Page 116 of The Re-Proposal

Instead, she stares at the phone, frozen.

“What are you waiting for?” Joel groans. “It’s almost seven o’clock. If we have to renovate a house overnight, we kind of need to get a move on.”

“Just… give me a second,” Clarissa’s voice is shaky. She’s blowing out sharp breaths through her delectable mouth.

“You’re nervous,” I say.

“I’m thinking of how to phrase this.”

“Just be honest. And be yourself.” I take her hand. “Successful businessowners don’t like it when their money is idle. They want it moving, working, but they’ll only invest in a vision they believe in.”

“I really hate asking for help.”

“You hate it more than you want to help Maggie?”

Her eyes flit to mine. There’s a stroke of frustration.

I’m goading her.

It’s probably not the best path to winning her heart, but it’s what she needs right now.

“You believe in this? You really want to help Maggie?”

“I do,” she whispers.

“Then you have everything you need to make Nova believe in it too.”

She flutters her eyelashes and puts the phone to her ear.

“Hey, Nova. Sorry to bother you so late, but I have an opportunity here I don’t think you’ll want to pass up.” Her eyes, like mesmerizing honey, swing around and meet mine. “Would you like to change someone’s life with me?”

* * *

I driveClarissa home so she can change into more comfortable clothes. Joel and I wait in the car for her.

The kid wanted to go upstairs and was willing to limp all the way up there. Thankfully, Clarissa stopped him in a more polite way than I would have.

Trapped in the car, I contact Vargas. He informs me that Clay left a tail on Hatchen and added extra surveillance to the women’s shelter where Maggie is staying.

“We tapped his phone too,” Vargas says calmly. “The first call Hatchen made was to a friend.”

“A criminal one? Let me guess. He wants revenge on me?”

“He actually wants to talk to a social worker.” Vargas sounds perplexed. “Know anything about that?”

I grit my teeth. The slimy worm couldn’t even wait, could he?

Looks like Ris was right. We need to turn this house into a liveable home overnight or there’s a real possibility that Hatchen will attack his ex-girlfriend where it really matters.

I tell Vargas the plan but, as I’m explaining, I see Joel staring daggers at me through the rear-view mirror.

The kid isn’t blinking.

Realizing that he probably wants to speak, I cut the call with Vargas short. “I’ll need eyes on the blueprint for that house as well as a giant construction crew. Think north of a hundred people.”

“Where can I find that many people this late in the day, Bolton?”

“Just do it.” I end the call and meet Joel’s spear-like gaze. “What?”

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