He greeted the concrete boss with a wave. “Come to the trailer. We’ll take one last look at the foundation plans, then you can get started.”
After the man was satisfied they were on the same page, Dwayne went outside and got his crew to work. They’d lay all the framing this morning, and the concrete trucks would come to pour the foundation as soon as Cluny and his men placed all the underground pipes.
The job ticked along right on schedule. He looked at his phone but decided to have a cup of coffee before he called Marla. If he gave her more time to cool off it was less likely they’d have words.
Jack entered the trailer. “There’s nothing to keep me and Slim here today, boss. We’re going to the construction yard to double check the wall framing materials and make sure those guys we hired will be able to start when we call them.”
“Okay, I’ll check with you later.” He’d finished his coffee, nobody needed to talk to him. He’d run out of excuses, so he picked up the phone and tapped Marla’s icon.
It went straight to voicemail. “Crap! Marla, honey? It’s me. I’m sorry about this morning. Call me back.”
She didn’t call back. He didn’t hear from her all day, and he wasn’t about to leave a bunch of groveling voicemails. He said he was sorry. That should be good enough.
Marla splashed water in her face. Enough crying over the big jerk! Her frazzled reflection in the mirror startled her. She was so angry and hurt she was tempted to swear. That’s how mad she was. “Damn him!” Great, now she felt worse. Hissing with frustration, she dressed for work.
She’d spend the day trolling for new listings and follow up the inquiries she’d recently handled. If she put the right customer together with the right property it usually resulted in a sale. A couple more good commission checks would be welcome in her ever-skinnier bank account.
After lunch she went to the condos to check the progress of the landscape and paving. The parking lot was finished and the spaces clearly striped. She noted with satisfaction the amount of shade her tenants would have under the canopies Dwayne had cleverly designed.
The landscape supervisor grinned when she parked. “Hola, señora.” He made a sweeping gesture. “She looks good, yes?”
“It looks fabulous! Nobody would guess this was bare ground a few days ago.”
“Si, I tole you.”
“Yes, you did, Jesus. You’re a miracle worker. When did you do all this?” Her gaze swept the landscaped areas with wonder.
“We bring plants last night. Plant today.”
“You did all this today? I can’t believe it. When did you start?”
“This morning, still dark. You like?” His face beamed with pride. “Last of sod going now.”
“Oh yes.”
She smiled, remembering how he’d virtually bullied her into giving him the job. As soon as Big D’s trailer pulled into her lot, he’d driven his old truck in and asked to see the owner. When Dwayne told him she wasn’t ready to talk about the landscaping yet, he left, but stopped by at least once a week to sell himself.
Finally, he browbeat Marla into getting in his truck so he could take her to see some of his other projects. He did creative work. She finally gave in and hired him, even though he’d argued vociferously about her choice of some shrubs and trees.
He pointed to the flowering red myrtle trees lining the front walkway. “I put your mortal trees over there and my borch trees in front of building.”
She’d had to fight for those myrtles. Jesus loved birch trees and had fought tooth and nail to put them everywhere. “I think we’re both pleased with the results. It looks just like I pictured it.” She gasped. “Oh, the hydrangeas under the windows are beautiful and they’re in full bloom.” She pressed a hand to her heart and sighed. She’d wanted color and she’d gotten color. “If I’d known you’d be finished so quick I’d have brought you a check.”
“Is good.” He grinned. “I come back tomorrow to office inside.” He pointed to the building entrance. “I so hoppy you like.”
Marla unlocked the building and entered a small room off the lobby that served as an office. She hadn’t decided which of the longtime tenants she’d offer the onsite manager job. It would pay little and be mostly symbolic because all the residents would have phone access to her when needed.
She sat at the utility desk and began calling her tenants to let them know their units were ready, and they could begin moving back whenever they wanted. Then she placed her laptop on the desk and created an ad for the local paper for the condos that were still available to rent.
Dwayne was never far from her mind. Her hurt feelings warred with her anger over his ultimatum. She wasn’t giving him orders. She’d merely offered a suggestion that was in his best interests, hadn’t she? He’s the one who made a federal case out of it. Well, he could just cool his heels for all she cared. How could she possibly cope with a man with such a hair-trigger temper? She’d had his best interests at heart and he’d shown no appreciation, just anger. They’d be butting heads forever, and she didn’t want all that emotional turmoil in her life.
Better to break it off now, before she got in too deep.
“Who am I kidding?”
Why hadn’t she returned his call? He’d left the message hours ago. Should he call again? Leave another message? Maybe she didn’t get the first one. No. She could stew in her own juices for a while.
He hit his knee with his fist. “Dempsey, you are a total shithead.”
What did he expect when he’d hollered at her like a drill sergeant? So she was bossy and controlling, so what? He wasn’t exactly Mr. Rogers in her neighborhood.
There was the problem. They were both bossy and controlling. How was that
