Totally Inevitable Intent Read online

  Totally Inevitable Intent

  Mile High Romance - Book 2

  Michele Lenard

  CMFR

  Copyright © [Year of First Publication] by [Author or Pen Name]

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Contents

  1. Jen

  2. Anthony

  3. Jen

  4. Anthony

  5. Jen

  6. Anthony

  7. Jen

  8. Anthony

  9. Jen

  10. Anthony

  11. Jen

  12. Anthony

  13. Jen

  14. Sawyer/Wes

  15. Jen

  16. Anthony

  17. Jen

  18. Anthony

  19. Jen

  20. Anthony

  21. ***Sawyer***

  22. Jen

  23. Anthony

  24. Jen

  25. ***Sawyer***

  26. Anthony

  Epilogue

  27. The Long Route

  Chapter 1

  Jen

  My excitement fades a little when I spot Lisa's boyfriend, Chris, standing next to her. The chronically single part of me hates that she’s here with him, because we hardly ever get time together anymore, and I want her to myself. I'm not all grinch though. The best friend part of me is happy only one of us is still single.

  Lisa and I met years ago at the local gym and instantly connected. She loves kids, hates crowds, and is a bit of an old soul in that she prefers a quiet dinner or movie to a night on the town. As a single mom, I don’t like the idea of going out to party while my daughter stays home, so you could say our interests aligned. When I became friends with Lisa, my nights turned into a social event even if we were watching Disney princesses, so her presence helped me feel like life wasn’t passing me by. But now that she’s got a serious boyfriend, our time together has dwindled.

  I miss my friend, but I can see in Lisa’s eyes that Chris is the one, and she deserves her happily ever after. She deserves the rush of emotion that comes with new love, like butterflies in the stomach, and breathless kisses. The feeling of finally being whole.

  I remember what that was like. Years ago, I had it myself. Or thought so anyway. But life had other plans for me, and those didn’t include a happily ever after. Maybe Lisa’s will. She’s never truly been in love as far as I know, and even though it means relinquishing my command of her spare time, I’m happy to see the joy on her face. I’ll just have to live vicariously through her now.

  “No wonder it took me so long to find you. Your face is stuck to his.” I pout dramatically as I sidle up to Lisa and Chris where they stand at the picnic table.

  “Jen!” Lisa admonishes, looking around to see who may have heard me. Chris stifles a laugh.

  “What?” I say. “Is that bad?” Lisa is so easy to ruffle I can’t help myself.

  “Chris, you remember my friend Jen?” Lisa asks through gritted teeth.

  “Yes, I do.” He extends his hand. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “It’s nice to be seen. Except you’re the reason I haven’t been seen recently. By Lisa, anyway.” I wink.

  “I apologize for monopolizing Lisa’s time.” He chuckles. “I’ll try not to, but I have to warn you, I have a hard time staying away from her.”

  “Well, she is sweet and caring and totally hot, so I understand your dilemma.”

  I see the hand reaching for me just a second too late. “Stop that,” I hiss at Lisa, who had not very subtly pinched my arm. “I only have a few hours of reprieve, we need to make the most of them. Tell me the latest. I hope it’s all about him. Maybe you’ll turn even redder!”

  Chris chuckles again and puts his arm around Lisa’s shoulders. “Actually, I think she does have some news she’d like to share, don’t you?” he prods.

  Lisa narrows her eyes at Chris, signaling the promise of a future conversation, then turns to me and grabs my hands. “I got contacted by a children’s agent. She wants to talk more about my book.”

  I shriek and throw my arms around her, forcing Chris to take a step back before being taken out. Writing a children’s book has been Lisa’s dream for as long as I’ve known her, and I want to see it come true. “That’s amazing! I can’t wait to see your name on a book cover!”

  “It’s still too soon for that, but maybe one day.” Lisa smiles. “So, why the reprieve?”

