On the Rocks (Last Call #1)(9)

“How about showing me what you got?” I gently prompt her, and she moves quickly into professional action.

Handing me a binder, she directs me to open to the first page and then she walks me through her proposal. I’m stunned right off the bat to see that she’s done something that none of the other contractors did. She actually questioned the architect’s plans that I had drawn up, pointing out some areas that she felt could be improved with a few design changes. Amazingly enough, even with the changes, her proposal is significantly lower in cost than the next lowest bid I received.

“This looks really impressive,” I tell her sincerely. “But I’m not quite sure how you can do it for such a low amount.”

I don’t mean to sound skeptical, but frankly… it doesn’t seem possible to me. I’m relieved that she doesn’t take offense to this but actually gives me a confident smile. “That’s easy… I’m going to be doing a lot of the carpentry work myself rather than sub it out.”

“And you can do all of that in the proposed timeline you gave me?”

I see a small kernel of doubt filter across her face, but then it’s gone. She nods and says, “I promise I’ll keep to schedule. I mean… I’ll be doing some of the work after hours, and I won’t interfere with the running of your business. But yeah… I can meet the deadlines.”

I glance back through the entire bid again, making sure I don’t have any other questions. It’s professionally done, and I’m truly impressed. I am a little bit leery of her taking on the carpentry work herself, not because I doubt her talents. I’ve seen enough of Gabby’s work over the years, including a custom-built china cabinet she made for my parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, that I know she can deliver a good product. I’m worried about her being able to do this all on her own, within the time frame specified.

“Gabby… are you positive this isn’t too much? I’m not saying I accept your bid, but if I did… I could work with you on the timeline.”

I watch with dismay as Gabby’s full lips flatten, a sure sign she’s not happy with me questioning her abilities. Her eyes narrow, and her voice is icy. “Did you pose that same question… make that same offer, to the men that submitted bids to you? I can assure you the fact I don’t have a dick swinging between my legs won’t hinder my abilities.”

Holding both hands up, I say, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up there just a minute. I wasn’t questioning your abilities, and I most definitely appreciate the fact that you don’t have a dick swinging between your legs. It would have made that kiss we shared a little awkward. I was just making sure, is all. As your prospective employer, I’m allowed to have these concerns.”

Rather than being chastised as I thought she would be, she seems to get even angrier. Standing up from her seat, she slaps her hands on my desk and leans toward me. “Don’t. Ever. Mention. That. Kiss. Again.”

Holy shit, she’s pissed. And God, she’s utterly f*cking gorgeous with her eyes flashing at me like that, and I cannot help that my eyes stray down to her breasts, which are pulling against the material of her thin t-shirt as she bends over my desk. She doesn’t miss my look, and I actually hear her growl.

I let my gaze travel up slowly to meet hers, and those hazel eyes are practically green with rage. I can’t help the lazy smile that takes over my face. “Listen Gabs… if I accept your bid, you’re going to have to curb that temper of yours. We’ll have to work together, and honestly… it’s a bit depressing having you so pissed all the time.”

I had thought a gentle reminder that we are still here to talk about a job that she desperately wants would cool her off, but she gets even madder. “Fuck you, Hunter. I don’t need your f*cking job.”

She reaches over, snatches the binder back, and spins toward the door. I’m utterly stunned by her reaction, but it only takes me a second to yell out, “What the f*ck, Gabby?”

It doesn’t stop her though, and she wrenches the door open with such force that it slams against the wall and rattles some of my surfing pictures that are hanging there. She doesn’t miss a beat and stalks out of my office. I hear her call out a goodbye to Brody, and then I hear the front door slam as she leaves.

I think about going after her… grabbing her and making her listen to me. But I’m afraid if I do… if I put my hands on her, they are going to want to keep touching every part of her.

And I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.

Walking slowly out to the bar, trying to think how to salvage this, I’m brought up short by Brody growling at me. “What the f*ck did you do to her?”

My head snaps up, and I look at him in amazement. This is the most emotion I’ve seen from him in years, and while it’s white-hot anger directed at me, it makes me deliriously happy to know that he has feeling inside of him.

I shoot him a huge smile. “I didn’t do anything to her. She’s just a little prickly right now, but she’ll be fine.”

Brody must accept my word as true because the anger on his face melts away, then I’m met with the bland look that I’ve come to recognize as Brody surviving in a post-prison world.

God… what I wouldn’t give to have my brother just give me one smile.

Just one tiny f*cking smile.