2. Ryan
When I mention her lack of pants, all the wind momentarily drops from her sails. Her fierceness droops and her cheeks darken, but somehow she remains standing tall. She’s got a rockin’ body—but unfortunately her freak flag is flying—so it’s best if my mind doesn’t go there.
I mean—who uses a coat hanger for protection? There has to be a million things she could’ve grabbed on her way out. I must’ve scared the piss out of her, for her to come out screaming like a banshee brandishing that as a weapon.
I can’t blame her. No one wants to be woken like this.
But I’ve got a job to do.
I need to finish this project, so I can move on to the next and get this dreadful summer over with. Working at my family’s company is the last thing I want—I certainly don’t have time to deal with a pretentious princess.
After watching her nod once and say, “I’ll be right back,” she turns on a dime and stomps into the house.
She’s wearing tiny boy shorts as underwear and her toned legs look amazing on her retreat.
Not to mention, her beautifully round ass…
Holy hell, it’s the perfect combination of sway and jiggle as she firmly retreats.
Fuck, man. Get it together.
Shaking my head, I walk to my truck so I can find the necessary paperwork to show her I am in fact NOT an intruder and the entire scene plays on repeat in my mind. If I wasn’t so irritated that her tantrum was putting me behind schedule, I’d probably find it funny.
I’ve seen a lot of things on the job, but this by far takes the cake.
I kinda like her inability to back down.
Her darkened cheeks were her only sign of being embarrassed.
I’m fairly certain if she’d been fully dressed, I would’ve had my ass handed to me this morning because clearly, she was just getting started.
She’s not short but compared to me, I dwarf her. I’m six-six and she barely stands at my shoulders. Her hair was stacked on her head in a messy bun, and it flopped as she shook her head at me. Her face was free from makeup, and her expressive blue eyes made it hard to look away.
As soon as I find the contract I’m looking for, I slam my truck door shut and return to the scene of the crime. I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding that we can sort out—like rational adults.
Surely, she won’t stay mad forever, right?
At twenty-two, I’m used to not being taken seriously.
But I’ve been on job sites like this since I was fourteen.
My dad taught me the ropes from the time I could walk.
Now that I’ve just finished my junior year of college and have only one year left in completing my construction-management degree, I’d say I’m more than capable of a simple project like this.
With the weather expected to hold out for the week, I’m pulling off the siding from the most weathered side of the house, then I’ll have a few members of my father’s crew help me replace it.
Typically, we’re not alone on a job, but Jared had a family emergency and I can do this part of the job by myself—as long as that feisty girl inside cooperates.
When she returns a few minutes later, I’m relieved to find she’s wearing a pair of leggings and a baggy sweatshirt. It’s sad to see her beautiful body covered, but it’s far less distracting.
I hand her my copy of the contract. “As you can see, Jane Lancaster paid us last fall—in full—to redo her siding, roof, and replace both the floor and tub in the master bathroom. So…” I draw out to prove my point.“I am—in fact—entitled to be here.”
Shaking her head, she mutters, “This is so like Nana. She always thought of everything.”
“Nana?” I ask, not wanting to make assumptions. If she’s not here to oversee this herself, where is she? I know for a fact the front office confirmed this project—it’s protocol. I wouldn’t be here otherwise or have the code for the alarm.
“She’s my grandma…” The woman bites on her lip then sighs heavily. “Well, was my grandma. We lost her in January.”
Grief radiates from her features and not only does my chest tighten, but eventually my manners kick in. “Sorry for your loss…” Shit, I don’t even know her name .
Needing to rectify this, I clear my throat and stick out my hand. “I think we’ve gotten off to a bad start. I’m Ryan Murdock.” When she doesn’t take my hand, I press the issue further, “And you are?”
“I’m… Melanie Lancaster.” Her lower lip slips under her teeth and she looks to the siding I’ve begun removing before glancing to the roof then she mutters, “Would it have killed her to keep us in the loop?”
Yeah, I’m thinking that’s a rhetorical question—or at least one I’m not touching with a ten-foot pole.
I don’t know why her grandma planned this reno so far in advance.
I know we were booked pretty far out this past year, and sure these things need replacing, but they still have a couple of years left on them.
Then again, we are at the coast and it’s best not to let things get dilapidated if you want to keep damage minimal.
Thankfully, Lanie answers her own question with a shake of her head. “It’s just like her… doing these things so my sisters and I wouldn’t have to deal with it later. Nana always thought of everything.”
“She sounds like a smart woman,” I add, not knowing what else to say.
Lanie’s slow smile makes me wonder what else she’s thinking.
On a nod, she agrees. “Yeah. She was.” Her grandma must’ve been one hell of a lady.
“So…” I draw out, wondering where she’s at with the project. “Are you good with me continuing the job?”
Cocking her head to the side, she places her hand on her hip and stares up at me. “Are you gonna keep waking me up at the ass-crack of dawn with that hideous tool each day?”
“I’ve only got so many hours of daylight,” I pointedly remind her.
“In my defense, you scared the crap out of me. Here I was in a dreamless and peaceful sleep on my first official day of summer… and suddenly I thought you were coming through the walls.” She cringes and my heart sinks when I realize I’ve totally traumatized her.
“I seriously thought you were the Texas Chainsaw Massacre or something.”
“Please tell me you didn’t watch those movies as a kid.” I cringe remembering my cousin forcing me to watch scary movies with him.
Shaking her head, she laughs. “No… not as a kid. A freshman in college… and that was scary enough. My roommate went away and I didn’t sleep the entire weekend.”
Yeah, I’m not ready to relive that particular movie either, though she doesn’t need to know that bit of information.
“But back to the subject. This is my first day of summer and there’s no way in hell I want another morning like this.”
“Okay, how about this…” I start with a compromise.
“I’ll promise not to start any machinery until eight if you don’t mind I’m here earlier to prep things.
I’ll stay out of your hair the best I can, but I can’t make any promises that I won't inconvenience you. There are only so many sunny days in Seaside without rain. I need to take advantage of them while I can.” Then I glance at the overhang above me and realize not everything is under my control, so I quickly amend, “However, when we get to the roof, it will entirely depend on when the re st of the crew is available. Though we should knock that out in a couple of days if we get everyone on it.”
“Now that I know you’re coming, I won’t be as traumatized,” she admits.
A phone rings from inside the house, but before she rushes off to get it, I grab her attention once more, “And, Melanie… you can leave your killer coat hanger in the closet. I promise I don’t mean you any harm.”
For a moment she just closes her eyes and lets out a heavy breath.
When her phone rings again, she quickly shakes her head and rushes away without a word.