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“It’ll be a few months yet,” he said. “We’ve really just gotten started on your house. Got it framed, is all.” Especially after he’d had the foreman for that project rip out all the studs, all the electrical boxes and all the plumbing. They were basically starting from scratch on that house.

Jo appeared behind Mrs.Finster’s shoulder. She curled her arm around her mother’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for getting the door, Mom. I’ll see you later.”

She stepped around her mother and waited for Cam to walk out before she stepped into the deep twilight of December in Chicago. Jo wore a puffy jacket against the bitter cold, black slacks and leather boots and had a black purse slung over her shoulder. “Hi, Cam,” she said with a hesitant smile. Then she turned to her mother, who was still in the doorway. “I’ll be back when I’m back, Mom.”

She hurried down the stairs, and Cam turned to Jo’s mom. “Good to see you again, Mrs.Finster.”

“You, too, Cam,” she said, smiling.

He felt her gaze on his back all the way to the curb, where he’d parked his truck. He reached to help Jo up to the running board, but once again she climbed up without his help, opened the door and slid onto the seat. He hurried around to the driver’s door and got in. Started the truck and pulled away from the curb. When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw Jo’s mom standing in the doorway, watching them leave.

“Considering how screwed up your mom’s house was, she was very sweet to me,” he said. “You must not have told her how bad it was.”

Jo swiveled to face him. “I told her there were some problems, but I downplayed them. She’s so excited about that house, and I didn’t want to alarm her. Or make her worry. She doesn’t need that kind of stress.” She narrowed her eyes. “And I assured her that I’d keep close watch on its progress. And that I’d scream bloody murder if I found anything else I didn’t like.

“So you’d better make sure everything is fixed perfectly. You’re a businessman. You can take care of yourself. My mom’s a very trusting woman.” Her jaw twitched, as if she’d clenched her teeth. “And she’s thrilled to be doing business with someone I grew up with.”

“I won’t let her down,” he said, but the tightening of her mouth told him she wasn’t ready to believe him. “I’ve had the stuff that was already installed ripped out. We’re starting from scratch, and this time, it’ll be done right.”

Jo shifted in her seat, her gaze assessing. As if she was used to people shining her on. Telling her what they thought she wanted to hear. “Thank you, Cam,” she said after a silence as cold as the Midwest winter. “I appreciate that. But I’ll be checking on the progress of the house regularly.”

“Trust but verify, huh?”

“Exactly,” she said, her voice cool. “This is business. My mom isn’t rich. I’m pretty sure buying this house was a stretch for her. I suspect my brothers helped her with the down payment.” She smiled, and it was as if the sun came out. “We had dinner with Tom and Dave and their families the other night. They said to tell you hello.”

“They’re both married?”

“Yeah, and they each have two kids. Will and Celia live in Geneva and Dave and Kasey live in St.Charles. It was good to see them. I don’t get back to this area very often.”

“Well, say hello back for me,” he said.

“I will.” She studied him for a moment. “You don’t get a pass on the house because I knew you in high school,” she said. “I’ll be watching everything you do.”

A tiny smile curled Cam’s mouth. “Wouldn’t expect less from you, Jo.” He glanced over at her. “Can I hire you to do quality control on my houses?”

“Thanks, but I love my job. Looking forward to getting back to it after my little vacation here.”

“What job is that, Jo? What do you do?”

He felt her gaze on him, studying him as he drove. Finally, at a stop light, he looked over at her. “Your job some big secret?”he asked.

“No,” she said slowly. “But I don’t usually talk about it. I get too many questions. Most of them stupid.”

Cam glanced at her, amused at how serious she sounded. “Are you a rock star? A spy? A movie star?”

“None of the above,” she said. She took a deep breath. Glanced out the window, as if the slushy streets were fascinating. “My job’s not a secret,” she finally said. “But I don’t like to talk about it.”

He shot her a sidelong glance, and she looked… nervous. What kind of job made a person nervous to talk about it?

Finally, she sucked in a deep breath. “I’m in personal protection.”

“What exactly is that?”he asked, his forehead furled.

“I’m a bodyguard.”

Chapter 4

Cam turned to face her, his expression shocked. “You’re abodyguard?”