Mad About The Man by Stella Cameron Read Free Book Online Page B

at La Place is there, not here. That's what's wrong with it." No way would he give Bart even an inkling of the real reason for turning this musty-smelling second story into his project head quarters. "The people around here are bound to react better to someone who's more accessible."
    "You won't be dealing with the people, Jacques. Rita and I will. That's the arrangement."
    "Was the arrangement," he corrected. "I've changed my mind. If they're going to stop viewing me as some outsider whose only interest is in ex ploiting them, I'm going to have to gain their trust."
    "And you think this—" Bart indicated dusty beams, bare wooden floorboards, trailing electrical wires and the detritus of previous inhabitants "—this is somehow going to make them trust you? Why? Because you decide to put a desk into a slum?"
    Bart could be damned obtuse. Sometimes Jacques wondered why he put up with the man. He wouldn't if Bart hadn't already proved himself very capable . "This slum, as you call it, is going to be renovated. Give it a week and you won't recognize the place."
    Evidently the workmen heard the word week . Three pairs of eyes riveted on Jacques.
    "A week, Mr. Ledan?" Cal Simms, local contrac tor, wiped scarred hands on his white overalls and ambled up. "I thought you said we were going to put up wallboard and complete all the finishing."
    "You are," Jacques said patiently. "Full bath room. Kitchen. Bedroom. Sitting room incorporated with the office space."
    Air hissed between Bart's teeth. Jacques ignored him
    Cal removed his sweat-stained white cap and scratched his balding scalp. "Months of work there, Mr. Ledan. Months."
    Jacques moved to a window overlooking the back of the building. "Two weeks, max," he said with finality . "I'm going to tell you what goes where and you're going to see everything gets there." He almost smiled at Cal's bewildered expression. "Pull in as many extra people as you need. Let me know the specs and who you use for supplies. Bart here will deal with anyone who doesn't think they can deliver on time—on time being in the next few days."
    Cal's cohorts hovered in the background casting surreptitious glances at one another.
    "This is all gonna cost." Cal frowned and shook his head. "We could do a nice job of cleaning up in here. Put in a john, burner for coffee … refrigerator for beer. Ain't like you got any long-term plans. Murphy bed, maybe—"
    "I've got long-term plans," Jacques interrupted. Below the window was a roof. In that roof, a large skylight, cranked open to catch the breeze, reflected rays of afternoon s unshine. "And money isn't an is sue. Best of everything." Directly in his line of vision; in the room revealed through the skylight, sat Gaby McGregor. "Yeah. I may be around a long, long time."
    "We could be talkin' thousands—"
    "We are talking thousands. Many thousands. Don't cut any corners." Gaby, her head bent over whatever she was sketching at a workbench, had drawn her hair up into a soft chignon at her crown. From his vantage point, Jacques saw the way a soft , white cotton shirt clung to… "This area by the win dow will be fine as an office space. Desk there." He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. The shirt clung to her full breasts, and Jacques had no difficulty visualizing what he couldn't actually see.
    "It's going to take time, Mr. Ledan. Rome wasn't built in—"
    "We're not building Rome," Jacques told Cal. "Just a suite." Pieces of Gaby's long, silky black hair had slipped from the chignon to rest on pale, smooth skin. He'd pushed his luck yesterday. Not that what had happened had been planned—not entirely. "Get the measurements down. My architect will be along shortly to draw something up."
    Cal withdrew and the banging resumed.
    Before the day was out, Jacques intended to pursue what he'd begun with Gaby—at a more leisurely pace, if necessary.
    "Ah." Bart had left his chair and come to stand at Jacques's shoulder. "I begin to understand. We're creating a lair and