a way to discover her number? Talking to her might give him a way to ease his frustration. He dialed Jules cell but was directed to leave a message.
His phone rang. The caller wasn’t Jules but the contractor. “Robert, what’s up?”
“Just wondering what you’ve learned about the Smiton house. I’ve had feelers about other jobs.”
“I figure we can start with the inside improvements by late November. Not that long to wait.”
“Great.”
Before hanging up they discussed what they needed to do.
When the call was completed Matt called Jules’ office. The secretary reported her boss was out of touch until the weekend. Matt’s excitement fizzled.
“Have him call me if he checks in.”
“Will do.”
Matt leaned back in his chair. He would see Cassie tomorrow. Tonight he would pack for the overnight stay. He needed to replace the red bikini he’d ruined but he wanted to shop at the store his sisters had mentioned.
He pushed the chair to the desk and reviewed the assignments for the remaining winter and spring issues. Then he worked through a tack of freelance articles and selected several he might use. Thursday evening would come soon. So would he, again and again. He cleared his inbox and desk by noon. He left the office, checked his duffle and started the car. He beat rush hour traffic across the bridge. At the Peek-A-Boo Boutique he glanced in the window and saw several women clustered near the counter. No way would he face a mob scene so he drove to the apartment complex and parked in one of the visitor’s slots. He strode to the foyer and waited for the doorman to let him inside.
At Allie’s, Greg opened the door. “You’re early. Eager to meet our new neighbor. Though you didn’t like being set up.”
Matt scowled. “You’ve got that bit, I know her. She has something I want.”
Greg guffawed. “So that’s the way this falls.”
“She owns a house I want to buy.”
“Keep saying that. I know the signs. I’ve been there. Can’t fight the Blakefield Curse. Once Allie saw me being single was over for both of us. Once a Blakefield meets their true mate no other will do.”
Matt turned away. Thinking about the curse always troubled him. He recalled his mother’s sadness. Not that his father had ever strayed once they were married. She had loved her husband completely but she had known though he cared for her he remained in love with his college sweetheart. Matt had no intention of causing the same sadness to himself or anyone.
Greg walked to the kitchen. Matt followed and opened a beer. “Something smells good.”
“Crab puffs and other appetizers.” He took a tray from the freezer and popped it into the oven. “Allie says you knew Cassie in high school. No wonder you’ve had a hard time settling on a woman.”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Not the case. You and my sister are a matched set of bookends.”
“I’ve no problem with that.”
A short time later Allie arrived. She changed clothes and joined them in the kitchen. After plating the finger foods she popped them in the warming oven.
The doorbell rang. Matt answered and let Meg and Steve in.”
His sister grinned. “Allie told me.”
“Really. She’s inventive. All we need is for Mark and Dad to arrive with their wives.”
“Not happening. Dad’s watching Davy while Mark and Christa are honeymooning.” She grabbed Steve’s arm. “To the kitchen. Maybe we can help. Matt can play doorkeeper.”
At six thirty the doorbell rang. Matt found Cassie waiting. She carried a bottle of white wine. “Where’s everyone?”
“Kitchen.” He took the wine and clasped her hand. “We need to talk. I would have called but I didn’t have your number.”
“I know. I should have called your office.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I met Allie.”
The other four called greetings. When she started to respond Matt steered her through the living room and out the door to the patio.
“You still could have called.”
“I made
His phone rang. The caller wasn’t Jules but the contractor. “Robert, what’s up?”
“Just wondering what you’ve learned about the Smiton house. I’ve had feelers about other jobs.”
“I figure we can start with the inside improvements by late November. Not that long to wait.”
“Great.”
Before hanging up they discussed what they needed to do.
When the call was completed Matt called Jules’ office. The secretary reported her boss was out of touch until the weekend. Matt’s excitement fizzled.
“Have him call me if he checks in.”
“Will do.”
Matt leaned back in his chair. He would see Cassie tomorrow. Tonight he would pack for the overnight stay. He needed to replace the red bikini he’d ruined but he wanted to shop at the store his sisters had mentioned.
He pushed the chair to the desk and reviewed the assignments for the remaining winter and spring issues. Then he worked through a tack of freelance articles and selected several he might use. Thursday evening would come soon. So would he, again and again. He cleared his inbox and desk by noon. He left the office, checked his duffle and started the car. He beat rush hour traffic across the bridge. At the Peek-A-Boo Boutique he glanced in the window and saw several women clustered near the counter. No way would he face a mob scene so he drove to the apartment complex and parked in one of the visitor’s slots. He strode to the foyer and waited for the doorman to let him inside.
At Allie’s, Greg opened the door. “You’re early. Eager to meet our new neighbor. Though you didn’t like being set up.”
Matt scowled. “You’ve got that bit, I know her. She has something I want.”
Greg guffawed. “So that’s the way this falls.”
“She owns a house I want to buy.”
“Keep saying that. I know the signs. I’ve been there. Can’t fight the Blakefield Curse. Once Allie saw me being single was over for both of us. Once a Blakefield meets their true mate no other will do.”
Matt turned away. Thinking about the curse always troubled him. He recalled his mother’s sadness. Not that his father had ever strayed once they were married. She had loved her husband completely but she had known though he cared for her he remained in love with his college sweetheart. Matt had no intention of causing the same sadness to himself or anyone.
Greg walked to the kitchen. Matt followed and opened a beer. “Something smells good.”
“Crab puffs and other appetizers.” He took a tray from the freezer and popped it into the oven. “Allie says you knew Cassie in high school. No wonder you’ve had a hard time settling on a woman.”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Not the case. You and my sister are a matched set of bookends.”
“I’ve no problem with that.”
A short time later Allie arrived. She changed clothes and joined them in the kitchen. After plating the finger foods she popped them in the warming oven.
The doorbell rang. Matt answered and let Meg and Steve in.”
His sister grinned. “Allie told me.”
“Really. She’s inventive. All we need is for Mark and Dad to arrive with their wives.”
“Not happening. Dad’s watching Davy while Mark and Christa are honeymooning.” She grabbed Steve’s arm. “To the kitchen. Maybe we can help. Matt can play doorkeeper.”
At six thirty the doorbell rang. Matt found Cassie waiting. She carried a bottle of white wine. “Where’s everyone?”
“Kitchen.” He took the wine and clasped her hand. “We need to talk. I would have called but I didn’t have your number.”
“I know. I should have called your office.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I met Allie.”
The other four called greetings. When she started to respond Matt steered her through the living room and out the door to the patio.
“You still could have called.”
“I made
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