Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Case
“So, what happened with the author?” Mack, my former informant, current best friend, and work foreman, asks, popping his hard hat on.
“It didn’t go well,” I say firmly as I strap on my tool belt. “She kicked me out and threatened to make my life a living hell if I didn’t keep quiet until noon.” I laugh, trying to shake the irritation from my voice.
“Christ,” he curses, his face darkening. “Your offer was a fucking gift. You have no legal obligation?—”
“Mack…” I cut him off.
He’s a hothead and not used to being in a world where people don’t obey his every command—where his word— our word is law. I’m starting to think I’m not either because I want to shake some sense into Lily’s granddaughter. Except shake isn’t the verb I really mean.
“This isn’t about what I can legally do or not. It’s about building a community for my kid. Having good people around is important. Reece is going to go nuts over that farm. I told you about her new chicken fascination?”
He snorts. “Right, good people. Open your eyes, Python, she’s a spoiled brat. Reece doesn’t need that kind of influence, chicken fascination or not. Besides, isn’t one kid enough to deal with?”
I shoot him a look, partly for the name slip and partly because of the ‘isn’t one child enough’ comment, and he waves me off, lowering to lace his boots. “Yeah, yeah, I know you want a fucking herd of kids, but women-children aren’t nearly as cute.”
My brow rises. “Oh yeah, is that so, Daddy Mack?” I say, the last word in a high-pitched girly voice, my hackles starting to lower with my own argument.
“That’s different and you know it.” He winks switching to his other boot. “An obedient adult little girl who calls you Daddy while bouncing on your dick is nothing like dealing with a brat who thinks she’s entitled to the world stopping so she can get some fucking romance book written.”
I shrug. “I’m not looking for either, Mack. This is for Reece, so I gotta try with this woman. Besides, Lily was good people. And I’m sure Tessa is too. She’s just going through some shit.”
“You always did like your kitties with claws. Those club girls were never good enough for you. They gave it up too easily for ol’ Python.”
The name Python send shivers up my spine, but I don’t correct him. “Reality check, Mack.” I cross my arms. “Club life isn’t real life, which is where we live now.”
He shrugs. “Not all parts of the Ransom were bad.” He rises, cracking his knuckles like some fucking cliche.
“And that’s where we disagree,” I say. A small voice inside me counters my verbalization and my stomach rolls. Closing my eyes, I once again fight the intrusive thoughts that I belong behind bars like the rest of the club members because yeah, some of it wasn’t so bad.
“Case?”
Mack’s voice snaps me out of it, just as the cold sweats start and a knot grows tight between my shoulder blades.
“You push her buttons at least?”
It’s like he’s saying, ‘see I know you,’ and ‘I’m just busting your balls.’ And it’s as close to an apology I’ll get for his slip-ups. But he does know me. He’s been by my side for a long time. First as a childhood friend, then an informant and club brother, and finally best friend. One that knows he just sent me spiraling.
My mouth slides up on one side, hiding the haunting feeling inside me. “You know I did.”
He laughs.
“Let’s just work.”
It’s true that all my interactions with Tessa have been shitty, and yeah she pisses me off, but I don’t hate her. And I did push her buttons. I don’t even know why. I want to work things out with her, make our relationship less hostile, if not neighborly, but every time she gets all Ms. Snooty- Pants on me, I have the inexplicable need to ruffle her feathers. And apparently, I have poor impulse control.
So yeah, maybe I deserve her wrath. Which is why, despite her unreasonable demand—and threat, I have the guys start with some quieter jobs this morning. It’s also why I order some professional-quality noise-cancelling headphones and have them delivered to her place.
The crew is having lunch a week later when I learn that warming my neighbor toward me isn’t going to be as easy as a fancy set of headphones.
A hush falls over the worksite, but it isn’t until Mack says, “What the hell does she think she’s doing?” that I take notice. Turning around, I see Tessa walking straight at me, her sore ankle not slowing her angry stride.
“Jesus,” I mumble and drop my half-eaten sandwich onto the wax paper the deli wrapped it in.
