“But if he calls youkiddoagain, I might accidentally file his change orders in the shredder.”
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. “That would be very unprofessional and could cost us the account.”
“Then he might meet the rough end of my cast.”
“Connor!” She wasn’t sure if she was appalled or flattered. “You can’t punch the client liaison!”
“Maybe he’ll accidentally fall in the drainage trench.”
She laughed, turning back to her screens, but mostly because she felt a soft flush rise and she did not want him to see her blush.
“What are you going to do to your dental patients if you don’t like them?” she asked. “Accidental root canal?”
“It wasn’t a matter of not liking him—and I didn’t—it was the condescension in his tone.”
“He’s a guy in construction.” She shrugged. “He’ll figure it out eventually.”
“Still, he’s lucky to work with you.”
The flush deepened and she looked down, hoping some hair covered her face. “Thanks,” she managed.
“Also, for the record, Bayside Mechanical is not on our approved vendor list, so can I at least make life difficult for him?”
Smiling, she ventured a look at him. “No. You’re only here to makemylifeeasier, but, again, thanks for the support.”
Connor shrugged with his good shoulder, sliding a folder into place and grabbing another as he stood to return to the endless filing. “Suit yourself. But ol’ Vance better watch his step.”
Meredith studied him from the back—which was as maddeningly attractive as the front. In fact, his hair was even sexier over the collar of his shirt.
She stared and sighed.
Never in a million years did she expect her biggest challenge in her lofty new job to be a swoony dental student with his one good hand and a secret knight-in-shining-armor complex. Never.
But here they were and she’d just have to power through and not let him distract her.
“Dum dum dum daaaa!”
Kate’s terrible rendition of the famous opening notes of Beethoven’sFifthwas almost as funny as Atlas, who was on his back in a portable bassinet, waving his arms and legs. Yes, he did look like a four-month-old orchestra conductor, and he didn’t mind the bad melody.
It made the baby boy smile and every time he did, it was like the sun shone a little brighter.
Eli stretched in the chaise, enjoying the family moment immensely, especially since Emma had come out to the deck to join them. She seemed a little more relaxed, stretched out on the sofa, laughing at the baby. Not merely the polite exhale she’d been offering since she arrived, but a real laugh that made her sound seventeen and unguarded and exactly like her mother.
It had been a good day. Kate took over baby duty for a few hours, so Eli could go to a few meetings at Lakeside until noon. He came home to relieve Kate and spent the afternoon with her while Atlas napped.
Then the baby woke up and demanded an audience, which they happily became.
Jonah was due back from school any minute, though “any minute” had stretched into “significantly past any minute” and Eli was trying not to check the time again.
His phone buzzed. Not Jonah—Dusty.
Dusty:Hey, can you do me a favor? Check the bilge pump on the GTG? We’ve had a lot of rain, and I want to make sure she’s not taking on water. Tessa will kill me if that boat sinks. We’re up to our eyeballs finalizing the adoption process for Olive.
TheGood Time Girlwas Tessa’s pride and joy—a twenty-nine-foot Sea Ray cabin cruiser that she’d scored from a client and now shared with the whole family.
On it,he texted back and pushed up, reluctant to leave but always willing to help a friend.
“Do you mind if I run over to the marina?” he asked. “Dusty needs me to check on the boat.”