All The Way (All Series Book 3) by Natalie Ann Read Free Book Online Page A

more so when you said the prices change weekly so the quote could change if the materials did.”
    “A little sales pressure never hurts. You and I both know there is a buffer in the estimates for that anyway. Very rarely does the price change so much so that it affects the complete bottom line, but they were worried enough because you can’t start for another two months, and they didn’t want to risk the prices rising.”
    “You are going to end up making us a lot of money,” Alec said cheerfully.
    “That’s what you pay me for.”
    He had to keep reminding himself that. He couldn’t help thinking about earlier when she’d turned sideways to slip by him and brushed against him. It had felt like a jolt of electricity slicing through his body on that simple contact. She’d blushed, apologized and moved on quickly. But he still saw she was as affected as he was. Damn it.

Mantra
     
    The next consultation went by pretty fast. The homeowners were looking for a second-story addition and they wanted it done before the holidays. There was no way that could happen. The best Alec could promise them was the shell and roof would be up before the weather changed, and it would be a winter project. They were just too booked right now.
    Even though the homeowners weren’t thrilled, they still wanted the estimate, and then said they were going to shop around. Most of the cost was just standard construction material and labor. They were looking to add two bedrooms and another bath. Just a small simple full bath, with simple finishes. Easy enough.
    So now, here they sat outside a local restaurant, grabbing some lunch on the deck in the sun. They had about ninety minutes until their last consultation for the day and Alec suggested they grab some food. She was all for it, as she was starved.
    “Do you think they will call you for the addition, or go with someone else?” Brynn asked as she browsed the menu.
    “Hard to say. Guess it depends on what the timelines of their other estimates are. Frankly, I’m not sweating it since we’ve got more than enough work right now to take us through the holidays. Not to mention there are several other consultations you’re setting up right now too. We’re good to go. I can probably get away without laying anyone off this winter.”
    “That’s always nice,” Brynn said. She really hated that part of the job. She had a few years where she was laid off and did some side projects. Once she was a foreman, she worked all year round while others were laid off. Plenty liked having their winters off and taking the break, but just as many would have rather worked.
    “I try not to lay people off. The last few years we haven’t had to, but I hired so many new crew with the development. Thankfully we planned it well enough so that it would take us past the holidays, which is what normally puts people in a bind when they’re laid off.”
    That he thought that through was just another testimony to the type of person he was and how he thought of his employees. Every day she loved Harper Construction more and more, and after spending some time with Alec she finally thought she was getting a handle on his personality. “It can be rough. My father was always laid off in the winter, but he had his side jobs under the table, and he plowed driveways too. I think he was more frustrated over the lack of something to do, rather than the money. My mother was always thrilled though, as all the projects she had for him got done in that time,” she said, smiling fondly at the memory.
    “Did you help your father with those projects?” he asked, a grin tugging at his lips.
    “Of course I did. So did Drew, my brother.”
    “How old is your brother?”
    “Two years younger than me. Twenty-seven. So yes, that makes me twenty-nine. The Big Three-Oh is around the corner.” She laughed. It didn’t really bother her to be turning thirty, not like it bothered Carly. Carly figured she would be married with one, if