“Tessa,” I say, rising. “We talked about this.” I point to my hard hat as I lean over and snatch and extra out of the back of a pick-up. “If you’re going to come storming over here, you better be wearing this.” She’s still fifteen feet away, so I walk toward her, reaching out to hand her the yellow hard hat. “That’s an order.” Her gaze drops to my hand, and she narrows her eyes, stopping in her tracks.
“I don’t plan on having to come over here again.” She reaches her arm back and tosses something at me.
There’s an audible ooh as the headphone box hits me square in the chest with a soft thud. I watch the box fall the ground before lowering to scoop it up. Ignoring the eyes on me, I shove the box into my back pocket and shake my head. It’ll take a lot more than a small gesture of kindness to win over Tessa Harlow, I guess. Brat.
“Don’t set foot on this site again without a hard hat, Tess Harlow, I mean it.” My firm words are spoken to her back as she shoves her way angrily through the overgrown grass. My stern tone doesn’t have its intended effect because she turns and gives me the finger.
Damn woman needs her ass spanked.
And that’s how it goes over the next few weeks. I get strongly worded letters (usually set under a rock on Reece’s playhouse), livid glares, and sharp words whenever I pass by her place in the evening, even though I attempt to at least push the heavy equipment use until after ten am.
I remain friendly, and Tessa hostile. But at least she hasn’t followed through on any of her threats, and there have been some doozies. That’s probably the only thing keeping me civil now, because dammit, I’ve tried, and this woman is fucking impossible. Lily said she was stubborn…but what a fucking understatement.
As I pass the cottage on my way to the site Friday morning, I glance at the porch. The warm days are winding down, but today is nice and I expected her to be outside, but there’s no laptop and signature fancy teacup out on the deck. I know she’s not sleeping because Jake still crows every morning at first light like a fucking drill sergeant waking me for my morning workout.
I’m still wondering, and if I’m honest, growing a bit concerned, when I pass Reece’s playhouse. As usual there’s a letter, this one more than just a handwritten note on piece of personalized notepaper. Grabbing the typed letter, I read it quickly.
Looking up, I crunch the paper in my fist.
The crew’s trickling in, getting themselves coffee from the canister in the back of Mack’s truck and their work orders for the day while I spend the next thirty minutes online.
I hand Mack the now smoothed out paper as I pour myself a coffee. “Gonna be gone for a bit, Mack.”
“What the fuck she do now?” he says without reading the paper.
“Evicted me.”
His brow raises. “Woman’s got fucking balls, Case. Why don’t you just tell her you’re about to be the local law? That’d stop her bullshit.”
“Nah, that wouldn’t be nearly as fun,” I say, looking down at the email that just popped into my inbox.
“This is fun?” He scoffs at my back as I head back toward Tessa’s place.
“The force frowns on you using your power for intimidation. But it’s all good. I got her beat.”
I hear him snort behind me, but he doesn’t reply. “Give me twenty and I’ll be back.”
“Let me know if you need a tarp and a shovel.”
When I stomp up Tessa’s back porch, it hits why she isn’t outside this morning. She’s hiding from me. She’s upped her game and doesn’t want the confrontation.
“Open up, Sunshine,” I holler as I bang on the door. I’m surprised when it opens quickly. Maybe she wasn’t hiding after all.
“Mr. Biker.”
I smile. “Good morning, Tessa.” My eyes wander down and my smile falls away, my mouth drying at the sight of her. She’s wearing one of those kimono things. The deep-red and black silk seems to caress her body, showing too much and not enough all at the same time.
She clears her throat, pulling my attention, and glances around at… the air I guess, and nods. “Seems like nice enough weather.”
I do the same, trying not to look at her nipples beading under the silk. “Not many of these days left, I imagine.”
She sighs, her eyes going skyward slowly. “Chatting nicely with me about the weather isn’t going to change my mind, Case. I want you out of the trailer.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, wondering what kind of lie she’ll come up with because I know why she wants me out. She’s here licking her wounds and I’m an easy target. That’s the only thing I can think of.
Her eyes land on mine as she answers. “It’s an eyesore. That old thing is rundown and past its prime.”
I know she’s not talking about me even if she’s making it seem that way. I may be older than I once was, but my body is in better shape than it ever was.
“It’s gotta go.”
“I understand. And I wouldn’t dream of trying to change your mind,” I say with a half-smile, watching as she narrows her eyes a fraction in suspicion.
