A Man to Believe In by Deborah Harmse Read Free Book Online Page B

work out the details of her floor plan to her satisfaction, and she could use a break.
    “I’d love to go with you. Just let me make a few more changes here, then I’ll be through with this.” She scribbled several notes before she put down the pencil, satisfied with the results. “All done.”
    “Let’s have a look.” Jake turned her drawing around to get a better view. “Your bookstore?”
    Cori nodded and watched with pride as Jake inspected her floor plan. It had been a challenge, but she’d finally managed to find a place for everything.She wouldn’t have to eliminate magazines or cookbooks or anything else.
    “This is darn good,” he commented, obviously impressed. “How’s the construction coming on the interior fixtures?”
    “Well … we’re a few days behind schedule, but I don’t think I need to start worrying just yet.”
    “If you need help, I can pull a couple of my men off a job and get them over to your place.”
    “Thanks, but I wouldn’t want you to fall behind on one of your jobs.”
    “Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ve always got a man or two I can spare for a special project. I’ll have them report to you tomorrow.”
    “No, really, I can’t let you do that.”
    “Why not?”
    Cori didn’t know how he’d react if she told him she couldn’t afford the expense of a professional construction crew. The teenagers she’d hired on the recommendation of the high-school woodshop instructor were affordable, and they had been working out fine. They were just a little slower getting the job done than she’d hoped.
    “I appreciate your offer, but the truth is, I’m on a limited budget,” she confessed, hoping he wouldn’t be offended. “Marsha told me you have your own company, and I’m sure you’re very good. But I can’t afford you.”
    “I see. How about we work out a deal? I’ll have my men get you back on schedule, and you and I can—”
    “Jake Tanner,” she said, interrupting him before he could get any more specific—or personal—withhis deal. “In the short time I’ve known you, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you take no for an answer.”
    He grinned. “Must be a genetic defect.”
    Cori laughed, thinking if it was true that some people were incapable of hearing the word
no
, Jake was certainly one of them. Rolling up her floor plan, she said, “Hadn’t we better get going to the picnic?”
    Jake glanced at his watch. “Yeah, I guess so.”
    “I’ll be just a minute.” She dashed into the house, stashing her floor plan in the bookshelf before grabbing a sweatshirt. When she came back outside, Jake was waiting for her beside his truck. He opened the door and motioned for her to get in on the driver’s side.
    “About that article in
Popular Caveman
,” she said, climbing in.
    Jake climbed in after her. “What about it?”
    “The first two steps were ask politely and beg. Just out of curiosity, what was step three?”
    He closed the door and started the engine, then shot her a sly smile that could have melted an iceberg.
    “Ignore all protests and drag her out by her hair,” he said, and threw the truck into gear.
    “I’ll grab the cooler. Why don’t you bring those two bags there.” Jake hefted the enormous ice chest from the back of the pickup as if it weighed no more than a cotton ball.
    Already, Cori was glad she’d decided to accept Jake’s invitation. The weather was perfect for aSunday afternoon picnic, and because she’d had such a productive morning, she was ready to kick back and have some fun. She pulled the bags of hot dog buns and potato chips from the back of the truck and started off after Jake. He made it part of the way to the grove of trees where the picnic tables were located before being stopped by a little boy with white-blond hair carrying a neon-yellow sponge football.
    “Uncle J.T. Look what I brought. You were right. It’s easier for me to catch passes.”
    Jake set the cooler down and took the ball from the