An Astonishing Match by Barbara Dunlop

Author:Barbara Dunlop
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781944925543
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2016-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Kalie couldn’t figure out what had happened.

After speeches and toasts that seemed to take hours, she’d been in Hunter’s arms on the dance floor. They danced a single dance, and he’d switched partners with Hammond.

Hunter and Esmee whirled away, and she was left staring awkwardly at Hammond.

“Kalie,” he greeted very formally.

“Hello, Hammond.”

Without a trace of emotion on his face, he took her into his arms and expertly guided them into the music. “It was very nice of you to come tonight.”

“Hunter invited me.” She realized Hammond had to know that, but there was something about him that made her feel stilted and awkward. She hadn’t a clue what to say.

“I understand you’re renovating a house.”

“You know about that?”

“Hunter told me. How’s it coming along?”

“Slowly but surely.” She was relieved he’d found a topic of conversation. “It’s an older house. There’s more work than I’d expected.”

He gave an obviously practiced smile. “That’s always the way. Vashon Holdings owns quite a number of historical buildings. I could tell you horror stories about the renovations.”

Kalie found herself relaxing ever so slightly. “Plumbing?” she asked.

“And electrical. Not to mention the foundations.”

“We had to tear out my entire porch.”

“Leaks are always an issue. Three years ago, a thunderstorm peeled up the roofing on one of our brownstones. The water got between the walls and leaked its way down.”

“Ouch,” said Kalie.

“Indeed. When the carpenter pulled a wall panel on the first floor, a flood gushed out. Soaked him to the skin, and really ticked off a pair of tabby cats.”

Kalie gave a burst of laughter.

Hammond seemed to relax as well. He smiled at her. “I don’t even want to tell you what it did to the electrical system. That property will be in the red for the next decade.”

“Is that what you do?” she asked him. “You manage properties with your father?”

Hammond nodded. “My dad started with a duplex and worked his way up.”

“But Hunter doesn’t work with you?”

“Hunter goes his own way.”

“You’d think being a builder would be a natural fit.”

“Maybe,” said Hammond. “But Hunter and my dad aren’t a natural fit.”

She thought back to the brief exchange between Hunter and Richard Vashon. “I can see that.”

“I’m sure you haven’t seen anything,” said Hammond. “Put those two in a room together for five minutes and watch the sparks fly.”

She found herself smiling again. “I assume there’s more to it than I can understand.”

“There’s more to it than I can understand, and I’ve watched it firsthand since Hunter was born.”

“But you get along with your dad?”

“I understand him. I’m probably more patient than Hunter.” Hammond’s arms went suddenly stiff.

Had she said something wrong? “What?”

“Damn it.”

She couldn’t help but glance behind her. “What is it?”

He unexpectedly yanked her close. “Keep dancing.”

“Okay.” She lowered her voice. “But what’s going on?”

“I can’t believe she’s here. What is she doing here?”

Worried, Kalie kept dancing as Hammond moved them across the floor.

“I’m looking for my mother,” he told Kalie. “This is going to be a train wreck.”

It hit Kalie like a bolt of lightning.

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