Hey Jude (Lennox Valley Chronicles #1)

The look on his face tells me he’s glad I did. I am too. “It was fun,” I reply honestly.

“Hey, listen, I should get your number.” Jude pulls off his work gloves and reaches into his back pocket for his phone.

What?

“My—uh, you want my number?” I ask uneasily, not knowing how to respond.

Is he asking me out? I know we’ve been flirting a bit, but…

“Uh, yeah,” he says slowly. “I mean, I gave you my business card, but I didn’t get yours.” He’s looking at me with an unreadable expression.

My eyes widen as I realize what he means. Oh my God. For work, you jackass. He needs your number so he can contact you for work.

“Oh! Of course! Yes!” I’m stumbling over how to minimize the way I epically misread his intentions. I busy myself digging for my phone in the abyss that is my purse, taking longer than necessary to find it.

We go through the motions of saving each other’s numbers while I internally eviscerate myself for misunderstanding the situation so badly. I thought we were past the part where I make a fool of myself. I don’t know what to say as he fixes his eyes on me intently.

He looks like he wants to say something but then changes his mind. “Will I see you here tomorrow?” he asks instead.

“Um, yes, actually.” I tuck a wisp of hair behind my ear. “I’ll be putting an initial order in with the nursery when I get home and I’ll be coming back here to direct the delivery. Probably late morning?”

He nods.

“Oh, speaking of which, did you hear about the oak tree? Do we get to keep it, or what?”

“Yeah, the arborist gave us the all clear; just the branch removal for now.” He smiles.

“That’s great news; it’s a beautiful old tree,” I say, glancing over to where it stands near the house.

“Agreed.” He pauses and looks at me for a moment. “Hey, and Mitch is still off tomorrow so, if you feel like pitching in again, I won’t say no.” He gives me a half-smile.

I let his implied invitation hang between us for a moment, his eyes searching mine for an answer. “Sounds like a plan,” I say.

13

OLENA

With the temperature having dropped significantly overnight, my breath fogs in front of me as I step out of my car at the Faulkner property. Threatening rain, the morning sky is an overcast, pale gray gloom that is so typical in Lennox as late winter gives way to early spring.

I shrug on a coat over my hoodie. This morning, remembering how ill-prepared I had been for moving soil yesterday, I dressed for physical work in warm leggings and hiking boots with thick socks. Along with my layered t-shirt and sweatshirt combo, it helps to keep out the chill. Zipping my coat, I’m grateful for each cozy layer hugging my body. I could get used to this, I think to myself. It’s like wearing pajamas at work.

I sweep my hair up into an organized mess that will stay out of my face, squinting at my reflection in the side window of my car. I open the back door to grab my bag and notebook.

“I thought you weren’t coming until late morning,” Jude’s voice rumbles from over my shoulder.

I’m smiling before I’ve even finished turning around to face him. It’s nine o’clock. “Yeah, I finished the design renderings last night and figured there was no reason to wait to come out and help.”

I don’t tell him I was also pacing in my bedroom for the better part of an hour this morning, trying to shake off the desperate urge to see him before eventually giving up and driving here.

“Well, I’m glad you did, because Steph called in sick,” he says, shaking his head.

Dimitri walks by, carrying a heavy piece of lumber. “Morning, Olena.” He adjusts the wood on his shoulder with a grimace. I look in the direction he’s walking and see he and Teddy are busy framing out the pathway from the cliff-side to the sunken garden stairs.

“Good morning,” I say to him, throwing Teddy a wave, which he returns. “Looking good so far with the pathway.”

“Thanks,” Dimitri nods at me over his shoulder.

I turn my eyes back to Jude. “Well, boss?” I smirk. “What’s the plan?”