Wrapped in You (The Monroes 1)

The last two nights, thanks to the yipping pups, he’d lost even more sleep and had used the time to jot down the main concepts for what he felt Macy would be looking for in a new home. Once he ran those by her, he could start doing a mock-up on the rough sketch.

Stifling a yawn, Zach had no idea how to get sleep. There was no way he could put the dogs outside. He’d not been much of an animal person, simply because the opportunity hadn’t presented itself, but he never liked seeing dogs tied up outside. He never quite understood why people owned a pet they were just going to hook on a chain and toss food to a few times a day.

So outside was out. But how did he sleep, and how the hell did he train them to sleep or at least keep quiet at night? It was like those little things never shut up. If one was asleep, the others were playing and barking. One of them was always awake. No wonder the poor mom just lay around. The poor dog probably just wanted to be ready for a moment’s peace if the opportunity ever came.

Tying up the sack, Zach hauled it into the kitchen and set it by the back door with the other sack he’d filled only an hour ago.

Something scooted against the floor upstairs. Zach froze, listening for the sound again. After a moment of utter silence, and questioning if he’d actually heard anything at all, he shrugged. Old houses always made odd sounds.

He cracked his knuckles as he moved down the hall, the familiar puckered skin on the backs of his hands always a reminder of his carelessness.

When his cell vibrated in his pocket, he pulled it out and eyed the screen before answering.

“What’s up, Nathan?”

“I know you’re working and I hate to interrupt, but your neighbor called again.”

Zach withheld a groan as he stopped in the hallway and cringed as he tipped his head back and eyed the ceiling. “And what’s wrong with her house this time? I swear on my life, before that house sold it was solid. I helped build the damn thing myself just seven years ago.”

Nathan chuckled. “It seems the faucet in her master tub is leaking.”

Bullshit. “Did you go check it out?”

“I offered, but she asked if we could both come over,” Nathan said slowly. “That woman is bold. I told her we were busy and I’d have to call her back. What the hell, man?”

Zach gripped his phone and headed back toward the bathroom. “Call her back. Let her know that we’re too busy to spare both of us. Keep it professional, because that woman reads into everything. If she needs the pipes looked at, tell her she should call a plumber. I hate to turn away business, but we both know that’s not why she’s calling.”

Zach had worked too hard to maintain the company’s reputation for high standards, which his father had established in the community and surrounding areas. No way in hell was he going to let it get tarnished because of some divorcée with an itch to scratch.

Yeah, he was a guy and appreciated an attractive woman. But what he didn’t appreciate was a blatant woman, a woman who had no class, and a woman who felt it was okay to disrupt his working hours. He had actual clients, and she was getting to the point of pissing him off.

“I’ll let her know,” Nathan stated. “I’m over at the Butchers’ place now. We’re nearly done shingling the garage and we’ll start on the house tomorrow.”

“Great. You’re too busy to check out a leaking faucet.”

Laughing, Nathan replied, “Got it. Let me know if you need any help out there.”

Zach glanced around the nearly gutted bathroom. “I’ve got it covered. Thanks, man.”

Sliding the phone back into his pocket, Zach started looking around the room. He had the layout of the plans in his head, and he also knew a portion of one of the walls had to go. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was late afternoon and he’d yet to have lunch. Where the hell was Braxton? He’d promised to be there and so far he was a no-show.

Zach sent off a quick text, telling his brother to stop by somewhere and bring some lunch and get his ass in gear so they could get this wall out. Time was not on their side, because Zach wanted t

o get this place done, get it open, and start seeing a return.

Yes, he knew all of that would take time, years most likely, which was all the more reason he didn’t want to wait any longer than he had to.

Braxton replied he was already on his way, he’d stop to get Zach’s food and to “chill the hell out.”

Might as well get the tools ready, because once lunch was devoured, the wall was coming down. The bathroom needed to be expanded, and the wall he’d wanted to remove wasn’t a load-bearing wall, which would make the new design absolutely perfect.

Zach knew he’d have to sink every spare dime into this place, but it would be worth it in the end. He wished Chelsea were here to see it, to guide him and Braxton through the process, but all he could do was honor her wishes per her notes and binders.

And Sophie. Sophie was the thread that would tie this all up in a nice, neat package, because she knew design, she knew Chelsea’s tastes in such things, and Sophie was the only woman in on this entire renovation.

Zach would swear Chelsea was looking down on him, laughing her ass off. He would get this done, it would be spectacular, and women from all over would come to enjoy a getaway and just relax. The draw from Savannah would get them started, and he hoped like hell word of mouth spread like wildfire.

Now all he had to do was finish fixing up this massive home, the two small cottages, learn about facials and cucumber sandwiches or some other ridiculous things women ate to stay thin, and watch the money roll in.