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“And just how did you manage that feat?” His eyes never left hers as he awaited her answer.
“Knowing who to contact and how to apply the right pressure.” And a lot of luck, but he didn’t have to know that part.
He stared at her for a long moment. Mandy caught her breath, held it as her heart rate sped up exponentially. She couldn’t look away, couldn’t break contact, could only gaze into those dark eyes that gave nothing away. What was he thinking? Did he feel any of the shimmering tension that seemed to fill the office trailer?
Abruptly, he nodded once and moved to sit behind his desk. The phone rang and he snatched it up.
She glanced away, slowly letting her breath out and taking another. What had just happened?
She drew a line through that item on her to-do list, trying to focus on all she had to accomplish and not on the other occupant of the office. Getting the inspector out on such short notice was a small victory in the greater scheme of things, but it definitely didn’t hurt that Mr. Doubting Thomas over there had witnessed it. Chalk one up for her side.
Now if she could only ignore him and the strange reactions she experienced, maybe she could get something else crossed off her lengthy list.
Despite the edge of tension that seemed to permeate the office during the morning, Mandy was able to accomplish a great deal. But even as she diligently worked through the backed-up paperwork, she was conscious of Jackson Witt more than she should have been.
The way he ran his fingers through that thick hair had nothing to do with anything, and she had no business noting the gesture each time he made it. His hair was almost black, and thick. When he ran his fingers through it, it looked mussed. Sexy.
She blinked and stared back at her notes. Don’t go there!
The sound of his deep voice when speaking on the phone did not send shivers down her back. That was the draft from the door, she tried to convince herself. But the words before her blurred as she imagined him holding her close and speaking softly in her ear.
When he frowned at something, she was glad that glare was not directed at her, but her heart rate picked up, anyway. And she wondered what he’d look like if he smiled, or laughed.
Jeff joined them at ten, after reviewing plans with one of the masons on the far side of the site. His presence eased the tension a notch or two. Maybe with a third person there, her wild imagination would ease up and she could get something accomplished.
But Mandy couldn’t completely relax. She was too aware on a sensual level of the man at the adjacent desk. Did Jackson normally stay in the office all day? Wasn’t he needed on the construction site to oversee something? Had he only stayed in the office today to keep an eye on her—hoping to find fault and get rid of her even earlier than Friday?
She’d go crazy if he spent eight hours a day, every day, in such close proximity.
“It’s after twelve. When do you plan to eat lunch?” Jackson said unexpectedly.
Mandy looked up from the stack of invoices she was trying to put in order. She glanced at her watch. The morning had flown by.
“Is this the normal lunch hour?”
He nodded.
Silence outside indicated the men had stopped work.
She rose, smoothing her dark blue dress and taking her purse. “I’ll be back at one, then.”
“If I’m not here, follow up on these calls, will you?” he asked, holding out a small stack of pink telephone messages.
“Certainly.”
Jeff smiled, keeping his face down as if studying the blueprints spread across his desk.
Jackson glanced at him. “Something funny?”
His partner looked up and shook his head. “Thought you didn’t want Mandy here. You delegating work to her now?”
“If she were staying, she’d need to be able to handle the office when you and I aren’t here. Might as well see how she shapes up while we are still around.”
A hint of exhilaration swept through Mandy as she walked back to her trailer. Was Jackson thawing, as Jeff had predicted? One gesture wasn’t enough to judge. A cordial word or two would help. Was he as gruff with all his employees? Maybe he wasn’t used to being around a woman.
Not that she wanted special consideration.
After she prepared her lunch, she sat down on the sofa and put her feet up on a chair. Leaning back, she enjoyed being able to totally relax. She was tired—not that she’d admit that to her boss. She’d give anything if she could take a short nap.
Instead, she nibbled on her tuna sandwich, idly speculating about the taciturn Jackson Witt.
He seemed a hard man, with definite opinions and not much give in him. How had he and easygoing Jeff ever hooked up? He was years younger than Jeff, in his early thirties, she’d guess, while Jeff had to be in his mid-to late fifties. Did Jackson ever smile? She hadn’t seen him do so yet. Not that they’d spent that much time together. And, truth to tell, she didn’t mind if they didn’t spend any more time together. Until she could convince him she was the best person for the job, he was the enemy.
