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He nodded slowly, like he was filing that away somewhere important.

I turned back to the window. The town was small and lit and familiar, and it gave me comfort. Just like the two ladies had. No matter what was going on in my life, this town and the people in it wrapped around me like a warm welcome.

Blessed. That was the word for it.

We both felt it. I was pretty sure we both knew it.

Neither of us needed to say so.

Chapter Fourteen

On my way to Sadowski Construction, I couldn’t stop thinking about Zoe—specifically kissing her in her Jeep.

I’d wanted more, but considering how we’d met, I wanted to make sure she was comfortable with me before I went any further. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally cross a boundary, and knowing Zoe, she wouldn’t tell me if I did. She’d tough it out, and I didn’t want that. I wanted honesty between us.

The Sadowski Construction building wasn’t what I expected. I guess I was thinking it would be more like the man himself. Maybe a cinder-block box, with fluorescent lighting that he shared with four other businesses. Not this attractive, two-story brick building that had been designed with care. It had wide-planked hardwood floors, and as the receptionist walked me to a conference room, I walked past framed photos of different Sadowski projects. The whole operation was professional.

The conference room was on the second floor and had windows that looked out over misty, tree-covered hills. The credenza held coffee and pastries.

Harvey got up from the table and came over to shake my hand. He had the grip of a man who had been in construction all his life.

“Adam, damn glad you’re here. Damn glad you agreed to come on board.” He chuckled.

“Thanks, Harvey.”

“I’m serious. Renzo is doing great work, but I’m pulling him in too many directions and there have been other things that have popped up that meant he had to cover for me. You’re a Godsend.”

“Well, I’m here ’til the end.”

I walked further into the conference room and saw Ford sitting there, which I should have expected. He was always early. He was leaning back in one of the plush leather chairs with his boots crossed at the ankle. He held up a coffee mug in salute. The mug said, ‘World’s Okayest Carpenter’ in block letters.

“Nice mug.”

“Wedding gift from Walker. He thought it was hilarious. I was proud.”

“Did you get him a mug?” Knowing Ford, he did.

“Of course. It said ‘World’s Most Anxious Carpenter’. Never saw him drink out of it. Damn shame. It’s oversized like this one.”

Walker came through the door behind me. He was holding a yellow legal pad, a calculator, and a mechanical pencil. Then he pulled out a chair across from Ford and sat down. He looked like he was ready to take meeting minutes.

After he was settled, he looked up at me and gave me a quick smile. “It’s good to see you again. Sometime when we’re not deep in it, we need to go to Maverick’s and catch up.”

Deep in it. That didn’t sound good.

Renzo Drakos came in last. He was carrying a roll of site plans and a tablet under one arm, and he smiled at everyone, before shaking my hand. “Adam, glad you could make it this morning. I’m really looking forward to working with you, not just because of Ford’s great recommendation, but because I just got my Tennessee architectural license six months ago, and you’ve been working in this state for how many years?”

“Almost ten,” I answered.

“Great. Great. When I have the time, I’ll be asking a lot of questions.”

“According to Harvey, you don’t have a lot of time.”

Renzo winced. “Yeah, it’s been complicated around here the last few months.”

“Everybody take a load off,” Harvey said.

We all sat down, with Harvey at the head of the table, and Renzo to his right. I sat down next to Walker. “Adam, Renzo’s going to explain some disturbing shit that’s been going on. We think we have a handle on it, but it’s possible it might escalate.”