  “Sawyer has the afternoon with her dad. He just got back from his trip, so he graciously offered to take her to lunch as a mea culpa for leaving her home. Because every teenage girl wants to go to lunch with her dad instead of Paris on spring break.” I roll my eyes. Lisa puts her hand on my arm, and I squeeze it to let her know I’m okay. We’ve been down this road many times before, since my ex has a habit of choosing his dates over our daughter, but not today. Today should be a happy occasion. “But that gives me the opportunity to be here and see you.” I hug her again.

  Chris, bless his heart, finds someone else to talk to, giving us some space. He really is a good guy. “How disappointed was Sawyer?” Lisa asks.

  “Well, all her classmates had fabulous vacations, so she’s feeling sorry for herself and probably a little jealous. This is probably the biggest disappointment she’s felt from her father, but it’s not the first time he’s let her down, which in a weird way I think softened the blow.”

  “Is there anything I can do for her?”

  “No. You enjoy being with Chris. Sawyer would want that for you. You look almost as excited about him as I am about my new house.” I change the subject so I can be Jen instead of Mom for a change.

  “I know what you’re doing, but go ahead and tell me more about this house you bought,” Lisa says as she sips her wine. “I’m still a little shocked that you just ran out and bought a house.”

  I roll my eyes, but even Lisa’s well-intended concern can’t bring me down. “I know, I know. It was a little impulsive, but design is so interesting, and since my house is done, it'll be fun to have a blank slate to work with.” I pick up my wineglass and take a sip.

  “But flipping a house? That’s more than just design, right?”

  “Well, sure, but I’m pretty handy with renovations, too, and I can hire out what I can’t do.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Stop looking at me like that. I haven’t lost my mind.”

  I finish my wine but hold on to the glass to give my hands something to do. Something other than shake my fist in frustration. Why does everyone assume the worst when they learn I want to flip a house? I can put money into my friend’s startup venture and no one bats an eye, hence my invite to this little investor barbeque, but buying a house to flip is unsafe? Okay, sure, it’s an unconventional investment, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I’ll be better at this than picking stocks, of that I’m certain. Plus, I’ll get to work on it myself, maybe learn enough to do more of them. Is that so bad?

  Lisa chews on her lip. “I can’t help it. I’m worried about you. I know your aunt left you some money, but flipping doesn’t automatically mean a profit.”

  “Neither does investing in startups,” I retort. “And it’s not like I’m risking money I don’t have. I’m only using the inheritance, not my own savings or anything.”

  “Do you even have time to do this? I thought you were interviewing to become a school principal and that your hours were going to change?”

  I put my empty glass on the table and sigh. “I got my MBA so I was eligible to become a principal, but those openings don’t come up often, and right now there isn’t anything. As
long as I have summers totally off, I have time, and what I make on the flip can help me pay off my student loans faster.”

  “Why didn’t you just use the money from your aunt to pay them back?” Lisa cocks her head. “Wouldn’t that be safer than a flip?”

  That’s exactly what my mother said, too, but I’d done the math. My inheritance wouldn’t cover the loans in full. It was either pay them off over several years or take a chance to make money and pay them off right away. I like my odds.

  “Maybe.” I shrug. “But doing a flip, or two, would pay off the student loans and maybe even give me some to put away.”

  “Can you really make that much off a flip?” Lisa raises an eyebrow.

  “My realtor thinks so.” I tug my dark hair behind my shoulder. “I can’t gut the whole thing and make a profit, but the bones of this house are pretty good, so it just needs cosmetic work. With a little remodeling, it’ll be good as new.”

  “Remodeling? Who’s remodeling?” asks Chris, who has apparently been paying more attention than I realized. He leaves his conversation to join us.

  “I am,” I say. “Actually, you might be able to help me with that. Charlie said the two of you are friends with a good contractor.”

  “Anthony.” Chris nods. “He did the work at my place, and he’s the best I know. He’s great at assessing a space and envisioning what would fit there, and he uses techniques and materials most other contractors haven’t mastered, so you always get something unique.”

  “Hmm, he sounds a little out of my price range. This is a flip, so I can’t break the bank on fancy, unique things.”

