Built for Love

“It’s going to take more than a few days to renovate this place.” The plaster on the ceiling is cracked and peeling and who knows what kind of disasters are waiting inside the walls? Besides, since Pepper will be moving in with me, I foresee this being the longest renovation I’ve ever done. It might take months instead of weeks or however long until she is convinced that she needs to be in my bed on a permanent basis.

“What all are you planning to do?” she asks. Her tone is suspicious, as if she can read through my façade of helpful handyman to the predator underneath—the one that wants to strip her bare and fuck her raw on that soft mattress right over her shoulder. I wonder what position she likes the best. Then I frown. She should not have any favorite position yet because that would mean another man has touched her. I guess that’s why I’m good with a backhoe. I’ll find him, kill him, and then bury him with my heavy construction equipment.

“If it’s some big secret, don’t tell me,” she says, pushing by me. I grab the laundry basket from her hands and follow her out.

“It’s not. In fact, you can help me if you’d like.”

She stops at the door. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re a designer, so why not help me out?” I warm to this idea. Beck might not like it, as he has a thing for Marist, the on-staff designer for our company, but I don’t see any problem with having two people working for us. Beck’s been wanting to expand the scope of our projects, and if I can rope Pepper into helping me, then Marist can be freed up to do the corporate building that Beck wants. In corporate Beck-speak, I think we’d call that a win-win proposition. I grin widely at my genius. “What do you say? I’ll knock your rent down.”

“By how much?” She’s interested. My smile grows wider. I’d say free, seeing as she won’t be having any rent at all since she’ll be living with me from now on, but I throw out a number that seems reasonable.

“Ten percent.”

She wrinkles her nose.

“In addition to your cut from all the trade goods we purchase through you,” I hastily add. Beck’s not going to like this, but then he moved our headquarters to a new building last year when Marist mentioned she was tired of the commute. And when she struggled carting goods around in her Mini Cooper, he bought her a Mercedes G wagon. Technically the company owns the sports utility vehicle, but only Marist drives it. Then there was the corporate retreat to the Bahamas after Marist saw a flyer about it at the coffee shop. One building is nothing.

“What’s the catch?” Pepper asks.

“Catch?” I’m not following.

“Yeah. These are really favorable terms and you haven’t even seen my portfolio.”

“Pepper, this is your portfolio.” I wave my arm around the apartment. “It’s warm and inviting. Seems to me that this style is what people want these days.”

“Well…” She wants to be convinced and I’m more than happy to do it.

“I get it. You need food. You can’t have a good business deal without food.” I hustle her out the door. “We’ll go have lunch, hammer out the details, and put them all in a contract. You tell me what your walk-away terms are and I’ll present them to my business partner.”

“You have a business partner?” she asks.

“Why the surprise? Don’t you think I’m easygoing and nice to work with?”

“I think you’re high handed and presumptuous,” she retorts. I stick the laundry basket in the backseat of my pickup and open the passenger door for her.

“But I can also be easygoing and nice to work with. You’ll see.” I close the door before she can voice any complaints. As I’m making my way to the driver’s side, I give Beck a call.

“Good news, old man,” I say cheerily into the phone.

“Oh no. Not this I can’t wait to tell you what idea I cooked up tone of voice. How much is this going to cost me?”

“It’s all good, my friend. I’ve got a great plan that might seem scary at first, but once you plunge into the deep end, you’ll immediately recognize how great it is.”

“I’m really worried now.”

“Have I ever steered you wrong?” I pull open the driver’s side and climb in. Pepper raises an eyebrow and I give her a wink in return.

“Yes, many times, but since we’re partners, I guess I’m going to have to live with it.”

“That’s the spirit. But in all seriousness, this plan of mine involves you getting closer to Marist.”

Beck goes silent for a half beat and then, “The checkbook is yours.”

I huff out a laugh. “I knew you would see it my way.” I hang up and turn to Pepper. “My partner is on board and all you have to do is sign.”