Ordinarily, she’d be pleased with what she’d accomplished with little direction on her first day. Still, she knew it might not be enough to suit him. He had the final say. But she’d go down fighting every inch of the way!
Jackson glanced up when, promptly at one o’clock, Mandy reentered the office. He nodded briefly and returned to scheduling the rotation for next week’s workload, trying to ignore her. Not an easy task.
Jackson was growing intrigued with the new secretary. He’d expected her to flounce around, ask a ton of questions, flirt with anything in jeans and play at office work.
So far the delicate-looking blonde had succeeded in getting an inspector out on a couple of hours’ notice, had organized the mess of her desk and not flirted once. She ignored the men who stopped by with one excuse or another. Was she playing some game, or was she for real?
He stared at her as she glanced through the phone messages he’d handed her earlier. After brushing back her blond mane, she picked up the phone and dialed the first number. She deliberately put a smile on her face, staring at the note in hand. He frowned. What was she doing? Following up on problems was nothing to smile about.
And were those curls and waves natural? Must be. With the impatient way she brushed them out of her way, it was unlikely they were a perm gone wrong.
Blond covered a variety of hues. Her hair was a mixture of gold, wheat-white and honey tumbling across her shoulders. Maybe she should have cut it like Sara’s, short and sleek. Or would those curls persist? Did they feel as soft and silky as they looked? Would they wrap around a man’s fingers if he threaded his hands through them?
He glanced away. What the hell was he doing, speculating about a woman’s hair? He rose and slammed out of the office, disgust warring with frustration. He’d told Jeff that having a woman secretary was a bad idea.
Before he could decide whether to head for home to grab a bite to eat, check out what Jeff was up to, or make sure Moose wasn’t hotdogging with the crane, Jackson spotted the county car descending the sweep of road leading to the site.
Taking a deep breath, he forced his mind on the upcoming inspection. He refused to think about Mandy Parkerson and her wild mop of curls. Or her blue eyes. Or her damned sunny smile. She’d be gone by Friday.
Jackson didn’t return to the office during the afternoon. Mandy took advantage of the opportunity to question Jeff. Getting a better picture of the operation would go a long way in bringing her up to speed. The atmosphere was much more relaxed, for which she was grateful.
There were phone calls to field, files to search for, and other routine tasks, in addition to trying to catch up with the work that had piled up since the former secretary had left. But Mandy still asked questions, tried to make sense of where they stood and how much they were trying to complete before winter.
By five she was glad to call it a day. It had been hectic, but exhilarating work. And she was making progress. Now she would change into something comfortable and take a short walk before dinner. Another early night was on the schedule. She suspected it’d take a couple of days to get used to the hectic pace, in addition to the catch-up she needed to do.
Her doctor had told her to expect to grow tired more easily. How right she’d been.
Calling good-night to Jeff, Mandy headed for her trailer.
Two men lounged by the office steps when she descended.
“Evening, ma’am,” one said.
She smiled and nodded, but kept walking.
They fell into step with her.
“Welcome to Windhaven’s future newest resort,” one said. “Or it will be when we’re finished here. I’m Bill Frates. This here’s Tim Harris.”
“How do you do? I’m Mandy Parkerson.” She kept her pace brisk. It was nice of them to introduce themselves, but she wasn’t planning to become a good buddy to anyone. She’d do her job and keep to herself.
“It gets lonely eating dinner by yourself,” Bill said. “Want to join us tonight?”
Mandy increased her pace just a bit. “Thanks for the offer, but I have plans.” Only a few more yards to her trailer and safety. She resisted looking around to see if Jackson was watching her. He would surely consider this distracting his men.
“Tomorrow night then?”
“I’ll have to see.” She reached for her key and unlocked her door.
“It was nice meeting you both,” she said politely. Stepping inside, she closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. That was not distracting the men, as Jackson had direly foretold. But it might come close. Too bad they didn’t know she had no plans to get involved with anyone—even on a superficial level!
Marc’s cruel defection had cured her of romantic notions. Some people were destined for happy ever after. She wasn’t one of them.
