Crystal Clear by Pam Mantovani

Author:Pam Mantovani
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pam Mantovani

Buoyed by Annette’s enthusiastic agreement to her idea of an open house, Jill walked toward her office. In the near distance, the mechanical hiss of a paint compressor indicated Cole was already busy. The open house idea she’d proposed was going to compound her work, but there would be benefits as well. Benefits to Shepherd Designs as much as to her own reputation.

Jordan Faraway’s file folder in her hand took the edge off some of her excitement, but she ignored the hammering at her temple. Immediately, she regretted the analogy for it brought back the image of Jordan tapping in nails on a set of shelves. Along with Michael looking masculine and wildly sexy in ripped jeans and a plain white T-shirt.

She diverted her path toward the construction area. It was another test, she decided. There was no way Cole could have missed the tension between her and Michael yesterday.

“Good morning.”

Cole’s brows and lips were scrunched in a scowl when he turned around from where he’d been marking measurements on the wall of the room that would be her office. The director’s office, Jill corrected even as a sense of possession stole over her.

“You finished quite a bit yesterday.”

“Would have finished more if Michael hadn’t been so stubborn about the layout of the storage cabinets in the supply room.”

Cole reached for the takeout cup sitting on a sawhorse, uncapped the plastic top, and blew at the rising stream of steam. Also, on the sawhorse was a scrunched-up paper wrapper from a fast-food breakfast. Jill walked around the room, stepping over boards, plaster, and nails.

“Be careful,” Cole warned.

“I usually am.” She took in the new drywall, puzzled over what he intended the space to be. She didn’t recall this indentation from the plans she’d approved.

“Makes it worse that Michael was right.”

“Is he often right?” she asked.

“More so than not.” Cole considered her a moment longer. “About a good many things.”

“Like keeping secrets?”

“Like protecting people who are important to him.”

She shifted to stare at the hole in the wall that would be a wide window overlooking the playground. The smell of paint was strong, both offensive in its strength and yet pleasing in the newness.

“That’s a handy rationalization for always getting your way.”

“You strike me as the kind of woman who can hold her own against anyone trying to bully you into something you don’t want.”

“A compliment doesn’t excuse behavior,” she fired back, although his words soothed something inside of her.

“I never said it did. But you can’t expect to receive what you’re not willing to give.”

It was, Jill decided an hour later as she stirred a sugar cube into her tea, a valid argument. Even if the secrets she kept impacted only her. And her memories.

Her gaze drifted to Jordan’s folder, and then to the door adjoining Michael’s office. She thought it ironic he had no clue as to just how well she understood the impact abandonment could have on a child.

He might understand, some tiny voice in her inner ear whispered, if you told him.

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