Christmas Elopement. Anne Eames
Читать онлайн книгу.
Monday morning Peggy peered around the corner and Cash motioned her in.”I’m afraid to ask…Anything?”
Peggy wrinkled her nose and tossed her short blond hair from side to side.”Sorry, boss…but I did as you suggested. Dwayne Flutie is on line two.”
Cash looked at the ceiling and blew out a stream of hot air. The last time he used the guy it had cost the company over twenty grand in finder’s fees. However, he had located a good project manager—one who was still around and was a hell of a worker.”Okay, Peg. Thanks.”
Cash watched her scurry away before he picked up the phone.
Ten minutes later he hung up, stunned by the speed and efficiency with which Flutie had handled him. He had actually agreed to join the guy for dinner at some pub in Carmel. How was it he’d put it?
Oh, yes—”to meet just the woman you need.”
At 7:25 Cash parked his loaner a block past M. M. Day’s and slammed the door. He shook his head at its garish red color and made a mental note to call the garage in the morning. Hopefully the parts were readily available and he’d have his own wheels sometime soon. He strode the short distance to the entrance and found Flutie in a booth by the window. He half stood and held out his hand as Cash slid in across from him.
“Kind of you to join me on such short notice, Cash,” he said over a limp shake, then sat down and got right to business.”I have a résumé here that I’m sure you’ll find very impressive.” He slid it in front of Cash and leaned back, chin high, shoulders too straight.
Cash forced his gaze away from this strange little character to the paper in front of him. He’d read so many résumés the past few weeks that they all looked the same. Skipping the top portion, he went right to the experience section. He was prepared for a nice, neat format, good grammar and no substance. What he saw was fifteen years at a construction company—a woman who had worked her way from the bottom to management in nice steady steps. He even recognized the name of one of her references—a well-respected developer he’d done business with a few years back. As much as he hated to admit it, Flutie might have something here.
“Well, Dwayne,” he said,”when do I get to meet her?”
Carrie flew down the back inside stairway, then stopped at the connecting door. She inhaled and exhaled three deep breaths, then yanked the handle inward. Gus gave her a low whistle as she paused at the bar.
“You look terrific, lass. If your resume hasn’t already sold the guy, how can he resist the prettiest gal in Carmel?”
Carrie emitted a not too convinced chuckle.”I think your opinion is a tad biased, Gus McGee,” she said, as she eyed the front booth. She wished she’d allowed herself extra time to prepare. She felt more tense than usual, and there was also the fact that the only unpacked, unwrinkled outfit was the same one she’d worn last Friday. Adjusting the scarf at her neck, she questioned just how lucky it truly was. It hadn’t worked Friday. Why did she think it would now?
“Your man just got here,” Gus said, cutting into her jitters.”Still time to rescue him before Dwayne puts him to sleep.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll be right over and take your order. Knock him dead, lassie.”
Carrie rolled her eyes and forced a smile.”Thanks, Gus.”
As she approached the corner Dwayne lifted his chin a notch and looked as if he were about to consummate the sale of the century. He may be a little odd, but she liked him. She couldn’t help but smile at him as she neared the booth.
“Carrie, I’m so glad you could join us.”
Carrie turned toward her prospective boss, who stood to greet her.”You!”
“Yes, me,” he said, the contempt in his voice apparent.
All Carrie could do was stare at him.
Dwayne cleared his throat.”Well…it appears we may have a minor problem here.” He rubbed his hands together, then clasped them to his chest.”But surely nothing that can’t be fixed.”
Cunningham glared at her as if looks could kill.”I’m afraid there’s way too much to fix, the least of which is the front end of my car…thanks to this reckless—”
“Your car!” The audacity of the man!”Do you know how long I’ll have to wait for Woodie’s parts?”
“Not as long as you’ll have to wait to get a job at Cunningham Construction.”
Dwayne clapped his hands together twice, loud and sharp, and they both stared at him, stunned into silence.”Now stop it. Both of you. And sit down. You’re acting like children.”
“Here we go,” Gus said, with forced gusto.”Some of California’s finest, on the house.”
Carrie looked at Gus’s desperate-looking smile and knew her freckles had disappeared behind her scarlet cheeks.
“Well…enjoy!” Gus said and raced off.
She braved another peek at Dwayne, who was sharing a stern look between his two mismatched clients as they reluctantly slid into the seats across from him.
“Okay,” he started.”We’re going to begin again.” He took a slow, deliberate sip of Perrier, wiped his mouth with an embroidered handkerchief and then proceeded.
“Carrie Sargent, I’d like you to meet Cash Cunningham. Cash…you may shake her hand and say something polite.”
Carrie turned toward Cash, her hand making the long journey from her lap. When she saw his hand slowly rise to meet hers, she let her gaze travel to his face. She caught a slight quiver at the corners of his mouth, and she lost it. She laughed aloud as she clasped his long, elegant fingers. She watched him struggle a second longer before he gave in to his own amusement. She doubted anyone quite like Dwayne had ever crossed this man’s path. The idea of anyone scolding this…this…His hand was still in hers as he laughed and eyed Dwayne. Damned if Cash Cunningham weren’t one of the most handsome men she’d ever met.
“Now, that’s better,” Dwayne said, and Carrie withdrew her hand quickly.”We’ll just put aside the past and move forward.”
He turned to Carrie first.”Carrie, maybe you would like to explain to Cash why you are no longer employed at S & S Construction. Yes. 1 think that would be a good starting point.” He folded his arms and waited.
Carrie turned in her seat and met Cash’s gaze. Those eyes. She remembered noticing how blue they were before. Distracted, she answered the question.”My father had a stroke last year. He owned the company I worked for so…so…” Damn, but this was difficult. She tried again.”So when someone made a good offer to buy S & S, we sold it and my father retired. The new owners had their own management team…”
Dwayne finished for her.”So here she is, working temporarily for a friend of the family until we find her something suitable.”
Now he turned toward Cash.”Cash, I’d like you to tell Carrie about Cunningham Construction and the position you would like to fill.” As before, he leaned back and folded his arms, fully expecting Cash to comply.
Which he did. Carrie listened carefully, surprised at her sudden interest in the job. As Dwayne had told her earlier, it was everything she wanted. Then why, apart from their disastrous first meeting, was she so apprehensive? Maybe it was his too-good looks. Brian had been handsome, and wealthy, too. Yet something told her that was where the resemblance ended, that Cash Cunningham was nothing like her ex-fiancé. But then, her judgment regarding men left something to be desired.
“There,” Dwayne said, bringing Carrie back to the present.”That wasn’t