Page 2 of Love Over Time

He swallowed, and a tinge of red touched the apples of his cheeks. Now we were getting somewhere. “It’s just Henry,” he deadpanned, looking behind him toward the blocked-off section with a deep scowl on his face.

Was there something wrong with the hotel?

“Okay. Just Henry. I’m Just Nikki. Nice to meet you.” Maybe a little cute humor would thaw that frozen heart of his. I offered him my hand.

He gave it a quick shake and let it go. Most men normally used this opportunity to get closer or try a cheesy line. Instead, he glared at me.

“What?” I asked.

“Ma’am, please—”

“Stop calling me that.” I stomped my foot. My four-inch heel scraped the concrete to remind me how out of place I was in this town. The sweet act wasn’t working. This whole day wasn’t working. Behind me, the first car rolled away from us, going in the opposite direction I needed to go. “Just let me through.”

He squinted at me as if he couldn’t believe my words. “Look, I’m not being a hard-ass here. A pipe burst just a few hours ago. We still don’t know what kind of damage it did to the foundation.” If his sharp tone was any indication, he was done dealing with me.

I clenched my jaw. Men were, for the most part, more susceptible than this—bat an eyelash, flash a sweet smile, and they’d do anything. Why was it not working on him? “Oh, see, why is he allowed through?” Sounding like a whiny child, I pointed at a truck driving through the barricades. This guy put me on edge, and I didn’t like it. Also, I was running out of tactics.

Henry glanced up toward the scorching sun and blinked once. He cocked his head, raising an eyebrow at me. “He’s one of my guys, and unlike you, he knows what the hell he’s doing. I don’t have time for this, lady.”

“Well, that makes two of us, doesn’t it?”

The sound he made was something between a groan and a huff. In a single stride, he was next to me. He gripped my elbow and pulled me toward my car. “Now unless you want that little Mercedes of yours to be turned to scrap metal, I suggest you follow Russ’s directions out of here and find a different hotel. This entire block is condemned anyway. Why do you think we’re here?”

“Wait, what?” I freed my arm and turned around to face him but instead slammed into his chest. My mouth went dry. That was a really hard chest—and wide. Did I squeeze a little? Maybe. This close, I could see he was definitely taller than six feet. Six four, maybe? I swallowed, ignoring the rush I felt. Sweat ran down my back and made my silk top stick to my skin. Surely, that had nothing to do with him or his warm breath brushing my cheek. What the hell was wrong with me?

“What are you talking about? My hotel iswhat?”

“Yourwhat?” He furrowed his brow and shook his head. “Listen, this entire area is being renovated.” He wrapped his long fingers around mine and peeled my hand off his chest, glaring at it like it was covered in something toxic. Judging by the deep creases on his forehead, he wasn’t interested in me.

Really? I was so off my game today. I blamed it on this town. Nothing good ever came out of this place. He grabbed my elbow again. Half-running after him, I did my best to keep myself from falling flat on my face.

“Please get in your goddamn car and leave.”

“Oh, well, how could I not when you ask so politely?” I sneered at him, climbed in my car, and slammed the door.

He rubbed his temple and turned his attention to the other workers. Just like that, he was done with me. I rammed the palm of my hand on the horn. The loud honk made Henry spin toward me and glare. He pointed at me, saying something to Russ, who grinned before he rushed to my car. Good, someone I could handle.

“I’m sorry, miss, but Henry needs…”

I leaned forward and let my blouse hang a little lower. His mouth fell open as his eyes roamed my face and my cleavage.

“Darling, be a sport and let me through. I’m staying at the Cavalier Hotel. I know it’s just around the corner. Isn’t it?” I bit my bottom lip and let it tremble for good measure. How that sappy act worked on men I’d never know.

“Oh…ok-ka-ay,” he stammered. “Just this once, Miss…um?” His gaze darted from his boss to the barricade. “Wait here just a second. I won’t take long.”

I leaned back on my seat, smiling at Henry’s back, his snug jeans, and that round ass. What was his deal? Maybe blondes weren’t his thing. Not that I cared. Besides, I already had a mark, and he wasn’t it. And even if I didn’t have one, he was definitely not mark material. First of all, he was a construction worker, and most important of all, he didn’t have millions to spare. I was here to help my sister Lisa—not to fool around with a hot-as-all-hell construction guy. I’d promised her, and this time, I couldn’t fail her.

As if he’d felt my eyes on him, he turned around and met my gaze. My heart pounded hard in my ears, making my face warm.Definitely need to stay away from that one.

Russ knocked on the passenger window and gestured for me to go on.

“Thank you,” I said. He shrugged, waving me through, chest out as if he’d done some heroic deed.

“Jesus, Russ,” Henry called out. If his eyes could shoot daggers, they would’ve.

I winked at him as I drove away past the barricades. He stomped after me, but it was too late. I’d won this round. I leaned back on the seat and laughed with a satisfaction I hadn’t felt in years.

Half a mile down, I hung a left on Main Street, and my stomach sank. Every building on the entire block was closed down, windows boarded—just as Henry had said. Bending over the steering wheel, I glanced up. Two streets up the road, a second construction crew had the access barricaded. What the hell had happened here? The place looked like the set of a zombie-apocalypse movie. A burning smell lingered in the air, but there was no evidence of fire. Not that I could see anyway.

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