Chapter 4
Key West, Florida
“I’m so glad you two were able to meet with me today,” Art commented, smiling at them from across his desk. “We have a lot to go over.”
“It’s no problem,” Jack answered, glancing at Charli who sat calmly on his right. His eyes dropped to her crossed legs bared today by the brilliant blue sundress that came to mid-thigh and lingered despite his best intentions.
Art sprang from his chair. “Let’s do this in the other room where we have the maps and other drawings laid out.” He walked to the door and held it open for them to proceed. “Would either of you like some coffee or tea?”
“I would love some coffee if it wouldn’t be too much of a bother,” Charli replied as she passed him.
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” Theresa piped in, jumping up from her desk. “I’ll make a fresh pot. I get the beans from a little Cuban place down the street and grind them myself. You’re gonna love it!”
“Jack, how about you?” Art asked.
“Huh?” Jack forced himself to pull his gaze from Charli’s legs. He hadn’t been able to glance away from her since she walked into Art’s office several minutes ago.
Her sundress was cut in a deep vee perfectly framing her breasts, and the cut hugged her waist before flaring around her butt and thighs.
The platform sandals she wore put her just a few inches below eye-level, which was no small feat given his 6’4” frame.
Her honey hair was down in a loose french braid that made his fingers ache to unravel it even more than the tight bun from the day before.
In short, she’d walked in looking like the woman of his dreams.
Art gave him a knowing smirk and raised his eyebrows. “Coffee? Tea?”
“Oh. Yeah.” Jack cleared his throat. “Coffee sounds good.”
His eyes followed Charli’s backside as she strolled to the far conference room.
A good night’s sleep had clearly worked wonders on her because this afternoon she was relaxed, confident, and gorgeous.
It was such a noticeable contrast from yesterday when she had seemed so overwhelmed, so sad and had cried on his shoulder.
Art chuckled and smacked him on the back. “She’s so much like Dottie, it’s scary.”
“What?” Jack asked, frowning. Charli didn’t seem anything at all like Dottie to him.
“Oh, Dottie was quite the looker back in the day.” Art motioned toward the far room Charli had just walked into. “Yesterday, there were times I thought I was looking at Dottie’s twin across that table.”
“Really?” Jack tilted his head, considering that information. He hadn’t known Dottie until she was a gray-haired matron of the island, securely in her sixties.
“Oh, yes, right down to the hair and eyes,” Art assured him. “In her prime, Dottie had to beat the men away. And sometimes, the women, too,” he added with a cackle.
Jack laughed and followed the older man into the conference room, where several maps and papers were spread out over the large table.
Charlie stood off to the left, leaning down to study one closely.
His eyes took in the way the blue fabric wrapped lovingly around her ass.
Then they traveled down to her legs again and imagined them wrapped around his waist.. .
He ground his teeth, disgusted with himself.
Mind out of the gutter, man! She’s your new business partner, not a damn tourist at the bar.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Jack?” Art asked in a stage whisper, the same annoying smirk on his face.
Jack narrowed his eyes and gave him a quick shake of the head. “I’m fine,” he ground out.
“You positive?” Art’s smirk eased into a teasing grin. “You look a little light-headed.”
Jack cursed under his breath when it was obvious that Charli had overheard their conversation. She glanced over her shoulder, a look of concern on her face.
“I’m fine,” he replied between clenched teeth. He walked over to Charli. “What are you looking at?”
She gestured toward the top of the map. “This looks like the original plat map of the property from 1850.” Her hand landed lightly on his arm and jolt of lightning shot through his body. “Are you not feeling well, Jack? We can do this another time if you’d like to go home.”
He smiled at her gesture and gave a quick shake of his head. “I’m fine, really. Just a light headache—nothing a good cup of coffee can’t take care of.”
“Well, then, my timing’s perfect. Here’s the coffee,” Theresa announced as she wheeled in a cart with an elaborate display of porcelain cups, spoons, silver bowls containing several types of sweetener, cream, and two large carafes of coffee.
“Oh, wow! Theresa, you really didn’t need to pull together anything this extravagant. A simple mug would have been fine for me,” Charli remarked, her eyes owlish as she took in the coffee setting and options.
