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Ward laughed. “A professional proposition. I want her to come work for me.”
“Since Dana isn’t a Realtor I assume this is a new venture?” Zack said.
“Yes. I’m part owner of a construction company that has started building accessible housing. Homes, apartments, that sort of thing. I understand from Dana’s last employer that is a special interest of hers. In fact, he said she was working on making some billionaire’s place wheelchair accessible.” He laughed. “A billionaire in Whiskey River? One who isn’t any kin to the Kellys? I took it with a grain of salt, but since she was here I thought I’d fly in and see if I can convince her to come to Houston after her job here is done.”
As soon as the man mentioned a billionaire and “wheelchair accessible” Levi gave Zack the sign not to tell him that Levi was the billionaire in question. Zack raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything. After some more talk, which Levi paid no attention to, Ward left to talk to Dana.
“What the hell, Levi?” Zack asked him. “You and Dana just moved in together. You know she’s going to turn him down.”
“Do I?” Levi asked. He didn’t elaborate, not wanting to get into a discussion about his and Dana’s past. But the minute Ward had begun talking about the job he planned to offer Dana Levi’s stomach had taken a nose dive. Because he honestly couldn’t say whether Dana would stay with him in Whiskey River, or take what sounded like her dream job. In Houston.
*
Dana had just spotted Levi talking to Zack and was headed their way when a dark-haired man with gray at the temples said her name. “Dana DeLong?”
A bit surprised since she didn’t know him, she answered, “Yes?”
“I’m Billy Ward,” he said, offering a hand. “I’ve been looking for you.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Her confusion must have shown.
“Zack Bannister was going to introduce us, but he seems busy and here you are, so I took a chance.”
A friend of Zack’s? She looked over at Zack, who gave her a thumbs-up signal. Levi, who was standing with him, looked…well, pissed, though she couldn’t imagine why. “What can I do for you, Mr. Ward?”
“I’d like to offer you a job. An architectural job.”
“Oh, do you live here?”
“No, I’m in Houston. But let me explain. Is there somewhere we can sit and talk a minute?”
Intrigued, though she didn’t want a job in Houston, she allowed him to lead her to one of the tables with chairs.
“I understand you have a special interest in accessible housing.” Dana nodded but didn’t speak. He continued, “I’d like for you to work with my construction company. It’s quite a large company. You might have heard of us.” He mentioned a well-known name in the industry. “If you accept you would be in charge of our accessible housing division.” He went on to extoll the company’s work and how well they had done financially and why they wanted to dip into the accessible housing market.
She tried—and failed—to interrupt him a time or two until finally she gave up and just listened. Once he took a breath she said, “I’m very flattered, Mr. Ward. Would this involve moving to Houston?”
“Yes. Why, is that a problem? We would wait until you finish your current project, of course.”
“I’m afraid I have to say no. It sounds like a wonderful company and a worthwhile plan, but I don’t want to move away from Whiskey River.”
He looked disappointed. “I’m prepared to offer you a substantial base salary and of course, you’d get a commission on any project you’re in charge of.” He named a number that made her blink. If it hadn’t been in Houston, she’d have been tempted.
“I’m sorry. But I really appreciate the offer.”
“It never hurts to try. Here’s my card,” he said, handing it to her. “Call me if you change your mind.”
She looked for Levi but he’d disappeared while she was talking to Billy Ward. That had been an interesting conversation. She planned to mention it to him later. But Houston was a huge city and Levi was firmly ensconced in Whiskey River. Even if she’d wanted, and she honestly didn’t, she was sure Levi wouldn’t move with her. And she wasn’t moving anywhere without him.
*
Levi and Dana didn’t leave until after nine. Acting as if nothing was wrong was one of the hardest things Levi had ever had to do, but he thought he managed it pretty well. They had come to the grand reopening in the same car. On the way home Levi didn’t talk much but Dana kept up a steady stream of comments. Nowhere did she mention the surprise job offer. He wished he could take comfort from that, but he didn’t.
By the time they reached home, Levi was wondering if she intended to tell him at all. Or would she pull the same number she had last time? No, he knew she wouldn’t because this time she knew there was no way Levi could follow her. Even if he’d wanted to, which he didn’t. Houston? Talk about a big city. No, Whiskey River was the place for him, and he knew it.
But was it the place for Dana?
“Levi, is something wrong?”
