Page 9 of Secret Billionaire

“I guess I’ll have to take your word on that. Show me what ya got.”

“Let’s start outside with the deck and pier,” she said, leading the way.

He squinted in the sun, appraising the space and the potential. “It’s as bad as I remembered it. I suggest a complete tear down. All the planks will have to be replaced as well as the railings. A lot of the boards are rotted.”

“I figured. I’d love to have a mini-bar outside for overflow, would that be reasonable?”

“I’ve got a few ideas. I’ll draw them up for you tonight. Today I’ll get some measurements so I can give you a price point. Sound good to you?”

“Yes.” Faye spun around her arms wide. “I want to have lots of palms and potted plants and colorful flowers and twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling and arbor,” she ticked off her list excitedly.

“Arbor? What arbor?”

“The one you’re going to build for me,” she said, smiling, using every ounce of charm she possessed.

When he smiled back, his eyes were molten pools of brown with golden amber flecks that practically burned a hole straight through her. When he stared at her mouth, her belly felt like she was on the downhill side of a roller coaster. Unconsciously, she touched her lips with her fingertips.

His eyes flickered then he looked away. Pulling the tape measure off his belt he squatted down. He used the pencil that’d been tucked behind his ear to jot down figures on a notepad.

“You want to hold this end for me?” he asked.

“Sure.” She grabbed a hold of the blade he held out.

His white teeth clamped around the pencil as he backed his way to the other end of the deck. Faye practically salivated watching him, his movements agile and sure. The sun glinted off the natural highlights in his hair, his skin already bronzed by the sun. Her gaze wandered over his muscular physique, not an ounce of fat on him. She was daydreaming about whether he normally worked with or without a shirt when he cleared his throat, startling her out of her reverie.

“You can let go of your end now. I got it.”

Her face heated with embarrassment, “Oh sorry, I was thinking about how great this is going to be when its finished.” This lying was getting to be a little too easy.

He winked playfully, “Sure you were.”

She opened her mouth to protest when she was side-tracked by a loud boat cruising up to the dock. She glanced over her shoulder and caught the man on board the craft staring at her. He wore a bandana over his bald head and the white muscle shirt displayed arms that were covered in tattoos. His skin was weather-beaten from a lifetime of too much wind and sun.

“Can I help you? Faye asked.

“This your place?”

“Yes.”

“You haven’t been open too long have ya?” He said, more of a statement than a question.

“Nope, several weeks.”

“Do ya mind if I dock here for a couple of hours? I’ve been using this dock since this place was abandoned. I’m kind of sorry someone bought it. It’s been mighty convenient.”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt this one time.”

His lips twisted, “That’s generous of ya,” he said.

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. In fact, his eyes were dead, she couldn’t see any light in them. A chill went down her spine. Like she’d told Jesse the other night, she was rarely wrong about people.

Jesse had been quiet up until that point, but he stepped in now, “Yeah as a matter of fact, very generous. You docking here for a reason?”

“I’ve got to get some supplies. You got a problem with that?”

“Nope, just asking. Wouldn’t want to see my friend here taken advantage of.”

“I’ll be an hour, tops. After today I’ll make other arrangements.”

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