Page 19 of 40 and (So Over) Fixing It
Wyatt wiped his hand down his face. “I’ll be glad when this stage is over.”
Erin opened her mouth to agree but stopped when Marcy called her name from the podium. “Come on with me, you two.”
With a smile of sympathy for her foreman, Erin turned to follow Marcy through the restaurant.
The Carousel was one of the most beautiful places Erin had ever visited, a marvel of engineering and luxury. As its name implied, the building was a glass-enclosed circle situated directly on a massive lake off the main thoroughfare bisecting Gatlinburg. The inside decor included gold and crystal and a fully decorated carousel horse at the juncture of each floor-to-ceiling glass panel that surrounded the dining room. Tables covered in sterling white tablecloths topped with gleaming silver, cut-crystal glasses, and sparkling gold chargers waited for the delectable food offered by the top-notch kitchen staff. It was the height of decadence, and Erin found herself wondering what Carter and his precocious little boy would think of it. How would it stack up to the luxuries found in New York City? Would Carter find it lacking? Would Thad delight in the luxurious yet playful atmosphere?
Probably.
The table she and Wyatt were escorted to sat near the center of the room, far from the dusk-filled windows. No need to waste those views on non-paying customers, though Erin didn’t think there was a truly bad view in the whole place. The thought of being involved in a second location sent a flutter of excitement through her.
Marcy seated them and returned to her stand. Wyatt whistled low and long. “This place is sure something else, isn’t it?”
“It is,” she agreed. “And we are up to the job of replicating it. Don’t you forget that.”
Wyatt had grown by leaps and bounds in both construction skill and leadership ability since she’d taken him on as a young twenty-five-year-old a decade ago. She didn’t give the position of foreman to just anyone, not when her clients’ wishes were at stake. Wyatt had proven himself time and time again, as he would on this project, she had zero doubt.
He nodded absently, though she could see some concern creeping into his gaze as it roamed the room. No such concern bothered her, and that was the confidence she turned on Jamie Worthington when he stepped up to their table.
“Ms. Jenkins,” the owner of the Carousel said, holding out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to see such a beautiful addition to my restaurant.”
Erin stood and gave the man her hand, willing herself not to blush at the compliment. In his fifties, Jamie Worthington was a big, burly man with the freckled complexion of the true ginger that he was, close-cropped hair and beard gleaming in the golden light of the room. His heavy-set frame should have been intimidating, but the flawless manners that controlled his movements dissipated any concerns a woman might have. Of course, when he bent to kiss the back of her hand, she couldn’t help quirking an eyebrow down at him.
Glancing up, she found her gaze caught by a pair of brilliant blue eyes, narrowed on her from across the room.Carter.She couldn’t quite read his expression from that far away, but something about the look sent a shiver down her spine, a visceral reaction far stronger than anything the kiss on her hand was generating.
Anger? Dislike? It had to be one of the two, not that something else that tingled low in her gut. That was just wrong, considering.
The moment broke when Jamie straightened back to his full height. Erin shook off the strange feeling and forced her attention onto her potential client. “We appreciate you inviting us to talk,” she said, retaking her seat.
At the same time, Wyatt stood, cell phone in hand. “Erin.” His voice was apologetic, and she knew immediately it was Allie on the line.
“Go see if she’s okay,” she said, shooing him from the table. As Wyatt hurried across the room toward a quieter spot, she told Jamie, “His wife is pregnant.”
Jamie’s green eyes softened with understanding. “Always a priority, of course.”
“Of course.” Fingering the stem of her water glass, she got down to business. “You wanted to talk about a new project?”
“Business before pleasure. A woman after my own heart,” he said, signaling a passing waiter. After ordering a drink, he leaned back in his chair, his broad chest no less intimidating for his casual posture. The man’s presence, both physical and psychological, filled the space around him. “I understand you’re in charge of Black Wolf Resort’s construction.”
“I am.” A chance she was grateful to have. She’d never wanted to be a huge construction outfit. Her aim wasn’t so much money as interest. She loved a challenge, she loved making her clients happy, and she loved providing a solid living for the crews who worked for her.
“Surprising for such a small outfit.”
He’d done his research, obviously. Good. He wasn’t wrong either. Projects like this one normally went to much bigger companies.
“My PR firm is effective,” she told him, only half joking. “The mayor of Black Wolf’s Bluff drives a hard bargain.”
“And JD Lane believed her.” Jamie nodded. “When I began looking for a new builder, Lincoln Young told me the story of their new venture. And obviously both Lane’s and Mayor Easton’s belief in you is paying off.”
“I believe it is.”
“My research agrees,” Jamie said.
Before Erin could say more, Wyatt returned to the table. “I apologize for stepping out. My wife…”
Erin let Wyatt tell his story as she felt her phone vibrate in her purse. Jamie was commiserating, ordering Wyatt a drink from the waiter who had returned with the restaurant owner’s desired bourbon, while Erin clicked her screen awake and looked at the waiting text.
Unknown Caller: I need to apologize to you.