Theresa snorted. “Are you kidding?” she answered, hands on her hips. “I have been dying to use this cart and coffee set since I picked them up in that little antique store on Simonton a few months ago.” She grinned. “Isn’t it great?”
“It’s amazing!” Charli returned the grin, not realizing how it made her face light up. Her gaze shot to his core, nearly paralyzing him. “Jack, how do you take your coffee?”
Damn, she’s beautiful. Smart, beautiful, and my business partner. You can’t forget the business part, Jack!
His brows dropped. “I take it black, but I can get it myself.”
She gave him a coy smile. “Don’t worry about it.
I’m already here.” She turned and handed him a full cup, then turned back to make her own.
He couldn’t help watching how she moved, seeming to glide gracefully in everything she did.
He had noticed that about her yesterday as they’d walked through Dottie’s house—her house now.
He squeezed his eyes shut at the memory and took a big gulp of coffee, nearly choking as the hot brew scalded his mouth.
Jack coughed and cleared his throat to cover the mishap and then glanced over at Art who had walked around to the other side of the table, still grinning knowingly at him. Jack narrowed his eyes at his old friend and gave him a firm shake of his head, silently urging him to be quiet.
Art tapped a knuckle on the table to get their attention. “I laid out all these maps to provide some historical perspective, but this is the document you’ll want to focus on for the restoration.” He ran his finger over the delicate parchment.
Jack perked up and stepped over to examine the document. All night, his imagination had been pondering what extremes they’d have to accomplish to get the resort back to its original condition.
He sensed Charli as she moved next to him and goosebumps popped out on his skin as her arm brushed his. Her light, floral scent surrounded him and his skin tingled as if his senses were in overdrive. He squeezed his eyes shut to clear his mind.
Get your shit together, man!
Charli nudged his coffee cup at him. “Take a drink. It’ll help with your head,” she suggested softly, apparently thinking he was still suffering from the headache.
He looked to his side, meeting her gaze, and froze again.
The bright color of her dress made her eyes pop a brilliant bluish purple, like a deep sea, and for a moment he felt like he couldn’t respond. ..couldn’t breathe.
He gave her a quick side grin and took a sip of coffee, then cleared his throat.
He tapped a section along the right edge of the document.
“This was the original main entrance, directly across from your house, but Dottie had it filled in about a decade ago.” He moved his finger to the other side of the parchment.
“This was the back gate and is the current entrance where we’ll get in and out until we can reopen this front gate.
” His finger traced inside the walled structure.
“And you’ll notice that there are four buildings within the compound.
From what I know, none have been inspected in well over five years.
” Charli nodded as she followed his movements.
“A landscaped garden was in this front section,” he continued. “This is all deep overgrowth now, so I’d recommend we clear this out first before we move on the structures.”
Charli pursed her lips thoughtfully and flexed her arms. “Good idea. It’s been a while since I’ve done any major yard work, but I’m sure I can handle it.”
Jack chuckled. “My team will be doing most of the heavy work. Once the garden is done, we’ll have a good bead on what we’re dealing with. It’s been a couple years since anyone has been in that compound, so it could be pretty bad.”
“You should go in assuming it will all be bad,” Art counseled, giving them both a grave look.
“Most importantly, the main house is listed in the national historic registry. So one thing for you to understand—and I know you’re aware of this Jack—is that because these are historical structures, certain considerations must be made with materials and, in some cases, even the method used for the restoration. ”
Charli tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean by the method used?”
“With some of the renovations,” Jack explained, “we’ll have to use special equipment that won’t disturb the original architecture.
” He met her gaze, and after ensuring she was following, continued.
“We also have to use the same or very similar materials, such as paint or roofing, as what was originally used in that time period.”
Charli looked up at Art. “We have to use the same type of materials used in 1925? How can we possibly do that?”
Art pursed his lips. “For three of the buildings, you’ll only have to go back to 1925.” He hesitated for a moment. “But for the main house, you’ll have to use materials used in the 1850s. It’s a challenge, but Jack’s a pro at that.”
“The restrictions go so far as specifying not just paint type, but colors as well, so we’ll have to be exact,” Jack added, then pinned Art with his gaze. “At the reading yesterday, you mentioned documents about the house going to the society?”