  “Don’t worry,” Chris assures me. “He can do just about anything a customer wants.”

  “Can you introduce me? I want to start work this summer.”

  Chris nods. “He should be here today. He went to school with Charlie and me back in the day, so he’s one of the investors.”

  Chris scans the other guests at the barbeque, an easy feat given he stands taller than most of them, and shouts to a guy across the yard. I follow his gaze and land on the most attractive man I’ve seen in, well, maybe ever.

  His stride is graceful yet powerful, almost like he’s stalking prey. His tan skin and trim waist hint at an active, outdoorsy lifestyle, and his toned forearms, visible beneath the rolled cuffs of his shirt, indicate strength. My stomach flutters, something it hasn't done in years.

  A sharp elbow to my side makes me realize my jaw is still open, and I abruptly shut it, hoping Lisa’s the only one who noticed. Thank goodness she’s looking out for me. I make a mental note to be on my guard so I don’t make a fool of myself. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t need the reminder, but he is not a normal circumstance.

  “Anthony.” Chris shakes his friend’s hand. “Good to see you.” Anthony lets go of Chris’s hand as his eyes drift to us. “I want to introduce you to my girlfriend Lisa and her friend Jen. Ladies, meet Anthony Strait.”

  Anthony shakes Lisa’s hand first then turns to me. The moment his warm hand engulfs mine, I feel a jolt unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I’m not sure if it’s his touch or the nearly black eyes that study me from beneath thick lashes, but he has my body on alert. “Nice to meet you,” he says, in voice that’s both deep and soft. “You’re both investors?”

  “Actually, Lisa works for Engage, but Jen is an investor,” Chris volunteers. “She’s also got a remodeling project she wants to do this summer, and she needs a contractor. Maybe you could help her out?”

  “What kind of project?” Anthony looks to me. “Kitchen? Bathroom?”

  I would have expected eyes so dark to be menacing, but they’re not at all. In fact, they’re almost gentle. But they betray nothing about the man himself even as they pull you into their depth. I could get seriously lost in those eyes. And I think I do, because Jen nudges me again.

  “The whole house.” I snap back into focus. “I’m changing everything.”

  “That’s pretty ambitious.” Anthony rubs the stubble on a well-defined jaw. “It would probably take several months and be pretty loud and dirty. Do you have somewhere else to stay while the work is going on?”

  “Oh, it’s not my house I’m remodeling. I’m doing a flip.” I beam, calling up an image of my cute little bungalow.

  Anthony clears his throat, and his eyes seem to darken even further. Instead of intimidating me, I find that intriguing.

  “I’m guessing this is your first flip, otherwise you’d already have a contractor?” He rubs his jaw.

  “That’s right.” I ignore the tinge of frustration in his voice.

  Anthony shoots Chris a glare before he turns back to me. “I usually don’t recommend doing an entire house on your first flip. Maybe something that just needs some light cosmetic work would be better for your first effort.”

  Another one who thinks I’m crazy? Enough. If he doesn’t want the job, fine. But I’m not going to take him talking down to me. “Too late, I already bought it.” I shrug. “Besides, why would I need to do just cosmetic work when I have the best contractor around? You are the best, right? That’s what Chris said.” I wink.

  Okay, so I’m baiting him. Although every room needs work, most of it is cosmetic, and I can get by without “the best.” But I’m not going to let him off easy, and I’m not going to let him stifle my excitement.

  “I’m good at my job, yes.” He locks his jaw.

  “Good isn’t quite the same as best. Either you’re the best or Chris is fibbing.” I flash him a devious smile, daring him to disagree.

  His eyes narrow, but the corner of his mouth fights a grin. “Chris isn’t fibbing.”

  “Glad we cleared that up. It could have been really awkward otherwise. So, you can help me,” I confirm.

  “We’ll let you two figure out the details while we grab a bite.” Chris grins, amused, and guides Lisa to a nearby table. Now it’s just me and Anthony.

