Page 29 of Charlie Takes a Chance

I smile at both of them because I don’t know what else to do. They’re obviously from around here, so they should know that I wouldn’t be helpful with anything. “I’m Charlie. Are you looking for Max?”

“Nah, we came out to talk to you,” Billy says.

My smile turns a little brittle.What on earth do they want with me?

“We just came from the store. Henry said you’re a contractor.” Billy pushes his cowboy hat back, and now I can see those bushy eyebrows even better.

“Dad.” Zane looks at me as he shakes his head. “Listen, I’m sorry. Dad heard there was a contractor in town and wants tohire you.” He points to the lumber hanging out of Max’s truck. “Obviously you’re busy with other stuff.”

Zane looks to be somewhere around his mid-thirties and is wearing a ball cap instead of a cowboy hat. He’s a good-looking guy, without a doubt. Dark hair curling out from under his hat and matching scruff on his face. “I’m sorry we’re wasting your time.”

“You didn’t even let me tell her what I’d like to hire her to do!” Billy interjects.

“I’m booked until the new year. But I might have some openings after that…” I say it slowly, not wanting to commit myself to something without knowing what it is.

“The new year is only a couple of weeks away. I can wait,” Billy replies with a grin.

“Wait for what?” a voice behind me says.

I jump and spin around, bumping my arm against Max, who snuck up behind me.

Max grasps my elbow and pulls me a little closer to him. Odd.

I glance back at the two men to see if they notice the same strange behavior. Zane is smirking, and Billy seems oblivious. “I want to build that walled-in porch for Dee.”

Max relaxes next to me, dropping my arm. “In that case…”

“And I need someone to finish the renovations on the second house.”

Max clutches my arm again. Zane’s smile falls from his face. “Dad.” His tone is a warning.

“Maybe she’ll like it and want to stay,” Billy says with a grin. He shuffles forward and pulls a card from his back pocket. “You think about it and give me a call. I talked to Alexander, and he said you do good work.”

He passes me the card, touches the brim of his hat, and walks back to the pickup.

Zane nods to Max. “St. James.”

“Madden,” Max replies.

“Sorry about that.” Then he turns and walks back to the truck.

Max and I stand side by side, watching them turn the truck around and drive away. “What was that all about?”

Max snorts. “Rumor has it Billy told Zane he has to be married by summer if he wants to take over the ranch. I think you were just offered the position as his wife.”

“His what?!” I shriek.

Max grins down at me. “What? Not interested in the position?”

I open my mouth to yell at him about what a ridiculous notion it is then realize that he’s teasing me. I snap my jaw closed and pretend to think about it. “Does it come with a house?”

“That’s what they want you to finish building for them.”

“And cows?”

“They’re big into black Angus genetics,” Max confirms.

“Well, he is good looking…” I twirl the card around my fingers as I pretend to think about it. “And I do like cows.”

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