One Door Closes by G.B. Lindsey

Author:G.B. Lindsey [Lindsey, G.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-06-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Jerritson Urban Designs had a modest but attractive waiting room, an office transformed from the lower story of a Victorian on the south end of Main Street. The sign outside had been dwarfed by the advertisement for the employment law firm on the floor above it, but from the décor and quiet atmosphere, Calvin figured word of mouth and old-fashioned customer loyalty covered most of Jerritson’s bills.

For all the dark, shiny woodwork spilling across the ceiling, the room was bright and welcoming, the walls a cool green and the drapes drawn all the way open. The front desk was vacant, a stack of forms to one side and a tidy setup of pens, a multiline telephone, a lamp and other office accoutrements laid out over its surface. The computer screen was dark.

Calvin tapped his fingers atop the counter. There was no bell, just an open door leading to a set of rooms beyond. Offices, maybe a small conference room. Under the large window behind him, three chairs sat side by side, edged by a magazine-covered table. Calvin considered just sitting down and waiting for someone to emerge. The idea of calling out in this silent place felt offensive.

“Hello?” he tried anyway.

Footsteps came quickly from the hall beyond the doorway. Will entered the waiting room and stopped short. “Cal.”

“Hey.”

Will was in clean navy trousers and a button-down, more formal than his norm. The clothing clung to his shoulders and hugged his waist and thighs. The only throwback to his daily grind was the pair of work boots laced firmly on his feet. He looked put-together, almost decadent next to what he usually wore, and it kindled a profound ache in Calvin’s stomach. He felt sweat break at the back of his neck and forced himself not to draw attention by wiping it away. The whole point of this visit was that Will wasn’t...wasn’t supposed to be here, not on the corporate side of things.

“Hey.” Will wasn’t thinner, but he looked it, somehow. The way he held himself, maybe, as if he were just waiting for a chance to sink down and sit. “What can I do for you?”

“Is Mr. Jerritson in? I don’t have an appointment, but if he’s here, I’d just—I’d like to talk to him.”

Will’s mouth bent in such a way that Calvin already knew the answer. “He’s overseeing a big contract out of town. Emergency came up with the foundation and he decided he should see to it personally.”

Calvin felt the hollowness resettle. It was hardly better than the ache. “Is there a number where I can reach him?”

Will studied him, eyes probing with a thoroughness that conflicted with the lack of energy everywhere else. A clock Calvin hadn’t noticed before ticked noisily somewhere in the room. Was Will still not sleeping well? Did he have someone over at night, was that why he was—

“I can give you his cell number,” Will said. “But I was going to call him for you anyway.”

“You were?”

Will nodded haltingly.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.