Chapter Two #2
Ellie resisted the urge to cringe and lifted a shoulder. “Occupational hazard.”
“Do I want to know what you’ve found?” he asked.
Knowing full well he didn’t want a detailed analysis, especially in the middle of his walk-through with Jack, she nodded. “Not bad, considering. Moderate damage that would be expected with the age of the house. Nothing I can’t handle.”
Pablo chuckled and canted his head in Jack’s direction. “Are you two sharing notes? He basically said the same thing.”
It should have been a moment for the two of them to bond—skilled professionals taking on a big project, realistic but undaunted by the scope of work.
Only instead of mirroring her knowing smile, Jack merely looked uncomfortable.
“Two peas in a pod,” Ellie said, since Jack clearly wasn’t going to respond.
Pablo either didn’t pick up on Jack’s body language or didn’t care.
He made a sweeping gesture with the hand not clutching the iPad.
“Ms. Lancaster will be staying in the servant’s quarters for the duration of the project, so you’ll have to give her warning if you need to cut the main power supply. ”
Jack regarded her with a raised brow. “You are?”
“I’m in the process of relocating and this project is out of the way from both my previous home base and where I plan to land.” That sounded more mature than nowhere else to go.
Jack nodded, either unimpressed by or uninterested in her explanation. Or perhaps both. “It’ll only be during the day, I promise. And only a couple of times during the work.”
At least he managed to be considerate. “Thanks.”
“Jack, let’s go to the kitchen to review the timeline and budget. We’ll let you get back to your dust.” Pablo wiggled his fingers in the direction of the closet, making Ellie laugh.
Jack cleared his throat. “It was nice to meet you.”
Ellie looked at Jack, not entirely sure he was talking to her.
But his gaze was fixed intensely on her, leaving no doubt.
Her stomach flipped a couple of times, making it clear she had more interest in his hotness than the fact that he was awkward and possibly even rude.
She swallowed, shoving the flare of attraction to the side. “You, too.”
Satisfied with the pleasantries, Pablo and Jack disappeared, leaving Ellie to her own devices.
She looked down and, sure enough, her jeans and flannel were coated in plaster dust. She hadn’t meant to do more than cut a small hole for an initial assessment.
But as was so often the case, it didn’t take much for her to get carried away.
Fortunately, she had nowhere to be when she left, save the Airbnb she’d booked for the few days before her contract at Hampstead House started.
And the only thing waiting for her there was Emily Dickinson, the black cat who’d shown up on her doorstep two years before and never left.
She spared a moment to lament the sorry state of her social life, then got back to the task at hand.
Though, truthfully, she’d done all she could do for now, and her puttering had more to do with avoiding another run-in with Jack than it did sussing the salvageability of the plaster.
She kept an ear open, noting the sound of voices and Jack’s obvious departure.
“You about done in there?” Pablo called.
“Just wrapping up.” She joined him in the hall.
“And?” He looked at her expectantly.
“And it’s just as I said. There will be spots needing work, but if this wall is anything to go on, they can all be saved.”
He gave her a wry smile. “From the looks of you, I’d have to say you could have fooled me.”
Since oh-so-serious Jack was not there to see, Ellie struck a pose. “Full-body powder is hot right now. You should try it.”
Pablo grimaced. “No, thank you.”
He seemed to be joking back, but she couldn’t be sure. “I promise to keep my messes as contained as possible. I might not look the part at the moment, but I’m a total professional.”
He humored her with a laugh. “I have no doubt.”
Phew. “I think we can do a restoration without breaking the bank.”
“Music to my ears.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m heading out for the night. I feel strange leaving you alone.”
“It’s okay, I’m just about ready myself.” She gathered her things while Pablo hovered. She wanted to ask about Jack but couldn’t find a way to without being obvious about it.
“Though you are going to be living here. I suppose I should get used to it,” Pablo said, clearly oblivious to where her thoughts were.
He had a point. But that would be different. She’d have her things and her own space. And Emily Dickinson. All she had to do was remember she’d decided it wouldn’t be creepy. “I’m a big girl. It’ll be fine.”
They walked out together, and Pablo locked up, but not before handing over a set of keys that would allow her to come and go as she pleased.
Despite his allusion to chivalry, he didn’t waste any time sliding into his BMW and pulling away.
Something told her Jack, for all his reluctance to be friendly, would have waited.
Ellie shook her head before slipping into her own car. She started the engine and cranked the heat, replaying parts of the day while the dusting of snow melted from the windshield. Jack, of course, took center stage. She let her head fall back. Well, this is inconvenient.
It wasn’t the first time she had the hots for someone she worked with.
It likely wouldn’t be the last. Usually, she took it in stride.
Hell, sometimes she even looked forward to it.
Giving her imagination something to do while she spent hour after hour on the fine detail her work required was a must. And given her current lack of a sex life, a little friendly flirtation could be welcome.
There was just one problem. The hottie in question seemed about as interested in talking to her as he might a hole in the wall.
Sure, she probably looked like some kind of plaster urchin when he snuck up on her. Still. How hard was it to make a little friendly conversation?
It sucked extra because, while she couldn’t be entirely sure, she had a sneaking suspicion Jack was trans.
Which meant he had the potential to be legit flirtation material and not just fodder for passing the time.
She sighed again. Maybe he was having a bad day.
Or nervous about meeting Pablo. Maybe he’d warm up.
Or, just maybe, she’d work her charm and wear him down.