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“In Iraq,” Levi finished for her. He turned to face her. “Yeah, he was. But he spent several months in Walter Reed and the last couple in BAMC.”
Accessibility. One of her specialties. The one, in fact, that most interested her. “I’m sorry, Levi.”
He lifted a shoulder, obviously uncomfortable discussing it. “Me too. But he’s alive, and that’s a miracle, although I’m not sure he sees it that way.”
“What is it you want me to do?”
“If Asher’s going to live with me the house needs to be made accessible for someone with a physical disability. Not all of it, but at least the ground floor and his rooms, and especially all the entrances. I know we’ll need ramps for the outside entryways, but that’s probably the easiest part of the project.
“There’s a bedroom suite on the first floor that I think would be good for his living quarters. Plus I’d like to make the kitchen and my den accessible. They’re on the ground floor as well. His quarters are the priority, of course. After that’s finished we’ll see what else needs to be done. And what else we have time for.”
“That’s a lot to expect to happen in a couple of months.”
He waved her objection aside. “Harlan said he’d do everything he could to accommodate us. He’s built accessible housing before. But you’re the expert, so I need you to tell us what to do.”
He was looking at her hopefully. As if afraid she’d turn down a chance to help a wounded warrior, no matter whose brother he was. “Let’s sit down and discuss it. Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, water would be good.”
“I’ll be right back.” Dana escaped to the kitchen, trying to calm her frantically beating heart. You are so pathetic. Did you really think he was here for a personal reason? After last time? He wants your help, all right. As an architect.
Levi Chapman. Damn it, would she never get over him? She’d been with him twice since she moved back to Texas. Once when she first arrived in San Antonio and one wild, crazy time when she’d returned to Whiskey River. Aside from those two times, she hadn’t been with Levi in years. Six years. Almost seven. And he still affected her like he always had.
She wanted him. Always would.
He was still gorgeous. Which was one reason she tried to avoid even seeing him. She didn’t know what he did to keep in shape, but if his arms and the breadth of his chest were any indication, something had sculpted those incredible muscles. Long, lean muscles. Just the kind she liked.
His hair was brown, a pretty caramel brown that he wore a little longer on top and cut closer on the sides. Unless he forgot to cut it, which apparently he had recently. His eyes were that same beautiful shade of blue that made her think of a clear Texas sky on a hot summer day.
He wore faded jeans, a short-sleeved Texas Rangers T-shirt and running shoes rather than the cowboy boots many of the men around Whiskey River wore. He looked like a regular guy—okay, a really hot regular guy.
Not in any way a freaking billionaire.
Levi Chapman was no one’s idea of a billionaire. He never had been and she doubted he ever would be. Of course, when she and Levi had been together, he’d only been a millionaire. Only. Hah. No one would have guessed that either.
They hadn’t been able to talk about why they broke up, either then or later. She figured they never would. But Levi was a good guy. A really good guy. His looks hadn’t been the only thing that had drawn her. He was generous, funny, brilliant for God’s sake, and loyal… So why hadn’t they been able to make it?
Because you weren’t thinking about Levi back then. You were only concerned with yourself and your own career.
That wasn’t the only problem.
No, but it sure as hell didn’t help.
How she felt about Levi didn’t matter, though. She wasn’t about to turn down a job that would help a wounded warrior and enable her to use her skills in making a house accessible. She opened her refrigerator and got out a couple of water bottles. Drawing in a deep breath, she walked back into the living room. Levi sat on her couch looking at her voice-activated smart system receiver critically.
“You know those things listen and record everything you say, right?”
“So I’ve heard. But I’m not planning to murder anyone so what difference does it make?” She handed him a water bottle.
“Thanks.” He twisted off the top and took a drink. “They’re also hackable. Which can be really bad depending on what you have it connected to.”
“I don’t care. I like the convenience. Besides, you’re going to have to have one for your house if you want it to be fully accessible, at least in Asher’s quarters.”
Levi simply lifted his eyebrows.
“Oh. You invented one. Of course you did.” She took a seat beside him. Levi’s inventions ranged from the simple to the highly complex. It came as no surprise that he had a virtual digital assistant system of his own.
“I wanted one that would be hard to hack. No one can make one completely unhackable, but so far no one has been able to hack mine. I’ll be glad to install one of mine for you here if you want.”
