Her Backup Boyfriend (Entangled Bliss) (Sorensen Family) (4 page)

Chapter Four

Kate opened the door Wednesday evening, surprised at her nervousness. Almost like she was going out on a date or something, which was completely ridiculous. This was strictly business. She needed someone to help figure out what work had to be done on the house, and Dominic was offering some guidance.

But…he looked good. His too-long hair was wavy and, from the sheen on it, looked wet, like he’d just stepped out of the shower. As if planned, the wind chose that moment to kick up and blow a lock of his hair across his forehead.

Lord, help her.

His dark, tanned skin looked warm and toasty underneath the dark hunter-green T-shirt that clung to his chest. For an agonizing moment, she fought the urge to kiss the small crevice below his neck and inhale the delicious clean scent wafting toward her.

“I don’t know where you want to start,” she said after they offered the preliminary greeting, and she shut the door behind him. “This, of course, is the great room. You can see there’s not really much that needs to be done in here. Before they abandoned ship, the previous owners finished this and the dining room. Oh, and the staircase.” She looked in admiration at the beautiful work someone had done in restoring the old curving staircase and the maple-toned hardwood floors to their original beauty. It had been love at first sight when she’d walked in.

Even after she’d seen the rest of the place.

“The dining room is through there.” She pointed to the closed French doors on the opposite end of the room.

“It’s gorgeous.” His eyes swept the room in obvious appreciation, stopping to touch on her in a way that made her pulse increase.

She quickly turned away, dismissing the possibility his compliment was intended for anything other than the room. She looked around again, as if for the first time, appreciating the contrast of the white wainscoting and white French doors with the rich wood floors. The warm, off-white linen shade of the walls that kept the room feeling large—but still warm and cozy. The surprising amount of sunlight that streamed in from the two large windows that looked out over her front yard, even with the large sycamore tree front and center on her lawn.

The only things missing were the teal silk draperies that sat in a box on the floor.

Dominic ran his hand along the dark walnut wood that framed the century-old fireplace. “Nice work,” he said softly.

For an insane moment Kate wondered what it would feel like to have that same hand on
her
in appreciation. Then quickly blocked it from her mind. She was acting like a lovesick teenager. With his easy smile and swagger, Dominic doubtless had a string of women he dated. Women flashier and more fun than she could be—or wanted to be. Women whose only ambition was making him the center of their universe.
Definitely
not something she wanted to be. “On that note, let me show you the rest of the house.”

…

Dominic followed Kate into the kitchen, quietly admiring her soft scent, the few red tendrils of hair that escaped the band holding most of that hair up off her neck. Her conservative navy suit with a formfitting knee-length skirt was an interesting contrast with the furry red slippers on her feet. He’d noticed the abandoned high heels near the door when he came in. Even without the added height, she was only half a head shorter than him. It wouldn’t be very difficult to lean down and press a soft kiss at the nape of her ne—

He stopped when he finally got a look at her kitchen. Well, if you could call it that. He let out a low whistle. “You’ve definitely got your work cut out for you.”

It wasn’t that the room was a disaster or a flashback to the seventies, with appliances in shades of avocado green or anything. In fact, the previous owners had gotten a fair start on the breakfast nook that overlooked her backyard. But they’d begun dismantling the cupboards, leaving half on the floor and the other half hanging without their fronts when they left. They’d also stripped about a third of the hideous blue-flowered wallpaper from the walls, leaving the rest for the new owner to get around to tackling. At least the kitchen was still usable, even if the oven was circa 1977 and the old fridge not much newer.

“How does the electrical look?” he asked taking a step into the room. “Or the plumbing? Those can be the bigger costs when you buy an old home like this.”

“I had an inspection done when I first looked at the property, and the guy was optimistic in his estimate. I have a copy here.” She headed over to the counter where she picked up a quote from the last contractor and then handed it to Dominic.

Dominic saw the guy had clearly been trying to bilk Kate for everything she was worth as he took in the unreasonably high estimates. Being a single woman with little knowledge of anything home improvement–related probably made her a target for predators like this. He shook his head. “Why don’t you show me the rest of the place?”

Forty-five minutes later, they were back in the kitchen where he was drawing up what he believed was a more than fair bid. Actually, generous might be a better word for it. But he told himself it was because he felt sorry for her. If he didn’t do the work, who knew what some joker might try to con her for? It had nothing to do with the fact he was drawn to the woman. He’d already concluded they would not be the right fit. She was too much like…Melinda.

He slid his bid across the counter to her. “This is what I’d estimate the costs to be, including labor,” he said, pointing to the first number. “And this is what I’d charge you. Keep in mind that I’d be doing this as a freelance job. Working mostly weekends and in the evenings, so it may take a little longer than you’d anticipated. But I could start Saturday.”

She studied it and looked up at him warily. “Why would you do this for me?”

“Glenda would have my hide if I didn’t give you a deal. Plus, there’s the bonus that maybe now you’ll stop trying to run me over whenever I visit my aunt.” She couldn’t repress her smile in time for him to catch it.

“May I ask what your qualifications are? Do you have any references? Other than your aunt.”

He smiled, not at all offended by her question. He’d have been worried if she hadn’t asked. “Been helping my dad with his construction business since I was twelve. Like Glenda said, Sorensen Construction focuses mainly on commercial projects, but there are the odd jobs we’ve taken on in the off-season that, over the years, have given me experience in residential. You could say I’ve developed a special interest in home renovation and restoration. This isn’t my first freelance job, I promise. I can get you the numbers of some of my past clients.”

She nodded and stared down at the sheet. His bid was half the cost of the other one. He could almost hear her thoughts as she weighed in that fact along with the fact he was offering to get started this weekend. Not in another month or in the new year, as would likely be the case with most other contractors as they wrapped up existing projects.

