Page 21 of Daddy By Design

“I know. Doesn’t fit the muscular, scarred thing he has going on.”

“Scars? You didn’t tell me about scars.”

I tugged at the rip in my skirt, but it was hopeless. “Yeah, he has a really big scar going down his eye, cheek and neck.” I swallowed at the memory of those dark blue eyes blazing down at me as he hovered over me. The scar didn’t repulse me—quite the opposite. “Under his shirt too.”

“And just how did you see under his shirt?” TJ paused at my chair.

“When he tackled me.” I cleared my throat. “We got very close.”

“Mmm. Very interesting. Sure you just want the remodel, cupcake?”

“Even if I was interested—which I am not—he does not like me. In the least.”

“Fine line between love and hate.” TJ gulped from her can as she headed for her office at the back of the room.

I huffed out a breath and turned to Shelby. “And how do you feel about this?”

She continued to tap her nail on the table, then slowly, she packed up the first aid kit. “I have to think about it. Write up a proposal and we’ll all vote on it.”

“Okay. That I can do. After I meet with my property manager at The Heights.”

Shelby winced. “I don’t envy you that one. Gizmo really made a mess of things.”

“He sure did.” I sighed. “First, I have to wash up and change. Can I borrow your black jacket? I don’t want to walk in looking like this.” I held up my bandaged arms.

“Sure. But maybe they would take pity on you in your current condition.”

I laughed. “Okay, well, there is that.”

I was not looking forward to this in the least.

SIX

I pulled out the large broom to get the fine stone particles out of the grass and dumped the last of it into the trash can I was using for the smaller pieces.

My back was aching from all the labor and my eyes were burning from the relentless sun. Even with my UV sunglasses in the darkest tint, it was no match for the sun bouncing off the water. Especially without any cover now that my whole damn porch had fallen down around my ears.

I’d almost taken out Dahlia. Christ, I didn’t even have insurance finalized on this place yet. “Damn fool woman,” I muttered out loud.

And now she wanted to do the remodel. Clearly, I was certifiable for even contemplating it.

She was a walking disaster, but I’d recognized the same light in her eyes that I’d had when I saw this place.

Minus her notions of a damn ghost.

I hauled the bin to the Dumpster and shook it out. I’d need to call the company to do a pickup and probably get a few more Dumpsters if they were going to fill up that damn fast. I shook out the dust and debris from my hair before I headed down to my Airstream. I was in desperate need of a shower and food. My coffee and granola bar had been consumed many hours ago.

I climbed the stairs into my trailer. I’d parked it with a direct view out onto the lake. No one was on this side of Crescent Lake even in this heat. Instead, the more populated parts were closer to town, where they rented boats and watercrafts.

I threw my clothes in the stackable laundry and stepped into the small shower.

Now that Dahlia knew my damn name—and the Universe had put me in the path of a woman who was friends with my sister—I needed to suck it up and go into town. I wanted to check out The Haunt, anyway. I’d read the articles about the opening, and the subsequent fame Macy was attracting for drawing in horror fans.

Supposedly, the food was just as good as the actual restaurant attractions.

I couldn’t deny the swell of pride. Both of us had gone out and done something with ourselves, even with the bullshit in our pasts. Macy had been forced to overcome more than I had. Leaving her alone to deal with our mother at the end hadn’t been fair. I’d had no relationship with my parents since I’d been a teen. Watching my mother make excuses for my old man, no matter how many times he stole the rent money for his drugs, had killed any love for either of them. When he’d stolen the money I’d saved up for a car, that had been the last straw and when she’d covered for him—nope. The last sliver of love had been dusted.

She was no better than he was—except her addiction was Jim Devereaux.

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