Page 57 of Show Me

I bite back a chuckle at that. “I believe that.”

He shows me the filing system, organized in a way that makes sense only after he explains it: the delivery schedule, the client list, the whiteboard that tracks active jobs.

He’s stoic, but not unkind. By the time he explains how to log materials, the door swings open.

Xavier steps inside, a roll of plans tucked under his arm. He stops when he sees me behind the desk. Surprise flickers across his face, brief and unguarded. “Thought you weren’t starting for a couple of weeks.”

“So did I.”

His gaze shifts to his dad. Back to me. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” I say. “I just…” I pause for a second, not willing to get into everything with his dad sitting there. “I started early.”

His father clears his throat. “Phones are yours now, Ruby.”

As if on cue, the line rings.

I pick up the receiver. “Cole Construction.”

Xavier watches me. Then he nods once, like something settled into place.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Xavier

By the time I make it back to the office, the sun’s high overhead. I stomp my boots against the concrete outside the door, knocking loose dirt from the worksite before stepping in. Not that the place is clean, but it doesn’t need more of it.

The phone rings inside. It’s not unusual. What’s unusual is that someone answers before the second ring.

“Cole Construction, this is Ruby.”

Her voice carries through the office, calm, steady, like she’s been sitting behind that desk for years instead of half a day. I step inside.

Ruby glances up from the desk. Her eyes drop briefly to my boots, then back up. A small nod. Approval. It shouldn’t hit like it does.

Dad doesn’t look up from his paperwork. “You’re early.”

“Wrapped Maple ahead of schedule,” I say, still watching her.

Ruby has her hair pulled back, sleeves rolled up, and a pencil tucked behind her ear. Next to her is a legal pad filled with neat notes.

She covers the receiver and glances at me. “Concrete truck’s running fifteen minutes behind on Main. They called to confirm you were aware.”

“Saw that.” We might need to get another company for concrete services. This is the second time in a couple of weeks. “They called out there too.”

She nods and returns to the call. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll meet the original timeline.”

Dad’s pen pauses. He glances at her, then back to the paperwork. That’s as close to approval as he gets before late afternoon.

After she hangs up, I drop the plans on the desk. “Starting early wasn’t enough.” I arch my brows. “You had to dive right in?”

She shrugs. “Didn’t see the point.”

“Most people ease in.”

She glances up. “Most people aren’t walking into this.”

“Fair point.” I chuckle as the corners of her lips curve upward.