She gave a quick nod, as if coming to a decision. “All right. Deal.”

“Deal it is.” He smiled, the right side of his lip curled a little higher than the other, something he’d been told had a certain charm to it. “Why don’t we start first thing Saturday morning? I’ll pick you up at eight?”

She scrunched up her brows. “Pick me up for what?”

“Thought I could take you to Home Depot. Look at some paint swatches and cabinets to get a feel for what you’re looking for. Maybe even buy a rake or two.”

“I usually spend Saturdays putting in a few hours of work, but…” She sighed. “You make a good point. Okay. It’s a date.” She stopped, a fusion of blood rushing to her face. “I don’t mean
date
date. I just meant—” She paused again when she caught him trying to contain his own smile. He was enjoying her discomfort. More formally, she said, “See you Saturday.”

“See you Saturday, Kate.”

This was going to be an interesting job, to say the least.

…

“Hey, Kate. Have a minute?” her boss asked from her doorway, a smile on his face and a few sheets of paper in his hand.

“Of course. Come in.” She noted the time on the brief she was reading and set her pen down, crossing her hands in front of her.

Tim shut the door and took a seat. Kate tried to fight a rising panic. Usually Tim stood by the door when he had a question or wanted to make a few comments on a brief. Entering into her office for an unscheduled visit
and
closing the door? It was unprecedented.

“Have any plans for the weekend?” he asked easily.

Tim wasn’t here to discuss weekend plans, even if it was Friday. But she’d play along. “I’m going shopping for some things for the house, and then I’ll probably put in a few hours on the McKenna case.”

“Kate, how long have you been with Strauss? Five years?”

Clearly the small talk was over. She nodded. “Five years last June.”

“I’ve been watching your progress with the firm for some time, and I’ve always been impressed. Your work on the Landers settlement last month was exceptional. You’re a great asset to us, and I said as much at the last board meeting.” He paused and studied her carefully. “When I recommended you for junior partner.”

The knot of anxiety tying up her stomach started to loosen, and she felt almost buoyant. This was exactly what she’d been working for since she first walked through those doors. Partner. “Thank you. I sincerely appreciate it—” She stopped when he held his hand up.

“I recommended you. But the decision is still theirs. I’ll be honest with you. Most associates who attain this distinction have a different profile than you, Kate. They’re married. Have a family. A life outside of the firm.”

The knot began tightening again.

“I know what you’re thinking. It’s ridiculous. But keep in mind, an attorney with a vast background of friends and family also tends to have strong roots in the community. They or their spouses are members of the PTA, they’re church or Scout leaders. And with these community connections, these same attorneys can bring in business. A lot of business.” He paused to level those piercing blue eyes on her.

Contacts. Social connections. Family. Did it always come down to that? Instead of plain old hard work and dedication? But she only nodded.

“You’re single, no children, and from what I’ve seen, no visible ties to any outside organization, which in the past when the topic of making you partner was broached has been a point of discussion. Until now.”

She blinked. Until now? What had changed?

Tim actually cracked a smile. “Word is that you’ve recently become involved with someone. Something pretty serious.”

How on earth did this kind of information spread? She said one little word to Michael and suddenly she’s the latest gossip. Typical.

Before she could comment on the truth or fiction of this latest tidbit, Tim continued, “I think that’s great news. You’re not getting any younger and, truthfully, your lack of male companionship has been noted and commented on.” He actually chuckled and Kate had an image of the eight stuffy male attorneys who made up the senior partners, sitting around the conference board trying to determine her sexuality.

“And now with this McKenna case, you’ll have that extra boost to send you over the top. You know, Mark McKenna and his family have been clients since this firm originated. You’d do well to bring your best game. Anyway, I just wanted to share the good news with you.” Tim stood. “Well, I look forward to meeting the guy. He’ll be coming to the fall retreat with you, right?”

She coughed, trying to find her voice. “We’re still working the details out, but I’ll do my best.”

He stared at her. Hard, with a penetrating, laser-like focus. “You do that. Just remember everything I said.”

Kate stared at the open door long after Tim left.

To think. Four years as an undergraduate in the top 10 percent while working full-time to pay the bills. Three years of painstaking, competitive work in law school and two grueling summer clerkships. Five years of burning the midnight oil at the firm to be number one in billable hours among the other associates. But all of that, apparently, wasn’t what might be the clincher to her getting that promotion.

This was the twenty-first century. How could one’s marital status still be so pivotal?

And what would the senior partners say if they discovered she was actually single? Without the impending social connections a marriage and kids and family might bring with it…

She risked losing it all.

Which meant, for the time being, she’d play along. Keep up the pretense that she had some guy devoted to her who might even now be checking out engagement rings. As to the retreat…she’d come up with something. Heck, half of the spouses usually stayed home for some reason or another. She’d be no different. Yes. She could make this work and, in the meantime, win the McKenna case, making it easier for everyone to overlook the tragic news when her “boyfriend” dumped her. Or she dumped him—whichever.

She just needed to buy time.

…

It was like a warehouse. One large, endless warehouse that—she inhaled deeply—smelled funny.

It was also packed. Who knew so many people would have the urgent need to purchase rakes and paint and God knew what else on a brisk Saturday morning when they could be at home enjoying coffee and a good book—or, in her case, a brief?

“You’ll definitely want to have this socket wrench set in your tool box,” Dominic said and dropped the item next to the hammer, drill, picture hanging kit, and a bunch of other items of which she’d already forgotten the names. She liked to think it was just the overwhelming amount of stuff she’d never heard of before that had her mind drawing a blank.