Chapter 21
twenty-one
BEAU
You would think leaving Harmony at the bus the day after the concert would be the worst thing I would ever do.
In reality, it wasn’t that bad. I know she’ll be here the moment the tour wraps up, which gives me something to look forward to. Besides, she rode me so hard and so often that night that I woke up sore. My abs needed a rest. Not complaining, just stating a fact.
I’ve got my hands full anyway. The Ross kid worked well while I was in Dallas, so I’ve hired him on the weekends to help around the ranch. It frees me up a little to get some things done before Harmony comes home.
Jesus, I never thought someone would think of me as their home. I plan to be the best damn home she could ever hope for. It’s why I’m walking into the library on a Friday afternoon.
“Beau Rayburn!” Austen, the head librarian, exclaims. “I haven’t seen you in a hot minute. Heard you’ve been keeping busy.” She elbows me in the ribs.
I’ve only known Austen as the librarian even though she grew up here too. Her older sister, Eliot, was a freshman when I was a senior, I think. I remember something about her being pretty smart.
“Hey, Austen. I see the rumor mill is continuing to spin.”
“Small towns,” she answers with a shrug. “What can you do?”
“That’s why I’m here actually. Travis gave me the number for your younger sister. Something about her husband being a contractor or such? Anyway, it seems weird calling her up. I thought you might have his number?”
“I can do you one better. They’re in town this week, just go bang on their door. They live in that old house the Harrels owned when we were kids. The one with the porch on the front down from the Catholic church,” she says.
“Yeah, I know it. I don’t want to bug them though.”
“You’re not going to bug them. Besides, a little bugging will do Bront? good. What are you doing anyway?”
“Some remodeling, but I need plans done.”
“Oooh, is it for Harmony?” she asks. I can’t stop the smile when I hear her name. “Good for you,” she adds, thwacking my stomach. “Hey, if you need any landscaping too, give Reed a call. I’ll grab his card for you.” She flits off to her office.
I forgot she married Reed Campbell. All I really remember of him in high school was he was a hell of a baseball player. Seems like the girls were all giggling over him in the halls too.
“Here you go,” she says, reappearing by my side. I take the proffered card and slide it into my shirt pocket. I can’t imagine needing landscaping at the ranch, but you never know. “Let me know if you need anything else.” With a small wave, she walks toward a group of giggling girls at one of the tables.
Staring up at the house Austen’s sister owns from the seat of my truck takes me by surprise. It takes some effort to remember what it looked like when I was a kid. The remodel is epic.
I might as well get this meeting over with. I’m not sure they’ll take the job since it’s so small, but I won’t know if I don’t ask.
“Hi,” a stunning woman says, opening the door before I’m even halfway up the steps. “I’m Bront?, and this is Keats,” she says, referring to a toddler clutched in her arms. “Austen just called and said you were heading this way. I knew Travis in school, and I remember something about an older brother, but that seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Beau,” I say, introducing myself.
“That’s right. Well, please come in, Beau. Rand is trying to wrap up a phone call in his office. Can I get you something to drink while you wait?”
“No, ma’am. I’m fine.”
“Okay then. Have a seat, and Rand will be right out. If you’ll excuse us, I need to get Keats his afternoon snack. He just woke up and gets grumpy like his dad if he doesn’t get something to eat.” She pushes into the kitchen, and I’m left on my own in their living room. Which looks like something out of a magazine.
I move to the fireplace to study the rockwork. This would be a nice touch in the living room. Get rid of the old brick one.
“Sorry about that,” a man says, stepping out of a door. “I’m Rand. Austen said something about some design work you need done.”
“Yes, I’d like to build a music studio, but it needs more than just some construction.”
“Where is this studio going?”
“In an old barn?” I don’t know why I phrase it as a question, except I don’t know if it’s even doable.
“That sounds interesting. I tell you what. How soon do you need it done?”
“As soon as possible. My girlfriend will be back in about a month.”
“Harmony Ellis, right?”
“Right.” How does everyone in this town already know about us? Also, it feels crazy to call her my girlfriend. She is, but it just feels weird.
“Okay, Peter needs a couple days out of the office. How about we come see it tomorrow afternoon?” Rand asks.
“That would be great. I wasn’t sure you’d even be interested.”
“You kidding? We definitely want to be able to say we built the studio that took the local girl from a star to a superstar. Besides, anything to help out a brother.” He winks at me. “Do you mind a local crew?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“Great. We’ll be there tomorrow after lunch.” I give him the location and head back outside.
Doubts about this whole thing begin to set in before I even make it back to my truck. I think I’m more worried about what crew he shows up with more than anything. It will be worth it, though, if it keeps Harmony with me.
True to his word, it’s not long after lunch the next day when a fancy SUV comes bumping down the dirt road to the house. Rand steps out of the driver’s door. A man I don’t know and a half scary-looking woman climb from the other side. I open the door to greet them, and Reacher pushes past me before I can stop him.
