaded in her bra, her clit gently pulsed. Sex had never been a problem between her and Marcus. It had been hot and romantic and completely satisfying.
And very much missed.
The past couldn’t be changed, no matter how much she wished it so. Pushing aside the memories, Rayna opened the car door and stepped from the cool interior back into the humid air. She walked briskly to the entrance doors, eager to be inside the air-conditioning once again.
She gave a small smile to the people she passed in the hallways on her way to Nana’s room. All returned her smile, some said a greeting. She didn’t recognize anyone, but it had been five years since she’d been in Lanville. Her visits then consisted of mostly visiting with Nana at her house, perhaps going out to lunch or dinner. She hadn’t taken the time or opportunity to meet people.
It would be the same this time. As soon as she knew Nana’s situation had stabilized, she’d go back to her home and job in San Francisco.
Smiling broadly, she pushed open Nana’s door. Her smile faded when she saw the empty bed.
A noise from the bathroom drew Rayna’s attention. She walked toward the room as a nurse came out carrying a small vase of colorful flowers. The nurse stopped when she saw Rayna, her eyes widening in obvious surprise. Then she smiled. “Hello.”
“Hello. Where is my grandmother?”
“Ms. Grace is your grandmother?”
Rayna nodded.
The nurse’s smile turned tender. “She’s such a sweet lady. Everyone in town loves her.” She lifted the vase a few inches higher. “The latest from one of her friends. I was giving it a drink. Now I just have to find a place to put it.”
Her comment made Rayna glance around the room. Vases holding flowers or plants covered every available space. A bouquet of colorful balloons was tied to the footboard of Nana’s bed. A small cart held at least a dozen cards. “Wow. None of this was here last night.”
“It’s been coming all morning. I expect more this afternoon. I may have to bring in another rolling cart.”
She grinned, which Rayna couldn’t help but return. “I’m Rayna.”
“Tracy.”
Rayna guessed Tracy to be around fifty from the streaks of gray in her dark hair and the laugh lines at the corners of her eyes. Rayna recognized kindness and caring in the nurse’s pale blue eyes. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Tracy rearranged a few vases on the windowsill and made a place for the new addition. “Your grandmother is having some tests done now. I don’t expect her back for a couple of hours.”
“Oh.” That meant changing the schedule she’d worked out for today so she could come back later. “I have some other things to do. Will you tell her I was here and I’ll be back before lunch?”
Tracy smiled again. “Of course.”
Rayna started to leave, but remembered her ex-husband’s request. “Also, Marcus Holt wanted me to tell Nana that he’ll stop by after lunch to visit with her.”
“Ms. Grace will like that. She adores Marcus.” Tracy shook her head. “He’s such a nice man. It’s a shame about his marriage break—” She stopped and a mortified look passed over her face, as if she knew she’d said more than she should have. “Uh, I mean . . .”
Rayna took pity on the woman who apparently tried to claw her way out of the hole she’d dug. “It’s okay, Tracy. I agree with you. Marcus
is
a nice man.”
Tracy slipped her hands into the pockets of her scrubs top, obviously still uncomfortable about her slip. “Well, I’d better check on my other patients. I’ll give Ms. Grace your message.”
“Thank you.”
She stepped to the side so Tracy could pass her. When Tracy came even with her, Rayna touched her arm. “Is there a women’s clothing store in town? I’d like to buy some cooler tops.”
The question seemed to relax the nurse. “Yes. Janelle’s is on Olive Street on the north side of the square. She has a lot of really cute clothes.”
“Thank you again.”
Rayna headed for the exit. She decided to go shopping now, then come back to visit with Nana before lunch. After that, she’d finish her errands before she met Marcus at Nana’s house.
It surprised and pleased Rayna to find such a wonderful selection of clothing at Janelle’s. She spent the next two hours browsing and trying on over a dozen items. She settled on three tank tops, two short-sleeved blouses, two pairs of capris, a flowing skirt in a colorful flowered pattern, and a pair of slingback sandals.
Rayna made a very good salary as a floor supervisor at the hospital, but the cost of living in San Francisco could not be described as cheap. She’d managed to put aside a nice nest egg since she rarely spent money on herself. It felt good to let go and shop for pleasure.
Humming to herself, she pressed the button on her key fob to open the trunk. Her stomach had been growling at her for the last fifteen minutes. A visit to Nana came next on her to-do list, then lunch.
A vehicle stopped beside her car. A sliver of fear sliced through her, until she remembered she stood on a street in Lanville, not San Francisco. She looked to her left to see Marcus leaning his head out the window of a black pickup with a magnetic Coleman Construction sign on the door.
