Lucky Break (Lucky 3)

She understood and respected the fact he wouldn’t want to discuss it. “I just wanted to tell you…1 believe you’re innocent. Jason, you couldn’t have changed who you are in here.” Unable to help herself, she reached over and placed her hand on his heart. “I just thought you should know.”

At the unexpected touch, his nostrils flared, his pupils dilated and his heart rate kicked up beneath her palm.

Lauren slowly lowered her hand. “So you’re a contractor?” she asked, severing the physical connection.

“It’s what I know best.”

Next to snowboarding.

Years ago he’d told her how he’d gotten into the sport. Once he’d discovered the alternative to skiing, he’d started a snowboarding club at school, arranging trips to Wachusett Mountain an hour away. He raised money for equipment and practice time by working for his uncles in construction. A means to an end, not a passion. If anyone took fashion design away from her, she’d be adrift and miserable. She couldn’t imagine how Jason was getting by.

But he wouldn’t want her pity.

“I’m free to handle your job,” he said, interrupting her thoughts.

But she couldn’t handle the temptation of working side by side with him, day after day for the next few weeks. Heat rushed through her at the thought, which was exactly the reason she couldn’t hire him.

Lauren drew a deep breath. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but we can’t work together.”

He’d be a distraction that would keep her from focusing on the house. And if that weren’t enough of a problem, she didn’t want to spend time with him, get to know him again, grow more attached and face the pain she’d lived through once before. She didn’t want to fall in love with him all over again.

And she certainly didn’t want ties to this town after she was gone.

He raised an eyebrow and shot her a knowing look.

She ignored him. “Can you recommend anyone else?” she asked instead.

“I can.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “But none as good as me.”

She already knew that firsthand. Fire burned her cheeks and she hoped a blush didn’t give her away.

He paused for a good, long time. So long she wondered if he was going to even answer. Finally, he said, “Got a pen and paper?”

She dug through her purse and handed him what he asked for.

He scribbled names and numbers on her small notepad. “There are two other local contractors, one in Perkins, the other one here in Stewart. We refer each other when we’re overbooked.”

“Thanks.”

“Good luck.”

She nodded and reluctantly turned away, surprised and strangely disappointed he’d given in so easily.

CHAPTER FOUR

WHEN LAUREN REJECTED him, Jason’s fighting, competitive spirit returned. When he wanted something, he went after it, and he wanted Lauren Perkins. The woman and the job. She wanted the same thing. He’d seen the disappointment in her eyes when he’d given her those other contractors’ names. She was just too shocked to admit that their chemistry was as strong as ever. Jason intended to make sure they both got what they wanted.

Taking a page from his past, he decided the best way to accomplish his goal was to eliminate the competition. Growing up in a small town had its advantages. So did having uncles still working in subcontracting. Jason had enough contacts and friends in town to call in favors and even return a few to get what he wanted.

His first stop after Burt’s Hardware was a building site where he could find Greg Charlton, head of Charlton Construction, one of the names he’d given to Lauren. Jason had recently outbid Charlton on a job to renovate a large estate home on the edge of town. Their estimates had been close and the client would do well with either company. Though Jason could always use the money the job would bring, some things were more important. A brief meeting, confirmation with the client and a handshake later, and Charlton had taken over the estate home project from Jason’s company, and the other man had agreed to tell Lauren Perkins he was too busy to take on her renovation in the time frame she needed.

Jason returned to his home and office, the renovated barn behind Uncle Hank’s house. The place was perfect for Jason except for the added attraction of Fred, his uncle’s basset hound. The fat, lumbering old dog had gotten used to staying at the barn when Derek lived there with his daughter, Holly. Hank’s one condition for letting Jason move in was that he take over the care and feeding of The Fat Man, as Jason had starte

d calling Fred.

It seemed a small price to pay and Jason had agreed. Then he learned how Fred made his presence known. He’d peed on Jason’s new work boots. And that had been the beginning of their relationship.

Jason settled into the chair behind his desk. He kicked his feet up on top as Fred flopped down beneath, and called contractor number two, Mark Miller. Jason had known Mark since high school and they were now friendly competitors who occasionally had a beer together after work.