Page 28 of Call It Home

Every trailer looked the same, other than a sign on the door identifying its purpose. Mac followed me up the stairs of the one markedMeeting Room 2,and we stepped into a basic room with round tables and chairs. Several people were already gathered, including Myles and Mitch, who were talking to another couple.

“Oh, good. We’re all here.” Kennedy clapped her hands. “If everyone would please take a seat, we can get started.”

Once we were all seated, Kennedy stepped to the front of the room. “Welcome everyone. I can’t tell you how excited we at HRTV and Grandview Lodge and Resort are to have you here. Let me go around and introduce you to the other teams.

“First up, from Los Angeles, we have the brother and sister team of Roy and Alli Benson of Roy-Al Designs. Several of their designs have catered to some of Hollywood’s elite.” Alli squealed as she stood and blew kisses and waved to everyone using her long-nailed fingers. Her tan was in stark contrast to her platinum blonde hair full of beach waves. Her brother didn’t bother standing, just offered a short wave.

“Not sure how long the royal princess will last in these conditions,” Mac muttered, making me chuckle. I wondered how hands on she was, as well, but I’d been underestimated myself enough times to know appearances could be deceptive. If she and her brother made the cut to get this far, they couldn’t be discounted.

“From Oklahoma City, we have a husband and wife team, Presley and Jeremy Gentry of Gentry Remodels. Their team has received several awards for their stunning designs, which combine art and functionality.”

“Hey, everyone. We’re glad to be here and look forward to getting to know you all better,” Presley said with a smile as her husband lifted his cowboy hat and tipped his head. “Howdy.”

Already, I liked their calm and friendly attitude.

“Third, from Boston, we have Double M Construction featuring Myles Norwood and Mitch Pickens. Their designs have been featured in several design and architectural magazines.”

“Greetings all,” Mitch said, his wide smile showing off perfect teeth. He held both hands out and bobbed his head. “Just go ahead and get comfortable with the name Pickens as the winning name for the house.” He laughed as he high-fived Myles, then executed a curtsy and resumed his seat.

“And where would that be?” I called out, already enjoying his good-natured spirit of competitiveness. “Back in Boston? Because it won’t be the winning name for any of these houses.”

Everyone else hooted. Mitch slapped his leg and bent over, laughing before wagging his finger at me.

“And finally,” Kennedy continued once everyone settled back down. “Sterling Construction of Sterling Mill, Tennessee, has been a family run business for several generations. It is headed by Cameron Allen, who graduated at the top of her class and has grown up alongside construction and design. Her partner, Mac Caldwell, has been building homes since his teens and has a keen eye for craftsmanship.”

I waved to everyone while Mac offered a two-fingered salute.

“Top of your class, huh?” he leaned over and whispered. “Guess you’ve always been a little competitive.”

His musky scent teased my senses with his nearness. I was going to have to get a grip if I didn’t want to be constantly distracted by it. Maybe once we started working, his sweat would cover it up. But then my imagination pictured him working with his shirt off, muscles flexing as he hammered two-by-fours into place.

I shook my head. Maybe I should have brought Will. He was more than old enough to be my father and happily married with another grandchild on the way. He wouldn’t have provoked the images in my head. Fortunately, Kennedy’s continuation broke my thoughts.

“We know this is going to be our best season yet. But it’s also going to be different than what you were perhaps expecting. This season, you’ll be renovating not personal homes, but rentals. It will also be our biggest budget yet.”

An aerial picture flashed on a screen behind her, featuring four houses, all the same style, with a large copse of trees separating them for privacy. “Now, for a little about the homes. The resort will call them cottages, but the word doesn’t describe the image that usually comes to mind. These are 3,500 square feet, four bedroom, three and a half bathroom private retreats.”

She paused for all the gasps in the room, including mine. This was a far bigger project than what I had imagined. We’d only gotten the gist of what we’d be working on, not the specifics.

All the other couples had their heads bent together, whispering, probably already talking about what ideas they wanted to implement. Only Mac seemed to be unimpressed.

I stared at him while he silently stared at the photos circulating on the screen. If he didn’t have any excitement about this project, it was going to be hard to pull it off. I needed him to be more than just a workhorse.

Sure, I could design everything by myself, but I needed him to give me honest feedback and bounce back ideas and point out potential problems. I glanced around at the other teams, wondering if they had the advantage because they’d worked together before as a team.

“What’s going on in your head, boss lady?”

Mac’s amused eyes had shifted to me.

“I’m anxious to get started. And all of them are putting their heads together, literally, but you seem like you don’t care,” I whispered back.

“I care. I care plenty. But sometimes, darlin’, you need a poker face.”

“You play poker, big guy?”

“Yep. And I play to win. This isn’t any different. Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.”

I stared into his green eyes. They held mine with ease, and I felt the tension melt from my shoulders. It was the first time I’d ever looked so closely into his eyes. And as we held each other’s gazes, his started to grow more intense, especially when they focused on my lips. I darted my tongue out to wet them without a thought, and his eyes narrowed even more.

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