“I’ve only started the business recently, and don’t want to overextend myself. The company is fully capable of doing other locations. I’d be willing to take a look, but I still don’t see why the personal touch was needed.” Her cheeks flushed with heat as he continued to stare, his gaze tracing her hair. “Not that I mind getting to meet you.”
“It’s for a house I recently inherited, part of the Max thing in a way. It was my Gramma’s home and now that she’s moved into a retirement community, the house passes down to the oldest grandchildren. A cousin, my twin and myself are all twenty-five this year. My cousin travels a lot and already owns condos in a couple cities. Max Junior is recently married, and he and his wife just finished building a house they designed. I’ve got temporary possession of the family homestead to myself.”
Ryan stared at her with his dark mesmerizing eyes. “And…?” She shrugged, blinking in confusion. “There must be more to the story.”
She worried at her bottom lip with her teeth. This was a step she needed to take. She needed to do it for herself and not let her brother, or father, or one of the clan take over like usual. While she loved her family, they were always in each other’s pockets. Now that she finally had a place to call her own, she needed to practice a little more independence. Taking a deep breath for encouragement, she looked Ryan in the eye and spoke firmly. “Two days after I moved in, vandals caused extensive water damage to the walls and floors. I locked up when I left for work in the morning, but someone managed to sneak in and turn on all the taps full blast. By the time I got home it was a mess. Insurance will cover most of the repairs, and fortunately I hadn’t brought over all my possessions. I don’t want it to happen again.”
He leaned forward in his chair. “Kids playing pranks?”
She shook her head. “They got in through a locked door. No broken glass, no open windows. I had changed the exterior locks so it wasn’t a loose key Gramma gave out and forgot. I’m supposed to move back in a couple of weeks but something isn’t sitting right with me. Also, I don’t want to mess up the character of the home while adding the system.”
Max watched him closely as she spoke. His face was hard to read, his expression now guarded. Her family hated the idea she would be living on her own. They hated that she would be out in the country and not sharing an apartment with one of her cousins. Heck, even her aunts and uncles had weighed in with their opinions. The universal agreement amongst the clan was to put the place up for sale.
Maxine couldn’t bear the thought. Not only was the homestead the most beautiful house she’d ever seen, it was full of memories. She needed to keep the home in the family, only there was no way she could live there if she didn’t feel safe.
The fear he would turn her down motivated the whole truth to come blurting out. “I’m nervous about being where I’m not sure I’m safe. This is the first place I’ll live that I’ve been all alone and the idea of a home invasion terrifies me.” She forced herself to speak around the knot in her throat. “I needed to see you in person to decide if I trusted you to arrange this.”
“And you’ve decided already I can be trusted?”
Oh yeah. Everything about him eased her concerns. Made her excited too, although she’d just have to ignore that part if they were going to be business associates. “There are things I… Well, can we just call it woman’s intuition and leave it at that?”
He held out his hands palm up as he winked at her. “I would never presume to argue with woman’s intuition. Let’s check our calendars and arrange a meeting. I’m booked for most of this week, and I’ll need time to drive to Frazer—”
“My house is in Thompson,” she interjected.
The confusion on his face made her smile again. “Why did we meet at the Sugar Shack if you live in Thompson?”
“I’m staying temporarily with my brother and he lives in Frazer. Whenever you’re free I’ll make sure the house is open for your inspection.”
Maxine relaxed back in her chair, her heartbeat slowing to a regular tempo. A good contract for the business and a successful start to making her new home secure. Ryan’s dark eyes stayed on her and she felt a blush rise again. She certainly wasn’t going to object about getting to spend more time in his presence, either. Her gaze caught on the cookies on the table and her stomach grumbled.
Ryan smiled at her, the twinkle in his eyes sending a shiver down her spine as he offered her one of the giant treats. He tapped the edges together in a toast.
“To new beginnings.”
As the spicy flavor filled her mouth, she wondered just exactly what they were starting, because it felt very right.
Chapter Two
Three days later Maxine smiled in admiration as she watched his long strides eat up the distance between his car and her front door. Ryan wore beige cargo pants and a dark brown T-shirt instead of a business suit. His chest and biceps muscles stretched the shirt fabric, and she enjoyed the view as she rose from her deck chair to greet him. “Thanks for coming so soon.”
“You’re not far from where I need to be by three p.m.” Ryan’s gaze swung around and he gave a low whistle. “It’s a beautiful house, and the neighborhood is fantastic. Your grandmother must have been sad to leave.”
“Yes and no.” Maxine led him inside. “Gramma said the work was too much for her to keep up with alone. She’s got a lot of friends in the seniors home and she’ll come to visit often, especially since most of the family gatherings will still be held here.”
Max stepped back and tried to see the house through new eyes but all she saw was the damage. While the hardwood floors had been refinished, the baseboards were still missing and the carpets had yet to be replaced. The usual welcoming first impression was marred by the sight of workers’ tools and piles of rubbish in bins. A gentle touch landed on her arm and she looked up into his sympathetic gaze. “Again, it’s a beautiful home and the repairs will make it as good as new,” Ryan said kindly.
She nodded. “It’s the indignity of it. Old treasures of a house like this should be treated with respect, not deliberately damaged.” She forced a faint smile. “I’m also a tad ticked I didn’t even get to hold a proper housewarming party before having to do fall cleaning. Again.”
His laughter fell soft and smooth on her ears, and a trickle of warmth raced over her body. She had to turn away to avoid staring at him. Memorizing his features.
“May I?” he asked, and when she gestured him forward, he paced carefully through the main-floor rooms, taking notes in a small leather-bound notepad. Maxine wandered behind him, attempting to not stare at his butt, nor admire the ease with which his body moved. The strength in his arms as he cranked open one of the old casement windows, muscles stretching the fabric of his T-shirt, drew her attention.
Eventually she gave up and enjoyed the view. He couldn’t see her ogle him and it was too good an opportunity to miss. Leaning on a wall, her feet resting in a pile of carpet liner, she observed him as he worked. Damn, he was fine. She wasn’t the kind to jump someone’s bones right after meeting them, but in Ryan’s case she’d think about making an exception.
It wasn’t just his good looks. Her conniving ex-boyfriend had been easy on the eyes as well, but his lack of direction had recently made her call their relationship off. She had more trouble convincing Jamie Daultry they were through as a couple than she’d expected from someone her twin had nicknamed Twinkle Toes. Jamie never had a firm answer, always made his decisions at the eleventh hour and expected her to fall in line with his panic-stricken requests. He’d been shocked to hear she was calling it quits.