“Hey, big fella,” the other man says, bending down. Reacher, of course, knows a dog person when he sees one. The dog presses against the man rubbing on him like he’s going to produce a genie.
“Beau,” Rand says, stepping forward. “This is my associate, Peter.” I shake his hand briefly before he goes back to scratching Reacher’s ears. “And this is my other associate and sister, Geneva.”
“Or associate is plenty.” She rolls her eyes as she steps forward to shake my hand. I think I’ve misjudged her. We might be the same side of the coin.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” I offer.
“We’re good,” she answers for all of them. “Show us this barn.”
“It’s a little rough,” I say as I lead them over. It’s warm enough now so both horses are out in one of the pasture traps. Pushing open the door, I lead them inside. Peter stands just inside the door taking it in while the other two start poking around. “This is the only space I can come up with.”
“What’s up there?” Geneva asks, pointing to the hayloft over our heads.
“Storage mostly.”
“I think he needs an apartment up there for the band to stay in when they come to work,” she says.
“Band?” I ask. Crap, I hadn’t even thought about that. They will need somewhere to stay if they need to rehearse here or record anything. I can’t exactly put them up at the house of horrors we refer to as the hotel in Dansboro Crossing. Although I guess the Elvis room could be inspiring.
“I think we have enough room that we can do a music and an art studio. I have one of your pieces on my office wall,” Geneva says.
“Really, which one?” Peter asks.
“The sketch of the Pennybacker Bridge at sunset.”
“Ohh, I like that one. You’re right, he needs a studio also.” I feel like I’m no longer in control of this project. I like the direction it’s taking though. A studio where I could work in the evening while listen to Harmony would be perfect. They continue to make plans while I fantasize about the fun we could have with a couch on my side of the studio.
“Okay, we’ll take it,” Rand says. “I’ll shoot you some preliminaries and price estimates next week. In the meantime, start emptying the loft out. We’ll need to start soon to make it in a month.”
“Really?” Honestly, I didn’t think I could make this happen.
“It’s going to be one for the magazines,” Geneva announces before swooping out of the barn. We follow her slowly to the SUV where she already sits waiting.
“We’ll be in touch,” Rand says, grasping my hand again.
“I’ll be back tomorrow to get some measurements,” Peter adds, handing me his business card.
They jump in the vehicle and head back down the road. I think they were here about fifteen minutes, but they have me excited to get started. I can’t wait to get in the hayloft and start cleaning. There’s no telling what’s up there.
“Let’s go, boy. We’ve got our work cut out for us tomorrow,” I say, walking up the steps to the house.
Reacher follows me through the door and flops down on the floor. He’s just tired from trying to suck up to the architect. Fair to say, he wants Harmony here as much as I do. I still have half a day’s work to do, though. I’m changing into my boots in the mudroom when my phone rings.
“I can’t believe it took me this long to find this sketch,” Harmony says. She doesn’t mince words. “You should have told me sooner.”
“Do you like it?”
“Do I like it? Do I like it?”
“Well?”
“I freaking love it!” she squeals. “It’s going on the wall of our bedroom.” I smile stupidly at the words rolling off her tongue. Our bedroom. “I’m going to see it every morning when I wake up and every evening before I fall asleep. I don’t know how you did it.”
“It’s just a sketch.”
“Pfft,” she snorts. “It’s beautiful. Thank you. Shit, I’ve got to go. Love you.”
“Love you too,” I say, but she’s already ended the call.
The smile stays in place as I finish pulling on my boots. It stays all the way to where Ross is working on repairing some fence. He doesn’t ask. I like this kid more all the time. He’s not one for idol chit chat either.
“What’d they say?” he finally asks.
“It’s doable,” I answer. “Measuring tomorrow.”
“Good deal.” He bends back over his work. “Oh, got a date tonight. Cool, if I head out a little early?”
“Yeah, go. I’ve got it.” He doesn’t even say goodbye as he heads off. Good and quiet. My kind of person.
There’s one exception, and she just yelled a curse word at me and hung up. I laugh. Thankfully, no one’s around to hear me. They’d think I’d gone nuts. Maybe I have. If so, it’s all because of a woman. One that likes to chatter my ear off. One I can’t wait to see again.
Now I’m starting to think that some landscaping wouldn’t be such a horrible idea. Some nice flowers around the house would be a welcome addition. Jesus! I’m completely whipped. Do I care? Not really. I return to the house and find the business card Austen gave me sitting on my desk.
“Go for Reed,” the man on the other end says when the call connects. I roll my eyes. I’ve always heard the Caraway sisters were kind of crazy, but apparently the men they chose are right up there with them. Except the sheriff, he seems like a good guy.
“I’m interested in getting a quote for some landscaping.”
“Groovy. I’ve got tomorrow afternoon open. I can come out then.” Groovy? Who says that anymore?
“That works.” I give him directions and end the call. Jesus, help me. What have I done?