Wise Moves

“I don’t know. Dinner or a movie. We might stay in.”

“You don’t look like the type that would date a fireman.”

“What do you mean?”

“You look like you’d hook up with a lawyer or a doctor. Some guy with enough scratch to take care of you right.”

Carlos had been a doctor. “You make me sound shallow.”

He shook his head. “Not at all. I just know quality, even when it’s hauling out the trash.”

Again, it struck her that he was playing some cat-and-mouse game with her. “Do you have something you want to say to me, Mr. Cambia? I don’t appreciate your observations.”

He shrugged as he moved to the front door, and paused. “I was just making conversation.”

Kristen noted the powerful muscles under the old T-shirt. “You haven’t always been a carpenter.”

“No, I sure have not.”

“What brought you here?”

He flashed a grin. “There’s lots of construction in the northern Virginia area. It’s a good place to earn a living.”

The area was booming. Washington, D.C. residents were building weekend country homes to escape the rat race. “What did you do before you became a carpenter?”

He studied her. “I was in the army. Headed up a recon unit in the Middle East.” He laughed. “But I wasn’t good at it. Kept getting lost and I never was much good at taking orders. I’m good with my hands so figured I’d try carpentry.”

Outside, a car door slammed. Kristen started. On reflex she looked out the side window at the house next door. It was the neighbor—Mrs. McKenzie.

“That your boyfriend?” he said.

“No.”

“Right, he comes at five.”

She changed the subject. “We made great progress today.”

“Sure did.”

An odd silence settled between them and she thought he’d offer her the money he owed her for today’s work. However, he didn’t. There’d been a time when she’d not have given it a second thought. Forty-five dollars was a small fortune now. “About my money…”

“Right.” He carefully set the mug on the receptionist desk and then counted out the money and handed it to her. Their fingers brushed and her body tensed.

She quickly counted it again and shoved it in her pocket. “Thanks.”

He picked up the mug by the handle. “So, I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

“What time?”

“Seven too early? If we can get in a full day, then I’ve got a chance of finishing this job up a couple of days early.”