Page 8 of Promise Me This Christmas
“That might have been discussed.But we didn’t put it in writing, and I thought they understood that the project I’m working on now has to take priority.”
Larkin clenched her jaw.What a jerk.He had definitely assured her parents the work would be done by Christmas.“There is a very sweet elderly woman who was counting on you to make it safe for her to return to her own home.All she needs are some safety bars and a zero-clearance shower.”
“I’ll do the work.It’s just going to take a bit longer.Three weeks.Four weeks at the latest.”
His time estimates were getting worse and worse.And what would happen when the four weeks were gone, and the work still wasn’t done?This man had no credibility.“You aren’t living up to your side of the arrangement.We’d like our deposit back.”
“Hang on.Do you know how hard it is to find someone to do a small project like yours?Just give me a few weeks.I’ll get it done.”
“What’s a few weeks?Two, three, four?”
“It will be what it will be.But I will get the work done.”
“That’s not good enough.We want our money back.By Monday.”A hint of devilment made her add, “Tuesday at the latest.”
The line went dead.He must have hung up.Larkin shook her head, trying to think how she was going to explain this to her grandmother.She’d be so disappointed.
“You got contractor problems?”
She turned to see Carson.Why wasn’t she surprised?He closed the French door and came within a few feet of her.Instinctively she stepped back.He’d always been taller than her by at least six inches, but he’d broadened and strengthened into a man who could seem intimidating up close.Not that she was afraid of Carson.It just seemed smart to keep some space between them.
“My parents hired this company to fix up Gran’s house so she could continue to live there.Just some relatively minor modifications.”
“Zero-barrier shower, safety bars,” Carson said.“I heard.”
Larkin crossed her arms over her chest.She didn’t want to tell him her family’s problems.But it seemed overly dramatic to run out of the room without answering him.“Yeah, well, the work was supposed to be done by Christmas.Now the contractor’s telling me it won’t be done until the new year.If then.”
“I could do the work for you.”
Up until then, she’d been avoiding eye contact.Now she stared into those dark blue eyes.The color reminded her of a new pair of jeans, never been washed.“Why?Why would you offer to do that?Are you some kind of contractor now?”
“I’m a rancher.You know that.”
“Then why fix Amy’s appliances?Why offer to renovate my grandmother’s house?”
“A lot has happened since you left Montana, girl.If you have a minute, I’ll fill you in.”
Did she have a minute?She had several.But though she wasn’t sure it was smart to be alone with him, she nodded.“Go ahead.”
He smiled.“Well then.How about we sit?”
*
Carson looked atthe sofa by the fireplace.It would make a cozy spot for a chat.But Larkin dropped into one of the armchairs by the window.Keeping her distance.That figured.He took the other armchair and leaned forward, trying to meet her gaze.
Finally he was getting a chance to talk to her.He’d never guessed it would be this hard, that she held so much, well, enmity toward him.He wanted to find out why.Eventually he would.Right now he’d count it a win if they could talk for ten minutes without her bolting.
She’d been cute and pretty when he’d known her nine years ago.Now she was a true beauty with smooth, flawless skin, mysterious dark-brown eyes, and sun-kissed auburn hair.Her smile, which had once lit up his life, was still lovely, but he hadn’t seen much of it so far.
She raised her dark eyebrows.A signal for him to start talking.
“Turns out my father had a daughter he never knew about.”
She looked at him in shock.“But your parents…they always seemed so close.”
“It happened before he met my mom.Dad was in his early twenties when he had what he called a ‘summer romance’ with a young woman from New York.My dad didn’t realize she was pregnant when she left to go home.Hell, she probably didn’t know either.This was back in the days before email and cell phones.He never heard from her again, and she sure as hell never told him about the baby.”
“Wow.That’s quite the story.But why…?”
