The Day He Let Go

Chapter 3

“How do you feel about dogs?” he asked, keeping himself between her and the rest of the yard.

“I love dogs,” Lauren said, trying not to admire this man quite so much. But he clearly spent time in a gym—and the yard, if the work gloves were any indication—and he had beautiful brown hair and a pair of eyes to match.

He wore a T-shirt that strained across his chest and biceps, and while Lauren had known who Trent was the moment he’d called, it was clear he didn’t know who she was.

Or even that she was a she. It was a common mistake, what with her last name being a common first name for men. Still, it had an S on it, but somehow people overlooked that a lot.

was sheHer cousin Cat would love hearing this story, but Lauren determined she wouldn’t text her to tell it. She could keep her humiliation a secret just this one time, even if it would make Cat laugh.

“So I have four German shepherds back here,” he said as he finally started walking into the yard. “They’re police dogs, and they only respond to me. They shouldn’t even approach you. And you can’t approach them until I say.” He cast her a quick glance that held kindness and apprehension, along with the power and authority in his voice. “Okay?”

“Sounds great,” Lauren said, following him and wondering if she could ask him out again. Did she really want to get her heart sliced again by this man?

He doesn’t remember, she told herself, but she honestly wasn’t sure if that was better or not. Before, his wife had just passed away, and Lauren hadn’t known that. No wonder Trent Baker had no recollection of her first, flubbed attempt to get a date with him.

He doesn’t rememberShe waited near the back door, which had a few steps leading down to the yard and he definitely needed more for this stunning space. From the dwarf apple trees to the lavender growing along the house, to the grape vines to the stunning hawthorns on the far side of the yard—where the dogs waited—Trent definitely needed a deck to enjoy all of his hard work.

Trent kept walking and he spoke to the dogs in low tones so that Lauren couldn’t tell what he was saying. He finally turned and gestured for her to come on over. She did, glad when only one of the shepherds came with him as he approached her. She liked dogs, sure, but maybe not four sixty-pounders at the same time.

“This is Wilson,” Trent said, and he yipped at the dog before it came trotting forward to greet Lauren.

Wilson sniffed and she crouched down to give the dog a healthy pat around his jowls and ears. “Oh, you’re just a big softie, aren’t you? I bet your dad lets you sleep on the bed and everything.” She grinned up at Trent, stunned again by his good looks.

So maybe she’d been glad she hadn’t run into him in three years, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t try again. Did it? He was single, she knew that. Not really into dating, from what she’d heard.

But she wasn’t in the gossip circles much and could only rely on what she heard from Gillian, her best friend, and Brooklynn, her cousin. And Gillian had a long-time boyfriend and didn’t know as much as she used to. Other than her, Lauren spent all of her time with men, and they certainly didn’t know the last time Trent had gone out with someone.

One by one, each dog came over and got some love from Lauren, and she caught Trent looking at her with a strange glint in his eye. She couldn’t interpret it before she cleared her throat and got back to business.

“So, tell me about this deck.” She turned to survey the open area at the back of the house. “How big are you thinking?” She pulled her tape measure from her tool belt and flicked it out.

She was the best general contractor in town, but she didn’t work nearly as much as some of the other companies. She didn’t want to think it was because of her gender, but she couldn"t think of any other reason.

Trent detailed the kind of paradise he wanted, and Lauren could see it come to life in her mind.

She used her tablet and the expensive construction software she’d bought to draw up some quick plans as he took the dogs inside to get them a fresh bowl of water.

Twenty minutes later, Lauren felt confident she could tap “generate” and her tablet would give her a timeline as well as a quote for this dreamy man she really wanted to work with.

She didn’t need to ask him out today if she could land this job. And the truth was, she needed another big project once she finished up the wing at Magleby Mansion.

“So where are we at?” he asked, coming down the steps and exhaling heavily. “My son will be done with school soon, and I have to go pick him up.”

Lauren’s chest squeezed on the word son, but she didn’t let it show. “I can email this to you.” She raised her eyebrows in a silent question.

sonHe joined her at her side, the scent of his skin hitting her like a heavenly punch of cologne and sweat. She kept the swoon under control, but his voice rumbled through her when he said, “I have time. Let me see it.” He peered at her tablet, and Lauren reminded herself to get the job done.

