The work at Bloom was always physical, but today had been on another level. A delayed delivery had finally shown up on top of another that had come early, and that was all in addition to the two deliveries we’d been expecting.
I sent Thea a smile. “Have I told you lately how glad I am that you started working here?”
She snorted as she hoisted a bag of soil onto her shoulder. “I definitely don’t need any fancy gym membership.”
I arched a brow. “Did you have one?”
Thea tossed the bag onto our growing pile. “Definitely not. Although I wouldn’t mind sitting in a hot tub after a day like today.”
“Same,” I said with a groan. “I think I need to talk to my brother about what it would take to put one in at my place.”
Thea moved back to the Gator for another bag of soil. “Does he sell them or something?”
I shook my head. “He’s a contractor. Runs Colson Construction.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. “I’ve seen some of his builds. They’re incredible.”
I beamed with pride. Shep had worked hard to grow his business. And while he didn’t have an architecture degree, his designswereincredible. He often drew up his own plans, complete with an infinite number of high-tech gadgets, and had an architect friend look them over and sign off. It was incredible to see people appreciate everything he did.
“Shep is pretty amazing. He’s doing a restoration project for me right now on a historic home, but I’m thinking I might need some updates when it comes to the backyard.”
Thea tossed the next bag of soil onto our pile. “If that includes a hot tub, I think you’re a genius.”
I chuckled. “I promise to invite you over if it happens.”
A little of Thea’s smile slipped then, as if the idea of coming over wasn’t something she was all that comfortable with. She didn’t have any close friends, at least as far as I could tell, and that had to be hard.
“Rho,” a voice called out.
I turned and fought a groan as I saw Davis heading toward me. He looked so out of place in his slacks and Gucci loafers. I was sure he’d be madly cleaning the dirt off the expensive shoes the moment he got back into his car.
It was so opposite of the boy I’d known in high school. That one had favored hiking boots and Carhartts. Now, all he seemed to care about was computers, money, and status.
Why I’d said yes to that date a couple of months ago was beyond me. I should’ve seen the changes in him and run as fast as my legs could take me. But Nora had kept asking me those carefully couched questions about whether I was interested in anyone. And suggested I should sign up for one of those online dating services. She didn’t mean to be pushy, but she wanted all herkidsto be happy and taken care of. And I’d felt the weight.
“Hey, Davis,” I greeted, trying to keep things cordial. “Looking for some plants?”
He scowled as if flowers were somehow offensive to him. “No, but I need to talk to you. Away from that brute.”
Brute?Since when did Davis use words like that? “You mean Anson?”
I had to admit, seeing Anson put Davis in his place had been more than a little amusing.
Davis’s eyes narrowed. “Who is he anyway? I’ve never seen him before. I hope Shepard didn’t hire some random off the street. He should let me run a background check.”
Annoyance stirred. That was something else Davis had started doing in the last couple of years. Calling everyone by their full name, even if they clearly preferred their nickname. “Anson isShep’sbest friend from college. So, I hardly think a background check is necessary.”
Davis visibly stiffened at the revelation. “Then why haven’t I met him before? I asked around about him, and it seems like no one knows much about him.”
My annoyance began bubbling over into anger. “Why do you care? He has nothing to do with you.”
“He’s aroundyou. That matters to me,” Davis gritted out.
Oh, hell.This was the last thing I needed. Some sort of pissing contest between Davis—a man I wanted nothing to do with—and Anson, a man who wanted nothing to do with me.
I felt heat at my side and glanced to my left to see Thea moving in a bit closer. Her face had gone pale, and she’d fisted her hands at her sides. “Do you want me to find Duncan?”
Shit.