  Anthony looks me over critically. “You a fan of Joanna Gaines?”

  I don’t dignify that with a response. Well, not the one he expects, anyway. “She’s brilliant if the modern farmhouse is your thing, but this is Colorado. I think rustic contemporary is more fitting.”

  He crosses his arms and studies me. I can tell my answer intrigues him, because the corner of his lip seems to be fighting a reluctant grin. “Rustic contemporary isn’t cheap.”

  “No, which is why it’s a good thing the house already has wood floors and ceiling beams. They just need some fresh stain.”

  “Not every upgrade will be cosmetic.” He arches a brow.

  “I have a contingency for plumbing and electric.” I wave a hand dismissively.

  “These things usually take longer than the thirty days they make it out to be on TV.” He smirks.

  “I’ve got all summer to work on it. Any other objections?” I smile cheerily, confident I’ve passed his test.

  “Wait, you’re planning to do work on it?” Those dark eyes get big enough I can finally see they aren’t all black. “Do you know anything about renovations?”

  “I’ve been renovating my own house for years.”

  “Renovating or decorating?” His suspicious eyes roam over me as if searching for a tell, some hint that I’m all talk.

  “Both,” I mouth, trying not to smirk when his eyes seem to linger on my lips, just as I intend. If he insists on treating me like I don’t know the difference between a nail and a nail file, I’ll make him uncomfortable indeed. This could be fun.

  Chapter 2

  Anthony

  My breath catches in my chest as she mimes that last word. I’m not even sure what she said, I’m that caught up in how soft and lush those lips look, and what it would feel like to touch them.

  Jeez, I need to focus. I did not come to the barbeque to get laid. I didn’t even come here looking for a job. Chris and Charlie are old high school acquaintances, and they’re hosting lunch as a thank-you to the people who invested in their business venture. I’m r
eally not big on socializing, but the brothers have always been good to me, so I couldn’t just ignore the invitation.

  I was only planning to stay for a beer and maybe a quick bite, not meet the other investors, much less solicit them for work. I have plenty already. Not to boast, but my company, Strait Edge, has developed a reputation for impressive, custom work, and flips aren’t really my thing. Not unless I’m running the show, anyway. What the hell is Chris getting me into?

  I look at the woman standing in front of me, and again my breath gets caught in my throat. She’s beautiful in a bold way, with dark features set against sun-kissed skin and inky black hair that tumbles down her back. I really love long hair, and I’m intrigued by how thick and shiny hers is. Plus, it’s damn near impossible to ignore the way her long dress clings to her hourglass figure, showing off a flat stomach and round hips. Or the swell of full, round breasts that her jean jacket doesn’t quite conceal.

  She’s the perfect combination of lean strength and feminine curves, although since the same could be said for lots of women, I’m not sure why I can’t look away. Maybe it’s her sassiness, the way she doesn’t back down. Or maybe it’s the way she’s looking at me, a cross between flirtatious and defiant. Exactly what resonates I can’t say, but even though I don’t want to talk about her house, I can’t stop myself from talking to her. And when she mouths that last word at me, her lips moving sensually as she overemphasizes one little syllable, it becomes physically impossible to walk away.

  “So, you’ll help me with my house?” Her chocolate brown eyes lock onto me, as if daring me to say no. It’s then that I realize the spot I put myself in by staying put.

  I rub my jaw, contemplating. I appreciate her spunk, but there’s no way she’s as experienced or prepared to work on a flip as she claims, and I don’t want to babysit. Clients have a way of thinking they’re experts because they watch HGTV or engage in a bit of DIY themselves, which is bad enough when they stop in to check up on you, but to be on site every day? That’s a headache I don’t need. Regardless of whether she knows her way around a set of tools, the key to a flip is budget and timing, and maybe a bit of luck, none of which I’m too optimistic about in this case. In that regard, none of what she’s said so far appeals to me. On the other hand, I need a summer project for my son Wes and his friends to work on, and the one I have lined up is outside their skill set. That might make a quick flip the perfect solution.