The Executive's Decision by Bernadette Marie Read Free Book Online Page A

porch wrapped around the house with rockers for me and…” She stopped and shook her head. “Well let’s just say not here in town.”
    “That does sound nice.”
    “I’d better get these filed. I’ll call on the project in Kansas City tomorrow, and I’ll check your itinerary for Monday morning.” Regan stood and left the office.
    Zach turned his chair toward the windows. He could see the condo project from here. It would be over a year before the first residents could move in.
    When building large buildings, there had to be patience, and he’d always had that. That was, until the moment he met Regan Keller.
    Since the moment she’d landed in his lap two days earlier, he couldn’t clear his head of her.
     
    For the rest of the week he kept his distance from her. There were no more lunches out or coffee in the morning, and he heard Mr. Benson more times than he liked.
    They had a meeting with John Forrester at the condo project, which was less than a mile down the river. Regan suggested they walk to the site, and he looked at her high heels and laughed. But just to get the opportunity to spend a few moments, with her he agreed.
    She excused herself, and a minute later, walked back into his office wearing tennis shoes.
    “You’re one of those women who plan for everything, aren’t you?” he asked, enjoying the subtle difference in the way her calves looked in flat shoes as they walked out of the building.
    Her hand brushed the silver necklace. “Not really, but I thought it best not to wear my good shoes on a site.”
    “Mary Ellen only thought of that once we were on site and she was falling over rocks and construction debris.” Regan wasn’t like Mary Ellen much at all. She took care of him, but she didn’t coddle him. She was prepared for anything, and he appreciated that. Then again, he found there wasn’t much about Regan Keller that he didn’t appreciate, except for her emotional distance.
    Regan carried a notebook against her chest with items they would need to address with John. Zach walked a step behind her to watch her walk. The way the ponytail she wore at the base of her neck swung from side to side made him want to loosen it and run his fingers through her hair. But when she talked he’d catch up and hope she didn’t notice him ogling.
    “Until this week I never noticed how many job sites have your company name on them. I must have seen three on my way to work this morning.” She clutched the notebook closer to her chest.
    “I have twenty of them in five states, but I personally oversee four of them. They’re the four I designed and acquired. I’m meeting next week with an investor for a new project in Los Angeles.” He adjusted the hard hats he carried under his arm and thought how proud his grandfather would be to see what he’d done with the company.
    “Where do you live? In a high-rise condo that you designed?” She shook her head when she said it. He knew the reaction well. Just because his name was on the side of the building, everyone assumed he had to live the lavish life. Then again, he always had. Even in adulthood he was judged.
    “Would it disappoint you if I told you I don’t live all that far from you in a condo I rent?” He handed her a hard hat and put on his.
    “Thank you,” she said, taking the hat and putting it on. “You rent a condo?”
    “See, I did shock you.”
    “Yes you did.” She smiled. He didn’t want her to think he was above the men and women that worked for him, but the world thought differently when you had money.
    They entered the work site. Dust kicked up, and they both shielded their faces until the breeze died down. He breathed in the thick scents of dirt and sawdust. The sounds of progress embraced him. Cranes, forklifts, drills, saws, and the vivid curses of men working hard. This was his project, and seeing it physically standing before him, he couldn’t think of a better feeling.
    “Just so you don’t go home disappointed, I