“Did you buy out the store?” he asked with laughter shining in his eyes.
She couldn’t help but smile. She felt too good not to. “Not quite, but I made a good dent.” She placed her sacks inside the trunk and closed the lid. “Nana was in the middle of tests when I went to the hospital earlier, so I decided to go shopping until she was back in her room. I’m on my way there now to see her.”
“I just came from there. She’s asleep. Tracy, her nurse, said the tests wore Grace out.”
“Oh.” She didn’t want to wake her, especially when she obviously needed the rest. “I guess I could have an early lunch and go see her later.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” He rested his elbow on the window’s opening. “I had to be in Parker Place, so I looked at Grace’s house. I only saw the outside, but the damage isn’t too severe. I had a couple of our guys put plywood over the hole in the kitchen wall.”
“Thank you. I didn’t think about that. Do you think looting will be a problem?”
“No. Brad—our sheriff—told me two deputies will be out there all the time to make sure no one is there who shouldn’t be. It’s Lanville, Rayna. Sure, we have theft sometimes, but it’s usually people from out of town. Crime here is almost nonexistent.”
She’d heard the same thing from her grandmother many times. Nana never thought about locking her doors when she went out because she didn’t worry about anyone going in her house who shouldn’t be there. Luckily, Mattie took care of the locks and other security. It might be Lanville, but Rayna didn’t want to take any chances with her grandmother’s safety.
“Have you talked to Grace’s insurance agent yet?” Marcus asked.
“I left a message for her to call me back this afternoon.”
“My one o’clock appointment rescheduled to later today. Want to have lunch and go to Grace’s house early?”
Lunch with Marcus would
not
be a good idea. She didn’t want to spend any more time than necessary with him. Seeing him stirred up too many memories.
As if he sensed her hesitation, he raised his hand, palm toward her. “Strictly a business lunch, I swear. I made some notes while at your grandmother’s house. We could go over them while we eat.”
A business lunch would be all right. No talk of their past, no mention of anything personal. She could do that. “Okay. That sounds good.”
Marcus smiled. “Great. I was thinking of a hamburger. The Purple Onion specializes in them and has about twenty different kinds on their menu. Will that work for you?”
At the mention of a hamburger, her stomach growled. “That sounds great. Is it far?”
“On the corner of Elm and Main. Do you want to ride with me?”
That would be way too much closeness. “I’ll follow you so I’ll have my car.”
Rayna pulled away from the curb, did a U-turn, and followed Marcus past the courthouse. He turned left on Main Street, then right on Elm Street and into a parking lot at the back of the restaurant. He found two spots together beneath a large elm tree. Rayna smiled at the memory of finding a shaded place to park in the summer. It didn’t matter if she had to walk farther to get to wherever she needed to go, as long as she could park her vehicle beneath a tree to help combat the brutal Texas heat.
By the time she slid her cell phone into an inside pocket of her purse and slipped the purse’s strap over her shoulder, Marcus was there to open her door. He’d always had impeccable manners. He held out his hand. She laid her hand in his and allowed him to help her from the car, but released it as soon as she stood. Holding his hand any longer would be too much of a temptation to keep touching him.
Rayna would have to describe the inside of The Purple Onion as eclectic. A mixture of paintings, pictures, and paraphernalia hung on the wooden walls. Flowers sat on tables in pretty glass vases or old-fashioned Mason jars. A piece of plastic covered each table, protecting the photos of people, animals, and clip art. It looked as if the owner told children to have fun decorating and they had.
She loved it.
A young woman who didn’t appear to be more than twenty greeted them with a smile. “Hi, Marcus. Table for two?”
“Hi, Jami. Yeah, near the windows if possible.”
“Sure.” She grabbed two menus from the holder at the side of the hostess stand. “Follow me.”
He placed his hand on the small of Rayna’s back, the way he always had when they’d walked together. It threw her back in time to all the occasions when his hands had coasted over her skin . . . sometimes in passion, sometimes in a simple caress, sometimes in awe of the differences in her body and his.
The short trip to their table meant he soon moved his hand. Rayna didn’t want to acknowledge the disappointment she felt at the loss of his touch.
“Can I get y’all something to drink?” Jami asked as she handed menus to each of them.
Marcus looked at her. “Rayna?”
The natural light shining through the large plate window highlighted the lines at the corners of Marcus’s eyes, lines that hadn’t been there five years ago. His face had matured since the last time she’d seen him. He’d been a man at twenty-eight, yet now he appeared more . . . seasoned. Experienced. Wiser.