Page 61 of My One and Only

Don nodded. “Just wondering if you’ve heard from any of Jo’s friends. We need to get more workers on those houses.”

“Yeah, we do,” Cam said, loosening his grip on his chair now that they were discussing business. “I’ll talk to her today. See what she knows. As soon as I have solid information, I’ll pass it along.”

Don smiled. “Thanks, partner. I appreciate it.”

Don turned around and exited Cam’s office, closing the door with a quiet snick as Cam stared after him. Why the emphasis on partner? What was going on in Don’s head?

A minute later, Jo took off her headphones. “What did Don say that got you worked up?”

Cam sucked in a breath. Blew it out. “He was just being Don. A pain in the ass.”

Jo frowned at him. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say something negative about Don.”

Cam thought about his complicated, guilt-laden relationship with Don. Because Don’s parents had abandoned him, Cam always tried to give Don the benefit of the doubt. And Don told him he’d saved him from that attack in the park.

So he swallowed and shook his head. “I love that guy like a brother. But even brothers get on each other’s nerves sometimes.”

“Too true,” Jo said with an easy smile. “My brothers and I used to fight all the time.” She laughed. “I even punched Will in the nose once. Made a huge mess. Blood everywhere. My mom made me clean it up.

“I still get into occasional battles with my brothers, but not very often anymore. We don’t see each other often enough. By the time there’s friction, I’m usually on my way home.”

Cam wasn’t going to tell Jo what Don had said about her staying at his place. What was the point? She wasn’t going to leave, and maybe it was good that Don and everyone else just thought Jo was sleeping with him. After the way she’d handled the intruder last night, he was confident she’d protect him and Fiona. And it was better that no one knew she was actually his bodyguard. Anyone else who came after him would be surprised as hell at how good Jo was at her job.

“So what did Don want, other than harassing you about me?”

His anger at Don had made him forget what Don had actually wanted. “He was wondering if you’ve heard from any more of your former associates. We really need to get some people working on our houses.”

“Actually, I’ve heard from five more. That’s nine total. I sent out sixteen emails, so we might hear from even more.”

“Could you give me their phone numbers? I’d like to talk to them before I give their information to Don.”

Jo frowned. “Don won’t think you’re stepping on his toes?”

“I don’t think so, and he’d be a fool if he did. He’s got a lot of work to do, trying to hire people to replace the ones we fired. I think he’d be grateful that we saved him a step.”

“Okay.” She pulled up a screen on her computer and looked at his desk. “What’s your printer name? I’ll send this document right to your printer for you.”

“It’s an Epson. Should be the only one that shows up.”

Jo’s fingers flew over her keyboard, and several seconds later, his printer clicked to life. After a minute, it spit out a piece of paper with a list of names, email addresses, phone numbers and what their skills were.

“Thanks, Jo. I’ll start calling them.”

He talked to each of the nine people and explained what PK Builders did, where they were located, and described the apartments he’d fashioned for his workers the year before. Of the nine people, there were two couples, so they’d only need seven apartments. That left five more, in case they found more possibilities.

Finallly, after talking to the last one, he hung up the phone and turned to Jo. When he caught her eye, he motioned for her to take off her headphones.

“I talked to all of them,” he told her. “They all want to come. There’re two couples, and we have a few apartments that are bigger, so that will work out well. I’m gonna give these names to Don and have him call. He can discuss when they can start, their salaries, the housing situation, although I mentioned it to all of them.”

He tilted his head and studied Jo. Had he been able to hide his fury with Don’s comment from her? He hoped so. “You’re saving our asses here. You know that, right? With these nine people, we’re almost at full staffing. And if a few more of your friends are interested, we could get another crew going.” A smile crept across his face as he studied her. “Thank God you came to visit your mother and looked at her house. And I say that both professionally and personally. I’m really glad you’re here, Jo.”

“I am, too, Cam.” Her voice was soft, and so was her smile. “This wasn’t what I expected when I came to visit my mom. But I’m so happy we reconnected. And that I can use my skills to protect you and Fiona.”

She looked at her watch, then looked at him and grinned. “Lunch time!”she said. “Instead of eating in your office, I think we should go out. I’m sure we can find a restaurant near a pharmacy. Kill two birds with one stone.”

“I like the way you think. Let me take these names down to Don and have him start calling. I’m gonna ask him to get your friends here ASAP.”

“Good.” She leaned toward him. “When they arrive, I think we should take them out to lunch or dinner in small groups. Explain what I’ve seen and what you’ve found. They can be nine sets of eyes and ears on the job, watching for problems, and I’m certain none of them would agree to use inferior parts in houses they built.”

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