“Then why are you darkening my doorstep?”
“Thought I’d let you know, since I’m not sure you have access to Lily’s email address. I’ve contacted the Landlord Tenant Board. They’re backed up. But I filled out the forms anyway and got us a hearing.”
She straightens. “I thought you weren’t going to try to change my mind.”
“I’m not. I’m planning on giving in at the hearing. But in the meanwhile, you’re stuck with me.”
“Fine.”
I turn the phone to her, pointing at the spot where the hearing date is. “December the year after next, it’s all yours.”
Her eyes flick up to mine but that’s it. She doesn’t show even the slightest bit of annoyance. But she doesn’t have to, I know in my gut, I’ve won this round.
“Have a lovely day,” I say, turning and walking off her porch.
“Let the games begin, Mr. Biker .”
I pause at the little gate in her yard, but I don’t turn around. What have I gotten myself into? I don’t have time for this bullshit.
“I don’t have time for games, Tessa. I’ll be happy to play with you once my house is built. Hell, after that, we can play games till we’re wrinkled and gray, yeah?”
My answer is a slamming door.
Again, it’s quiet for a few days, no notes, no looks, nothing, but I’m not dumb enough to think she’s given up.
I’m barely on the site when Mack spots me, and, shoving his phone into his pockets, heads straight for me.
“Case. We’ve got a fucking problem.”
“What’s up?” I look back at Tessa’s, squinting to see if she’s outside yet. My gut knots. I don’t even have to know the problem to know she’s the cause.
“You hear anything about our lumber delivery being delayed?” Mack’s words have me turning back, but with the sun partially blinding me from behind him, I can’t see his expression. I shove my hard hat on to block the piercing rays, and see his face is stoney. That’s normal for Mack but the muscle ticking in his jaw isn’t.
“What’s going on?” I ask, grabbing my tool belt and wrapping it around my waist.
“It hasn’t arrived.”
I check my watch. “You’re sure it isn’t here? It was due to be dropped off early this morning.”
He places his hands impatiently on his hips. “I think I’d fucking notice if there was a giant pile of lumber around here.”
His short tone doesn’t offend me. Instead, I shoot him a half grin. “Right.”
“I called but they won’t talk to me. I’m the fucking contractor and they won’t tell me shit.” He throws one of his hands up. “Christ, I’m paying my crew for standing around drinking coffee right now.” He looks back at the group of men by their trucks talking. “Case, we can’t start framing the second floor until we get it.” Mack looks at his own watch and frowns. “We’re already behind.”
I scratch my beard. “I’ll call them. Is there anything else we can do in the meanwhile?”
He shakes his head. “Nope. You’ve had us doing all the little quiet shit in the mornings for the last while. This is really going to fuck with our deadline. I can ask the guys about staying late, and maybe working this weekend but that’ll mean time and a half tonight and double on the weekend.”
I grunt my response, not liking that idea but having no choice. Pulling out my phone, I raise a finger. “Give me a minute to find out what’s going on.”
After twenty minutes on the phone, two supervisors and a premium payment for rush delivery later, I’m livid. Heat rises on my neck as I shoot daggers across the field. Someone that the lumber yard claimed was my wife, who was, no offense, but a bit full of herself —their words not mine—had cancelled the order last minute and made it so only me or her could make any changes from then on.
I don’t even try to argue the extra fees since I’m desperate and they’re pissed. I consider myself lucky as fuck they’re still willing to work with me. But no matter how much begging I do, they can’t get my damn order here until Monday now.
As soon as I hang up, I let loose a string of profanity and toss my phone into Mack’s truck. I can’t lose this much time. We’re already way fucking behind!
“What’s going on?” Mack asks, walking up to me. Normally, I’m a chill guy, letting most things roll off my back, so when Mack sees me, he steps back right away.
“Whose ass needs to be kicked?” he asks.
I just curse.
“I’ll be back,” I grumble and start for the field toward Tessa’s, since I know without a doubt she’s the culprit. Not only is she the most ‘full of herself’ person I know, but this is also right up her alley. It’s one thing to fuck with me, but now she’s fucking with every guy on my crew.
Look out, Tessa Harlow, because you’re about to meet your match.