Page 21 of Second Chances
Chapter 12
"Wait. I don't knowwhat I'm doing."
"I'll help you. For today, just go in there and check with the head contractor to ensure that the plumbing and heating guys will be there this week."
"That's it?" Megan's hand was on the door handle, but she had yet to pull it open.
"That's it. They just need to see a face on site. My assistant has been doing everything remotely, and it's taking forever to get anything done."
Timber started to claw at the window. "Go, Meg. You can do this."
I can do this, Megan thought as she nodded her head and hopped out into the cold air.
"Take the dog with you," Charlotte shouted and tossed the braided rope leash out the door.
Megan clipped the carabiner onto his collar and the two of them walked through the gate onto the job site.
Megan pulled the makeshift plywood door open and stepped into a swirling sea of sawdust and activity. Her heart leaped into her throat when she saw a man wearing canvas pants and plaid insulated jacket step out of the back. Then she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"How did you know I was here?" the voice came from behind her and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned and even through the clear safety glasses, she felt his crystal blue eyes piercing through her body. She looked Josh up and down, and then glanced back at the other workers and wondered if there was an onsite uniform. The only difference between the three was the color of the plaid checks on their jackets. The mystery men in the back were in green and blue, and Josh was in red, the same color as his hat.
"I-I-I didn't know you were here actually," she stammered, gripping onto the leather folio and Timber's leash.
"Oh, I thought that this guy might have been giving you a hard time and you tracked me down to return him." Josh smiled and scratched Timber's head.
"No. No, he's been a doll," she gushed.
"A doll, huh." Josh smiled.
Zeesh, doll, you're in your forties, not your eighties, she chided herself, but then remembered why she was standing in the freezing cold job site. She wasn't there to flirt with the good-looking carpenters, she was there to run the show.
"Josh, who is the lead contractor here?"
"You're looking at him," he pointed to his white hard hat.
"Oh, ok." her voice wavered. "This is my project, and I'd like to know if we are on schedule for the plumbers and electricians."
"You? I've been dealing with Andrew from the developer's office. He didn't tell me someone else was going to be taking over.
Shit. Shit. Shit. He thinks that I'm batshit crazy.
"Feel free to call Andrew if you must. He's my assistant," she felt the lie slip from her tongue easier than it should have. She strode over to the workbench in the middle of the room and brushed the pile of sawdust off with her glove and then set down the folder. "So, where are we with the electrician?"
"Freddie, he's scheduled to come in on Thursday."
"And the plumber?"
"He's going to come in when the heating contractor is finished. No sense in installing all the pipes if they're just going to freeze."
"Good," Megan said. "That makes sense." Of course, that made sense. "And when is that going to happen?"
"He should be here today, but I heard that his son broke his arm at hockey practice."
Megan was confused. "So, can't someone else fill in?"
Josh laughed. "Lady, you're not from a small town, are you?"
"You know that I'm not," Megan said defensively.
