Rocky Mountain Angels by Jodi Bowersox [romance]

lot of effort into making every spindle a work of art, using multiple colors to create a true “painted lady.”
    She turned to him, practically glowing, then moved past him to the door leading into the turret on this floor. She opened it to what looked essentially like all the other tower rooms, but the height and the view out of the numerous windows made it seem extra special. “A sitting room?”
    Eli shrugged. “I guess. It could be anything; we could install shelves on the flat walls and have a library or put in a jacuzzi or a small kitchenette.”
    Mari walked around the room, looking deep in thought. “A room with many possibilities.” Wandering back out to the main space, she took in the details which mostly consisted of crumbling plaster and creaky floorboards. “Well, it is certainly a space with lots of potential. Does Joe plan on ruling the roost from up here?”
    Eli laughed. “I imagine he and Beth together will do a pretty good job of it. By that point, though, Ben and I will have moved out, so they’ll have to create some subjects.”
    Mari stopped and turned before taking to the stairs again. “Beth? I didn’t know there was a Beth.”
    “Joe has been dating Beth Havland for six or seven months. She lives in Denver.” He put a hand out to stop her from going down. “Do you really trust those swine?”
    “No, I suppose not.” Mari removed the ridiculous footwear and started down.
    Eli couldn’t resist returning to an earlier topic. “So you have a degree in literature and a masters in design? Or is it in psychology?”
    Mari reached the bottom and sat to put on her slippers. Eli slipped down beside her in the narrow space. She didn’t look at him. “Both.”
    Eli hoped he didn’t look quite as surprised as he felt. “You have a bachelors in lit. and a masters in design and psychology.”
    Mari rose and continued down the hall. “Yep.”
    Eli rose and followed. “And now you are going to enroll in zoo classes?”
    Mari huffed out a breath before starting down the carpeted stairs to the ground floor. “Yes, Eli, that’s exactly right.”
    He followed and could see Ben through the window heading for the porch steps. “Can I come see your house?”
    “Now?”
    “As soon as you’ll let me.”
    “Why?”
    He grinned, still a few steps up. “I want to peg you.”

Chapter 4
     
    “How much longer will your crew be working on the synagogue?” Beth’s blue eyes looked at Joe over the menu.
    Joe, across from her in the booth, folded his menu and laid it aside. “The finish contractors will still be working another couple weeks, but I’m ready to get going on the Marshall apartments. It will take a few days to get all the designs finalized. Then I need to line up the big equipment to break ground. I’m hoping for an early spring. If I have a gap between projects, I can always put in some extra time on the house.”
    Beth sighed and closed her menu. “But no matter what, you won’t be working in Denver anymore.”
    Joe nodded as he tried to catch the eye of the waiter. “Not for awhile anyway. It’s not that crowded in here for such lousy service.”
    Beth reached across the table to thread her fingers with his impatiently tapping. “We haven’t been here that long.”
    Joe glanced at his watch. “Well, I don’t have a lot of time today. Gary wanted me to approve paint colors, and he’s probably back with the samples by now.”
    Beth released his hand and sat back in her seat. “Joe, will you even miss me when you’re not working in Denver?”
    Joe’s brow pinched. “It’s not that far from the Springs, sweetheart. I will still come see you.”
    “But not nearly as often. I’ve seen you three or four times a week for six months. And I know you won’t let me drive to see you.”
    “Not often, unless you have a sudden new revenue stream.” Joe stretched to his full height, trying to get noticed by their unobservant waiter. “Good grief, he’s too busy