“Okay.” She cleared her throat, wishing he didn’t make her so nervous. Maybe if she’d gone out with anyone whose name she could remember in the past three years, her heart wouldn’t be hammering quite so hard right now.

She detailed the project, the hawthorn wood she’d use to mirror the trees, the swing, the benches, the place for the permanent umbrella to be secured so the bay winds wouldn’t disrupt his backyard barbecues.

“And what does this cost?” he asked, taking a step back. “It’s beautiful. Exactly what I want. I just…” He gave a chuckle that sounded nervous. “I’m on a budget.”

“Of course,” Lauren said. “We can do three payments. One-third up front. One in the middle. And one at the end once you’re one-hundred-percent satisfied with my work.”

Their eyes met, and Lauren wasn’t sure if she was hallucinating or not, but she felt a quick spark of attraction between them. Fine, it was more like a lightning bolt.

Could he feel it too?

The seconds stretched, and she finally shook herself out of the depths of his eyes. “Here’s the price and timeline.” She tapped the button and the drawings changed to the quote. She handed him the tablet and stepped back. “I have to finish my great-aunt’s place first, so I’m not available until probably the end of October.”

And then she had the Festival of Trees after that. She opened her mouth to say she couldn’t start until the new year when Trent said, “This looks great,” and handed back her tablet. “You’re hired.”

Happiness flowed through Lauren, and not just because she’d gotten another job to keep her in business for another few months. She’d learned to take things day by day, month by month. Doing that, she’d kept Michaels Construction in business for six years.

“Is your great-aunt Mabel Magleby?”

“That’s right.” Lauren tapped a few more buttons and added, “I’ll get this printed. Do you want to stop by my place to sign it? Or I can bring it over here at your convenience.” She was so professional, and while she might want to take Trent to lunch, she also wanted him to recommend her to all of his friends who might need something done, whether it be a bathroom remodel or a new addition to their house.

“I can come to you.” He smiled, and honestly, such an action on such a handsome face should be illegal.

“Great.” Lauren stood there, though she had no reason to stay for another second. And Trent needed to go get his son, but he didn’t move either. Perhaps the lightning had struck him too.

“What’s Mabel doing up there?” he asked.

“A complete renovation of the west wing,” Lauren said, seizing onto an opportunity and hoping she didn’t mess it up. “She’s having a big party for the reopening. You should come.” She added a smile to her face, thinking her invitation could be interpreted as friendly. Like, Hey, the whole town is invited, so you should come too.

Hey, the whole town is invited, so you should come too.She started for the corner of the house and the fence, but he said, “Lauren?”

Lauren turned back to him. “Yeah?”

“Have we met before?” He tilted his head, those eyes harboring so much intelligence.

Lauren wanted to deny it, but she also really wanted a second chance with him. So she let herself emit a light laugh—not a giggle. A businesswoman such as herself did not giggle—and toss her ponytail over her shoulder.

not“I asked you out once,” she said with a quick one-shoulder shrug. “I didn’t think you remembered that.”

Trent looked like she’d thrown a glass of ice water in his face. “I don’t remember that. When was it?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Three or four years ago.”

Something dark crossed his face, and Lauren took it as her cue to leave. “It was no big deal.” She rounded the corner and had her hand on the latch when he practically yelled her name.

He came around the corner, almost colliding with her. She blinked at him, all the shadows gone from his eyes. She really hoped her invitation to dinner four years ago wouldn’t jeopardize this deck now. She not only needed the job, she really wanted to work on this specific project.

“I’d like to take you up on your offer,” he said. “That is, if you don’t have a boyfriend.” He reached up and rubbed his hand up the back of his neck in the most adorable way.

Lauren’s face burst into a smile. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Trent grinned too. “Great. So I’ll stop by and sign those papers and we’ll chat then. I really am late to get my son.”

“I’ll be at the Mansion most of the day tomorrow, if you want to stop by up there.” Lauren didn’t usually feel so shy—as evidenced by her bold move to ask out the new bachelor in town all those years ago—but somehow, in this small patch of lawn, with Trent, she did.

“I’ll see if I can get up there,” he said. “I’m on duty tomorrow.”

Lauren nodded and forced her slightly shaky legs to get her off his property and back to her office before she blew her second chance with the deliciously handsome Trent Baker.