Very conscious of him watching, she asked, “Is it still tense for you at work?”
“You could say that.” His voice was more clipped than it had been. “I haven’t heard from you. I’ve been hoping that meant you haven’t had any more unpleasant surprises.”
It had been five very long days since he’d rushed to her rescue in the alley.
Now, she used a finger to keep her place and met his eyes. “There haven’t been. But I admit I’ve been extra cautious every time I open a door or find myself alone for a minute.”
Zach frowned. “Are you ever alone here?”
“Of course I am!” she snapped. Okay, overreaction. “The back door is always locked except when we’re accepting deliveries. But my partner and I each go out to homes on a regular basis. Seeing the space allows us to make better recommendations. As time allows, we do the measurements, too, and occasionally even installation. Me more often than Greg,” she added. “I’m not a big fan of installing blinds, although I can do it, but I’m a whiz with wallpaper and I actually enjoy laying tile.”
“Another thing to keep in mind,” he said with a hint of a smile.
“I could be persuaded.” She raised her eyebrows. “Wallpaper, too?”
“Probably not. Isn’t it women who like flowers on the walls?”
“Pinstripes are available.” Tess wrinkled her nose. “There’s such a thing as wallpaper covered with hunters in camo, carrying rifles and dead ducks. And, of course, the requisite Irish setters.”
He laughed. “Sounds perfect for the dining room.”
“Wallpaper is a good way to dress up an otherwise pedestrian bathroom,” she began then made a face. “Sorry. It gets to be a habit. Um...” With an effort she focused again on the card file. When she came to one, she pulled it out and dropped it in the wastebasket beside her desk. Seeing Zach’s silent query, she explained, “He has a no-show problem. Three strikes and you’re out with me.”
“I’m not real patient with that particular character flaw, either.”
Finally she handed him a piece of notepaper on which she’d written ten names and phone numbers as well as specialties.
He scanned them. “Thanks. I’ll make some calls right away. I closed on the house today and I’m hoping to be able to move in before the end of the month.”
“It’s livable?”
His sudden grin took her breath away. “Depends on your standards. I don’t mind sort of camping out for a while.”
“Do you have furniture?” she asked, curious.
“I have some stuff in storage in Portland. I’ll probably send for it. It’s pretty limited, though.” He shrugged. “Bed, recliner, TV. My books and music, some DVDs.”
“Cinder-blocks and boards?” she teased.
His laugh cut grooves in his cheeks. “I’m a little past that stage, but I admit I’ve been rootless. When you know you’re going to move often, acquiring furniture that has to be hauled along with you lacks some appeal.”
Tess really wanted to ask why he chose to remain rootless. It seemed especially odd considering his hobby was turning derelict houses into beautiful homes.
The two of them were virtual strangers, she reminded herself. The fact that he didn’t feel like a stranger could be explained by the shocking experience they’d shared. Followed by another
experience that would have been more traumatic if he hadn’t come the moment she’d called.
As she’d known he would. But...how?
Tess didn’t think she’d been brooding that long, but Zach’s eyes narrowed slightly. His expression had changed, too, becoming guarded.
“Um...” She groped for something to say. “Well, I hope those names are useful. I can probably think of some others if you get desperate.”
“Thank you, Tess.” He rose and stood looking down at her for longer than was comfortable, his thoughts unreadable. “Keep being cautious,” he said at last. “I have a feeling my deadline for reconsidering will be up tomorrow morning when I walk in the door to begin a new workweek.”
That meant that, like her, he had Sundays and Mondays off, Tess assumed.