A Good Party Can Kill You by Hickey Cynthia

Author:Hickey, Cynthia [Hickey, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Winged Publications
Published: 2015-11-26T08:00:00+00:00

13

The next morning, I placed a call to Caldwell Construction, specifically asking that Hank Caldwell be the one who gives me the estimate. I was promised he would arrive within the hour.

Now, I stood in the attic, slash Angela’s apartment, and envisioned the tirade when she found out she would have to share a room with Cherokee until the renovations were complete. They’d hear her screams in New York City. I’d had minor renovations done a few months ago, but if this was going to be mine and Matt’s retreat, there was a lot more work to be done.

I shrugged. If she didn’t like the accommodations, she could move.

Where was my mocha drink? Maryann promised to have it in my hand well before Caldwell arrived. I was sure I would need the fortitude before knowing how much the renovations were going to cost me. Still, I was happy that Matt was willing to live with my crazy family.

“I’m sorry.” Maryann thundered up the attic stairs. “The contractor is here early and wandering around the outside of the house.” She thrust my drink into my hand.

“Most likely chalking up additional things wrong with my house.” I took a sip and rushed down the stairs and outside.

A burly man in his mid-to late fifties walked the perimeter of my house making notes on a clipboard while Sadie barked from the kitchen window. The man turned. “That dog will have to be locked up before we can start work.”

“She isn’t vicious. I’m Stormi Nelson, can I help you?”

He nodded. “Hank Caldwell. You asked for renovations. I’ve been making a list.”

“I want the attic renovated, not the rest of the house.”

“Oh. My bad. Would you like to show me the area?”

I studied the three-day growth of beard on his square face, the beady eyes and slight paunch. Looks notwithstanding, I didn’t think I liked the man. It was nothing more than a feeling, but I wasn’t usually too far off the mark. I’d show him the attic, get some referrals, and let him know I had Dixon’s files before actually signing on the dotted line. Maybe I’d have Matt meet him. I didn’t want any shenanigans just because I was a woman. “Follow me.”

I led him through the house, hiding a grin around the straw of my drink as he made a wide berth around a growling Sadie. It wasn’t like my big furry girl to be so antagonistic. “She doesn’t like you.”

“Most dogs don’t. It’s weird.”

Hmm. Dogs were usually a great judge of character. “Maryann, would you mind coming to the attic with us?” I poked my head into my office as we passed. I decided to trust my dog’s instincts and not be alone with the man.

She joined us immediately and the three of us tromped up the stairs I’d had built when Angela moved in. “I want a nice handrail on these stairs,” I said. “I want them to look as if they’ve always been here.” In the attic, I led him around the mess and piles of clothes.

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