Why would she want that type of job, anyway?

He finished his drink and placed it back on the blotter. Had to be money. Probably liked working for famous people and being involved in the inner circle. She seemed to dress and act the part, with her conservative designer clothes and her polite drawl and her confident manner.

Charming.

Cal bit back a laugh, put her out of mind, and got back to work.

chapter four

I’m sorry, Cal. I decided to sign with someone else.”

Caleb stared at Jet. This wasn’t happening. He’d come over to Jet’s, contract in hand, to finalize the deal that would take some of the strain off the business for the next few months. He kept calm, nodding, as if this happened all the time. “Look, Jet, this is a big project. I know I don’t have the usual background in Green technology, but I’d never take the job if I had any doubts. My architect finished up the plans, and I know you’re going to love them. Can we go inside and talk?”

Jet McCarthy was well-known for his work with environmental conservation and was a huge investor in multiple Manhattan properties. He liked to acquire land and build eco-friendly buildings, but this was for a personal home in Harrington. He wanted a home base to commute back and forth to, like so many of the residents in a town known to be Green in other ways. Cal figured Jet had just gotten spooked over the massive project, and he needed to be persuaded.

Even now, the older man rocked back on his heels, dark eyes peering over a trendy pair of black glasses. He kind of reminded Cal of Einstein, with his shock of crazy silver hair and compact build. When he got caught on a thought, he’d just check out of the conversation¸ and Cal never knew when he’d come back. The guy was a genius and was well respected.

Shit. Cal needed this job. Bad.

“I’m not hiring anyone local. Decided to bring in some people I know who’ve done some work with me on previous jobs.”

Cal looked him dead in the eye. “You don’t think I can handle it?”

Jet dropped his gaze, looking uncomfortable. “Actually, Cal, I thought you’d do a great job. I feel bad about this.”

Caleb frowned. “I don’t understand. What happened to change your mind?”

“I got a call. Morgan Raines. She explained how the Rosenthals needed you to build their house on a tight deadline, and we had a long conversation. I’ve been looking to get more celebrity awareness regarding environmental conservation, and they agreed to hold a large fund-raiser for me. It was a win-win. Besides, my guys have done this before, so it’ll free you up to spend all your time with their project.”

The burning hot poker of anger prodded him like a matador bent on torturing his bull. Caleb blinked through the red mist of his vision and tried to salvage the mess. He gave a fake laugh and nodded, as if he knew Morgan well and had been involved with the situation. “Oh, I think you misunderstood, Jet. I decided not to take on the Rosenthal job. They’ll be working with another company, so no worries. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

Jet shook his head. “I already made the arrangements, Cal. My team arrives tomorrow morning. Besides, Morgan said you’d tell me that because you felt bad and were trying to take on too many jobs. I think it’s best this way. You’ll build them a tremendous house.” Jet patted him on the back, and his eyes got the familiar distanced look. “I’d better go—got some work to do. Thanks again.”

Cal opened his mouth, but Jet was already trudging away, lost in his thoughts of spectacular visions of clean energy and recycling and saving the earth.

Son of a bitch.

He was going to kill her.

Cal got back to his truck and drove, allowing his mind to contemplate all the ways he was going to make that woman pay. Unfortunately, he was afraid it was now too late to book the job. Jet had his mind made up. The only revenge he had left was to show Morgan Raines that her plan had backfired. Now he was more determined than ever not to take the damn job, under any circumstances.

His cell phone blasted on cue, and he hit the speaker button. “Yeah?”

Tristan’s voice clipped out, “We got a problem.”

Caleb barely managed not to grit his teeth. The last time he’d visited the dentist, he was told that if he didn’t stop the stress habit, he’d have no enamel left. “Surprise, surprise. What is it?”

“Are you close to the house? Dalton’s here with me.”

“On my way.”

Caleb hit the accelerator and drove through town, wondering what was going wrong now. He’d run Pierce Brothers without a hitch for the past five years, other than dealing with his control-freak father. In a matter of one month since his brothers had returned, they’d lost clients, blasted through money, and averaged a fight a day if they happened to all meet in the same room. In a strange way, Cal had thought maybe being forced to be together would help them start rebuilding their relationship. Instead, close proximity made it worse. They’d always been an affectionate, roughhousing type of family, but after Mom died, everything changed. Now they seemed able to communicate only by yelling. Sydney and Brady usually played referee, and already they were claiming exhaustion, refusing to get involved in future epic battles. He bet his father was laughing his ass off up there.

Or down below.

He pulled up the driveway and got out of the pickup. Two flashes of monstrous fur whizzed by him, ready to pounce, and he barely managed to get out the command in time. “Stay!”

Gandalf and Balin froze in midair. Gandalf fell to the ground in his dead-man pose, and Balin managed to get half a butt to the ground, the other half wiggling madly. Okay, at least they hadn’t tackled him today. That must mean he was making progress, right? He leaned over and scratched.