Jane's.
"Don't raise your eyebrow like that at me. I know you. You over think everything. And after yesterday's lunch discussion, I can tell you'll think this development to death before it's over."
"How can I not think about it," Claire argued.
"I think that's too much to ask, but try not to think too much. Just enjoy it while it lasts."
While it lasts. Jane was right. It would end eventually. Maybe she should just ignore the voice of reason and go with the flow. Take whatever Ryan offered and enjoy the time they spent together.
*****
Numerous times during the day Ryan pulled his phone from his pocket to check he hadn't missed a call. Of course he hadn't and certainly not from the one person he wanted to hear from. He couldn't believe how much of a schmuck he was being. Claire didn't even have his number. Mentally rolling his eyes at himself, Ryan picked up his hard hat and jammed it on his head. He left the portable office and walked over to where Brett was checking some wiring that had been completed that morning.
"Everything in order?"
"Yeah, that new contractor seems to be working out just fine," Brett said as he stood.
"We lucked out there I think. What's on for the rest of today?" Ryan glanced around the work site. Their men were busy doing their jobs, and the building was finally taking shape.
"Council will be here at three to inspect the wiring. Plumber isn't due back until morning, so if things go quick with the inspection, we could knock off early. Give the guys a bonus for all their long hours."
"Sounds good. We've already pulled overtime on this job, and there'll probably be more before we're done. Are we back on schedule?"
"Yep. One of us can move on to the next project by the end of next week. You want me to stay on this one?" Brett asked.
"Whatever. It makes no difference to me."
"Okay, I'll start the shop refit while you finish up here."
"How many of the men will you take with you?"
"Just one. I plan on doing most of the demolition myself." Brett grinned.
Ryan had to smile. They might both enjoy building things from the ground up, but there was definitely some satisfaction in clearing out the old to make way for the new.
"So you gonna tell me who's got you all starry-eyed and picking up your phone every three seconds?"
Ryan whipped his head back around to stare at his brother.
"Close your mouth, Ryan. You'll catch flies. So did you finally get into the pants of the woman next door?"
He felt his face heat and knew he was blushing. Something he hadn't done since he was a pre-pubescent schoolboy. Ryan turned away, for once in his life he didn't want to brag about his sex life. Not even to his brother.
"Wow. You aren't gonna spill the beans?"
Turning back to Brett, he tried to smile and make the whole thing seem like no big deal even if he felt it was. "Not yet. Didn't get very far, but it looks promising," he lied.
"I bet she's hot in the sack."
Ryan ground his teeth together and clenched his fists. He would not punch his brother in the face for his crude observation, even if it was true. Claire was hot in bed—and in the kitchen—but Brett would never hear that from Ryan's lips, and he certainly wouldn't be finding out on his own.
"Knock it off. There's nothing to tell, and you shouldn't talk about Claire like that."
"Well, well, well. Has little brother gone and fallen for the woman next door?"
"Don't be stupid, Brett." Ryan took a step closer to his brother.
Brett held his hands up. "Wow, calm down. I'm just mucking around."
Ryan relaxed, his fists unclenching. "Sorry, guess I'm a little tired from all the extra hours we've put in with the delay in construction."
"No worries, Ryan. I know how crabby you get when you aren't getting any." Brett grinned and ducked as Ryan threw a punch at him. "Still not quick enough to get me, little brother."
Ryan's stomach shook with the laughter he tried not to let out. His brother always seemed to defuse any fight they had. They'd
"Don't raise your eyebrow like that at me. I know you. You over think everything. And after yesterday's lunch discussion, I can tell you'll think this development to death before it's over."
"How can I not think about it," Claire argued.
"I think that's too much to ask, but try not to think too much. Just enjoy it while it lasts."
While it lasts. Jane was right. It would end eventually. Maybe she should just ignore the voice of reason and go with the flow. Take whatever Ryan offered and enjoy the time they spent together.
*****
Numerous times during the day Ryan pulled his phone from his pocket to check he hadn't missed a call. Of course he hadn't and certainly not from the one person he wanted to hear from. He couldn't believe how much of a schmuck he was being. Claire didn't even have his number. Mentally rolling his eyes at himself, Ryan picked up his hard hat and jammed it on his head. He left the portable office and walked over to where Brett was checking some wiring that had been completed that morning.
"Everything in order?"
"Yeah, that new contractor seems to be working out just fine," Brett said as he stood.
"We lucked out there I think. What's on for the rest of today?" Ryan glanced around the work site. Their men were busy doing their jobs, and the building was finally taking shape.
"Council will be here at three to inspect the wiring. Plumber isn't due back until morning, so if things go quick with the inspection, we could knock off early. Give the guys a bonus for all their long hours."
"Sounds good. We've already pulled overtime on this job, and there'll probably be more before we're done. Are we back on schedule?"
"Yep. One of us can move on to the next project by the end of next week. You want me to stay on this one?" Brett asked.
"Whatever. It makes no difference to me."
"Okay, I'll start the shop refit while you finish up here."
"How many of the men will you take with you?"
"Just one. I plan on doing most of the demolition myself." Brett grinned.
Ryan had to smile. They might both enjoy building things from the ground up, but there was definitely some satisfaction in clearing out the old to make way for the new.
"So you gonna tell me who's got you all starry-eyed and picking up your phone every three seconds?"
Ryan whipped his head back around to stare at his brother.
"Close your mouth, Ryan. You'll catch flies. So did you finally get into the pants of the woman next door?"
He felt his face heat and knew he was blushing. Something he hadn't done since he was a pre-pubescent schoolboy. Ryan turned away, for once in his life he didn't want to brag about his sex life. Not even to his brother.
"Wow. You aren't gonna spill the beans?"
Turning back to Brett, he tried to smile and make the whole thing seem like no big deal even if he felt it was. "Not yet. Didn't get very far, but it looks promising," he lied.
"I bet she's hot in the sack."
Ryan ground his teeth together and clenched his fists. He would not punch his brother in the face for his crude observation, even if it was true. Claire was hot in bed—and in the kitchen—but Brett would never hear that from Ryan's lips, and he certainly wouldn't be finding out on his own.
"Knock it off. There's nothing to tell, and you shouldn't talk about Claire like that."
"Well, well, well. Has little brother gone and fallen for the woman next door?"
"Don't be stupid, Brett." Ryan took a step closer to his brother.
Brett held his hands up. "Wow, calm down. I'm just mucking around."
Ryan relaxed, his fists unclenching. "Sorry, guess I'm a little tired from all the extra hours we've put in with the delay in construction."
"No worries, Ryan. I know how crabby you get when you aren't getting any." Brett grinned and ducked as Ryan threw a punch at him. "Still not quick enough to get me, little brother."
Ryan's stomach shook with the laughter he tried not to let out. His brother always seemed to defuse any fight they had. They'd
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