All Jacked Up (Rough Riders #8)(54)

“Don’t ask how it’s goin’, ’cause I’ll tell ya right now, it ain’t goin’ well, cuz. Not at all,” Chet said.


A knot formed in her belly. “What happened?”


Remy took a long pull off his water before answering. “Nothin’, that’s the problem. Before we can get to the actual remodeling part you’ve contracted us for, we have to tear down all the ruined materials and haul them out. That’s what’s taking the bulk of time you’ve allotted. Jack ain’t happy about that.”


“Why not? That’s part of the process, isn’t it?”


“Yes. And no. We worked all damn day clearing out the lathe and plaster in the first room upstairs.


One room. Out of all these rooms.”


“And we weren’t slacking either,” Chet added.


Her confused gaze moved between them. “I don’t understand.”


“I know you don’t, sweetheart. But the truth is, you need to hire a demolition team to come in here and get it ready for us to start. We’ve done our best to work around it, but the truth is…”


Chet and Remy exchanged a look.


“The truth is what?”


“The truth is: that’s not their job, Keely.”


She whirled around and faced Jack. “What?”


“They’ve been busting ass hoping it’d get easier, but it hasn’t. Neither the work nor the fact they should’ve told you from the start that teardown wasn’t configured in the contract.”


Keely stared at her cousins with total mortification. “Is that true?”


Remy blushed. “Yeah. It’s true. We didn’t want you to feel bad. You’re family and we wanna help you. Like Jack said, we thought we might be able to do the teardown easy, but we can’t. And now we’ve fallen behind, not only on Jack’s timetable for this project, but on our other construction projects.”


Not only was she f*cking up her own project with her ignorance, but Jack’s, as well as those West Construction had committed to. Keely had the overwhelming urge to hide her face in shame.


Buck up. This is what big girls do. Own up to their mistakes and make amends.


“I appreciate you guys finally telling me. I hate to think how much longer this might’ve gone on if Jack hadn’t forced the issue.” She attempted a smile. “Since we’re being upfront with each other, I’ll need timesheets for you both for the last week so I can pay you for the teardown you’ve already done.”


Chet protested. “Keely. That’s not necessary.”


“It is. You work hard. I won’t screw you out of money because you’re too nice of guys. It ain’t your fault I’m just your clueless little cousin, okay? I can pay you.”


Another silent communication passed between the brothers. Remy said, “All right. We’ll have the paperwork filled out and here tomorrow.”


“Thank you. You guys know any companies I could hire to come in and finish the teardown? So you can get started on your end?”


“I know of one outfit from Meeteetsee, but last I heard they were starting a project in Livingston, Montana.”


“And they ain’t cheap,” Remy pointed out.


“How much money we talkin’?”


Chet shrugged. “I’m guessing…about fifty, sixty.”


“Fifty or sixty what?” Keely asked.


“Fifty or sixty thousand dollars. I believe that’s a low number, even for around these parts,” Jack inserted.



Keely’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. Holy shit. That amount would eat a huge chunk of her budget for the first year. But if she didn’t get it done…the clinic couldn’t open. As it looked right now this dream of hers was nothing more than a pipedream. Her eyes burned hot with unshed tears.


Bawling wouldn’t solve a damn thing. She needed to think this through. Like she should’ve done from the beginning. It embarrassed her she’d gone off half-cocked, believing she had the construction portion of the project under control.


“We’ll help in whatever way we can, Keely, you know that,” Remy said quietly.


“I do know that.” She looked at her watch. “I also know I’m late for my babysitting gig with Colby and Channing’s hellions. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”


Jack didn’t chase Keely down because she needed time to process her mistake. Later tonight they could discuss solutions like rational adults. He pointed to Chet’s cooler. “Got anything stronger than water?”


“Sure.” He pulled out a bottle of Coors Light. “Here.”


“Thanks.” Jack cracked the top, tempted to drain it in one swallow.


“So can me and Remy ask you something, Jack, without you getting all pissed off at us?”


“Give it a shot, but no guarantees.”


“How come you didn’t tell Keely she needed to budget separately for teardown? Especially since you were helping her figure out what it’d take to get this place up to snuff?”