Page 29 of Unbearable
“Can you make this into a private lounge? A mancave, if you will.”
“Maybe. Let me take a look around, and I’ll let you know.” Fox moved around the room taking measurements and checking specification requirements to convert the room. Edmund followed on his heels.
“Most mancaves are in basements or garages,” Fox continued. “You have good clearance up here. It’s going to depend on the insulation and if permits will allow. Do you want us to add this to the current project bid or as an addendum?”
“You can add it. I’m certainly not paying for it,” Edmund answered. He took a step closer to Fox, so they were almost touching. “I mean, it will be mine someday. There’s no telling what I can get up to up here.” His hand grazed down Fox’s arm so slightly, he wondered if it was simply his imagination for a moment.
“Okay. I need to get back to the office so I can start on the work.” He turned back to the steps and climbed down quickly. He found Heidi anxiously pacing the hallway.
“You had me worried,” she whispered.
“You weren’t the only one,” he agreed. They quieted as Edmund joined them. Fox followed Heidi down to the main floor where they found Mrs. Anderson. After thanking her, they leftthrough the front door. Edmund followed them out the door, preventing Fox from saying anything more.
Fox took his copy of the plans from Heidi and climbed in his truck. As he turned the corner at the end of the block, he glanced in his rearview mirror. Edmund still watched with a smile on his face.
He decided instead of driving straight back to the office, he would check on one of the other sites since he wasn’t far. The boss wouldn’t get around to crunching the numbers for this job until later in the week anyway. There was no reason to hurry back. He wove through town and circled the area several times before he found parking down the street.
Flipping open his notebook, he started to review what progress he could expect when he toured the building site. It was a full remodel on an old office building. A group of attorneys had bought it and wanted it turned into a multi-use building.
It was old enough to require a refit of all electrical and plumbing, not to mention bringing the bathrooms up to code. He had assigned one of the better foremen to the project, though, so he wasn’t worried.
He jumped at the tap on his window. Looking up, he found soft brown eyes looking back at him. He quickly rolled the window down.
“Hey, I thought this was your truck,” Bailey said.
“What are you doing here?”
“I had a doctor’s appointment across the street. I noticed you parked here when I came out. Have you had lunch yet? There’s a cute little diner around the corner.”
“No. Lunch sounds good.” He rolled back up the window and opened his door. She took a step back to let him out. “Is everything okay? With the doctor?”
“Yeah, just my yearly physical,” she answered.
“Sorry, it’s none of my business.” He motioned for her to lead the way.
“It’s fine. Nothing to report.”
“You would report though if something was wrong, right?” Her gaze met his as she waited at the crosswalk. He could feel the warmth in his cheeks. “I mean if you needed help or anything.” A smile stretched across her lips. “You can just ask if you do. Please tell me to stop talking.”
She laughed and placed her hand on his forearm. “I like when you talk. Also, thank you.” She removed her hand, and he had to fight not to pull it back to where it had rested. Everywhere she touched, he could feel his skin tingle. He knew he couldn’t cross that line, but he wanted to rip it to shreds and march across it.
“This is it,” she continued when they stopped in front of a quintessential Boston diner. It had a bar in a U-shape in the middle of the room with booths around the outside. He was willing to wager they made a hell of a breakfast omelet. He’d keep that in mind next time he was up here. Bailey weaved through the room until she found an empty booth in the back.
“What’s good here?” It was like a repeat performance of the last time they had lunch.
“I’ve only eaten here once before. I don’t remember what I had, but I remember it was good. I think you’re safe with whatever you choose.”
She dipped her head to study the menu while he studied her. She had dressed up for the doctor. A floral print dress with a V-neck accentuated her assets perfectly. For a moment, he found himself jealous of the doctor.
“So, this doctor. He an old guy?”
She looked up from the menu with a smile. “He’s happily married with kids and grandkids,” she answered. “Why?”
“Just making conversation.”
“Conversation, huh?”
“Yeah, might be in the market for a new doctor.”