nice… So, you don’t believe in daycare?”
Rachel shrugged. “I used to work in an office and Charlie was with a nanny. Nine to five, and even longer. I hardly saw him. After a few months, I knew I had to figure out something different. Something that was right for me. I’m all he’s got,” she added.
She wasn’t sure why she’d told him that last part. What did it matter to him if she was single, or not? She usually preferred not to even go there. People had too many prying questions.
He didn’t though, luckily.
He didn’t say anything in reply, but was still staring at her, studying her with that odd, amazed look on his face. It made her feel self-conscious. Maybe she reminded him of somebody?
“By the way, my name is Rachel Reilly.” Rachel set Charlie down in a seat on the counter top between them. Jack watched as she strapped the baby in.
“Jack Sawyer,” he said. “I’m pleased to meet you, Rachel.”
His expression seemed serious again. His dark gaze met hers and held it. Rachel felt something flash between them. Some flash of attraction that went deep, the kind she hadn’t felt in a long time.
The phone rang, calling her back to reality. Rachel looked over at it, but didn’t pick it up. Jack Sawyer had been her only customer this afternoon, but so far, she’d spent little time trying to sell him anything.
“You can pick it up if you like. I’m not in a rush.”
Rachel hesitated a second, then reached for the phone. Jack turned his full attention to Charlie, who had grasped his stuffed dog in two hands and now kicked his feet so hard one of his blue and white striped socks was slipping off.
Rachel picked up the phone, answering it with a smile. “Pretty Baby. May I help you?”
“Miss Reilly? It’s George Nolan. Sorry it took so long to get back to you.”
Rachel’s good mood instantly curdled. “Mr. Nolan, thanks for finally returning my calls,” My many, many calls. “So, what’s going on? Are you going to do the roof or not?”
Rachel could tell from the long silent pause on the other end of the line that the answer was not going to be the one she hoped for. She’d hired George Nolan to put a new roof on the cottage at the back of her property and fix the water damage inside. He’d been due to start the job last week. He’d put her off with a hundred excuses and finally, just stopped answering her phone calls.
“I’m sorry, Miss Reilly. I have to be straight with you,” he began. It’s about time, Rachel thought.
“A big renovation job ahead of yours got backed up and I’m down two men on my crew. I’m not going to get over to your place before, say…three, maybe four weeks.”
“Three or four weeks? That’s impossible. You said the work would done by then.”
“Sorry about that, but it can’t be helped. Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back.”
Rachel gave out a long frustrated sigh. It was annoying enough to be totally dissed by her contractor. Then to be put on hold while he weaseled out of the job seemed too much to bear.
But he was a man, what could you expect? Even the seemingly nice ones couldn’t be trusted. That’s the lesson she’d learned.
Charlie would be different. She’d make sure of it. He’d be the one man in a million a woman could trust and depend on. She gave him a loving glance as he squealed and tossed his dog. Rachel moved to pick it up, but Jack was faster. He quickly retrieved the stuffed animal, carefully brushed if off with his large hand and gently offered it to the baby again.
Charlie grabbed it and Jack sat back with a big silly grin.
“Great reflexes. You’re going to be some athlete. A pitcher or maybe a full back?” Jack’s deep soft tone was both admiring and serious.
Charlie stared at Jack, then tossed the dog again, this time even harder. Jack tilted his head back and laughed. He picked up the toy once more and gave it back to Charlie.
“He’ll make you do that all day if you don’t watch out,” Rachel warned.
Jack looked up at her, smiling. “I don’t mind. He’s got a great arm. You’ll have to get him into Little League right away.”
Rachel laughed. “Absolutely. I think he has to learn walk first though. I don’t think he can try out if he has to crawl around the bases.”
Jack Sawyer smiled briefly but didn’t reply. Rachel hadn’t meant to be sarcastic, but it was typical of a guy to make that sort of comment. Men were so competitive. Always trying to force boys into sports. She wouldn’t be like that with Charlie. He’d only play sports if he wanted to. It didn’t matter to her one way or the other.
“Miss Reilly? You still there?” George Nolan came back on the line.
“I’m still here, Mr. Nolan.”
“I’m sorry about this delay. But it can’t be helped. If you can find another outfit to do the job for you, I won’t hold you to our agreement. Believe me.”
“But Mr. Nolan, can’t you fit the work in somehow between the other—”
“I’m sorry. Got to run. There’s a lot going on here.” Rachel heard lots of hammering and sawing in the background. Still, she doubted George Nolan was desperately needed by his work crew. The noise level did give him an easy out, though.
There was clearly nothing she could do. She promised to let him know if she still wanted him to do the work and said goodbye. Then she angrily hung up with phone, slamming it into the cradle.
She turned to her customer, still playing toss the dog with Charlie.
He glanced up at her, his dark eyes sympathetic and she knew he had overheard every word. “Bad news?”
Rachel shook her head. She hesitated answering him. It didn’t seem professional to tell this customer her whole life story. What did he care about her contractor problems?
But his expression was so sympathetic and the look in his brown eyes willed her to just…vent.
“Yes, it was bad news. I hired a contractor to work on the cottage behind this house. It needs a new roof and there’s water damage that needs repair. He was supposed to start last week and kept putting me off. Now he tells me he’s backed up with another project and can’t start for another month. I don’t know if I can even find anyone now to do it before the winter. And he did have the lowest price. I really need to rent that space out. It’s part of my plan.”
“Your plan?”
“I was counting on the income to cover some expenses when I bought this place. Just until I get some momentum with the store.”
“Oh, I see.” Jack nodded with a thoughtful expression. “And where do you and Charlie live, upstairs?”
“That’s right. There’s an apartment on the upper floors.” Rachel
