Page 33 of The Contractor & the Entrepreneur

She left after only a few minutes. The trek felt like it took longer back to her car to grab a box of cookies. Maybe because there was too much mud on her shoes, or because she hadn’t gained a relationship or broken down barriers at the last site. Or maybe it was from only eating sugar for breakfast two mornings in a row.

The third site was further along in the building process than even Rhett’s house had been. They were closed in and had electricians and plumbers working inside. She had plenty of sugar, chocolate chip, and raisin oatmeal cookies for the men to each take multiple and thank her. Some with shy smiles, some with flirtatious ones. The general was a large and jovial man named Paul Nash. He teased and joked with her about not being a man like they’d all thought, then thanked her over and over again forsweet-talkin’the county and finding the road base guy. He was as friendly and nice as anyone she’d met besides Rhett and Annabeth.

As she almost skipped away from that site and retrieved the box of donuts from the car, she realized Josh Francis was the next site. Her good mood took a hit, especially as the rain increased. Thank heavens for her hat to keep the moisture out of her eyes.

She trudged along the muddy road, slipping and recovering before she went down. Her heart beat faster and faster as she navigated through the mud and the trees and then she was looking at a home that didn’t even have the roof sheeting on. No wonder Josh was grumpy. His men were working in this rain with no covering at all.

She straightened her shoulders, said a prayer to be kind, and stomped up the board that was the front steps. She’d barely entered the archway where a set of double doors needed to beinstalled when a gruff voice said, “We don’t need any sweets here.”

Glancing around, she saw Josh wearing a tool belt, jeans, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap. Men stopped pounding hammers or using nail guns to get a look at her and listen in. Only the drizzly rain filled the silence.

Sloan held his gaze. She didn’t have any words to convince him to give her a chance, but she wouldn’t back down either.

He finally looked around the skeleton of framing and roof trusses and hollered, “Get back to work.”

Hammers and nail guns started up and the generator that was supplying the power kicked on.

Josh took the box from her hands, murmured, “Thanks,” and set it on the ground. He tilted his head. “Let’s talk outside.”

Sloan’s hopes rose. Maybe he wouldn’t just turn her away.

They walked out of the house, across the wide porch, and down the ramp. When they were far enough away his men couldn’t overhear, he turned to her. “Sandy was ticked at me last night.”

Her own brows rose. “For honking your horn?”

He nodded. “And giving Rhett such a hard time when he came to visit us.”

“He came to visit you last night?” she clarified. She waited for the feelings of impatience and annoyance. Rhett going to see his friends was his choice, but trying to fight her battles for her was stepping on her independence. Strangely, all she felt was warmth. Rhett hadn’t tried to ‘be the man’ and step on her toes. He cared deeply and was trying to help her.

“Yeah.” The man studied her, his hazel eyes guarded. “Rhett is one of the best men I’ve ever known. I shouldn’t have given him a hard time.”

She nodded her agreement to both statements.

“The jury’s still out on you.”

Sloan smiled at that. She didn’t mind somebody making her earn their respect. “I apologize for the mistakes I’ve made with this development. I’ll work hard to fix the problems up here that are in my control and hopefully change your opinion about me.”

Josh studied her and then dipped his chin and even smiled slightly. “I appreciate that.” He turned to walk away but glanced back. “If you’re only here to make a load of money, then head back to Vegas. Don’t mess with Rhett’s heart.”

She blinked at him, not sure what to say to that. She had no desire to go back to Vegas. She’d told Rhett last night she’d move on to somewhere similar to this location, but where she didn’t have such a run-through-the-mud name. But if even Josh would give her a chance to make things right and prove she could handle this, maybe she could stay here. The thought made her heart feel light.

“I’m here to stay,” she said confidently. “And Rhett is pursuing me, not the other way around.” She gave him a sassy smile.

He let out a half-laugh. “Men are stupid fools about a pretty new face.”

Her back went ramrod straight. “Mr. Francis, I am a lot more than a pretty face.”

His eyes flashed with respect. He nodded to her. “I think you may be. Tell Rhett I said hi.” Turning, he walked back into the house.

Sloan felt optimistic. Very optimistic. The rain hadn’t let up, but she appreciated her hat and her jacket. She appreciated even more that the contractors were giving her a chance. She’d keep on the county and the road fill and asphalt guys to do their part, and she’d help any way she could.

Sliding through the mud, she unlocked her car and opened the back door, pulling out the last batch from the bakery, avariety of pastries, two dozen in this one. For Rhett and his men. She smiled as she straightened out of the car.

The roar of a motor announced a truck racing down the road through the muck. Sloan squinted through the rain and backed away, not wanting to get splattered as they roared past.

They didn’t roar past. The Chevy truck, dirty with mud but once white, slammed to a stop a few feet from where she stood. Her heart stuttered when she recognized Jaxon and Preston in the cab.

She should’ve jumped into her car and locked the doors. Instead, she dropped the pastries in the mud, turned, and ran toward Rhett’s building site. The truck took up pursuit, racing around her and forcing her to the side of the road. The truck spun and turned sideways in the muddy road. Jaxon leered from the driver’s window.

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