She’d finally learned that lesson. She knew she had nothing to offer a man. Her own father had run out on her mother before she’d been born. Marc had turned away once he heard about the baby. He’d found her fun to date for a while, but commitment hadn’t been in his plans. Not to the baby, and especially not to her.
She patted her tummy. “Whoever you are, sweetie, I’ll love you forever,” she whispered, an overwhelming glow of love swelling. She would cherish her child and never abandon it, no matter what the hardships.
Not as her parents had abandoned her.
As the baby grew and developed, so did her love for her unborn child. Mandy wondered how her mother could have carelessly left her own daughter in foster care. Had she ever regretted forsaking her only child? Mandy had been five when her mother had dumped her with social services, claiming she was unable to manage anymore.
Mandy had made up tales when she was younger—about how her mother really adored her, but because she had no money, had had to reluctantly give her up to foster care, temporarily.
Then, in true melodramatic fashion, she had died, leaving Mandy to languish in the system until she turned eighteen.
Of course, once she was older, Mandy had figured out it was more likely her mother just hadn’t wanted to be bothered. That she had found it easier to deal with life unencumbered by an unwanted child.
The old sorrows surfaced again and Mandy pushed them away. It was all ancient history.
Her child would have all the love and devotion from its mother she could give it. And she had enough for two—to make up for Marc’s defection. She would not let history repeat itself!
Soon she would no longer be alone—she’d have her precious baby. They’d be a happy, close family of two.
Less than ten minutes later, Mandy peeked out her door. She’d put on loose shorts, a cotton top and a light sweatshirt. It was growing cooler by the minute, with the sun already behind the western peaks. But once she began walking she’d warm up.
No one appeared to be paying any attention to her. She locked her door and glanced around. Down by the lake a group of men were laughing and talking. Closer to her trailer, she saw four or five men near one of the campers, leaning back in camp chairs, shooting the breeze.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out briskly. She waved when they called greetings, but didn’t stop as she passed the group near the camper. Walking briskly, she headed for the lake. If she skirted the group there, she could head to the right and walk along the shore for a while.
If felt great to be outside after a day cooped up in the office. The air was scented with pine and a hint of fresh lake water. The dirt beneath her feet was so dry it puffed in little clouds as she walked. Her shoes would be covered in red dust by the time she got back.
The group by the lake grew quieter as she drew near. Circling around them, she once again smiled and waved. One man looked as if he planned to join her, but hesitated. She refused to make eye contact, and hoped it would indicate she was not interested in companionship.
Small waves rippled quietly against the narrow beach. In spring, she suspected, the water rose to the tree line. But by late summer, the level had dropped, so there was plenty of room to walk on the compacted soil.
Striding quickly along, Mandy smiled with delight. It was the perfect ending to the day. She would make a habit of this. The water lapped gently at the shore. Wind rustled softly in the pines. By walking briskly, she kept warm, though she did slip on her sweatshirt. Maybe jeans would have been more suitable.
Before she’d gone too far, however, she was breathing hard. She couldn’t be that out of shape—she’d been walking a couple of miles after work every day in Denver. And the elevation here wasn’t that much higher, was it?
By the time Mandy decided to turn back, she was feeling decidedly queasy. Spots danced before her eyes and she was gasping for breath. A sharp pain pierced her head. She slowed her pace, anxious now only to return to the trailer and lie down.
Eyeing a fallen log near the lake, she considered sitting to rest for a moment, but pushed on. The light was fading fast. She needed to return to the trailer.
Once again she saw the men gathered near the water when she rounded the bend. Several were fishing. The others were drinking and laughing, unwinding after a tough day.
She stumbled, reached out to catch herself before she could fall. Then everything went black.
Chapter Three
“Hey, boss, come quick. We’ve got a problem!” Bill Frates stopped running as soon as he spotted Jackson.
Jackson frowned and rose from where he’d been sitting beside the lake. This had better be good. The men knew the unwritten rule: don’t bother the boss at twilight.
“What’s wrong?” He quickly covered the distance between himself and Bill.
“It’s the new secretary. She fell and is unconscious.”
Jackson picked up his pace. “How did she fall?” he asked. A sudden stab of fear struck him. She was all right, wasn’t she? There was nothing wrong with her baby, was there? They were a half hour or more from Julian. Did the town have a helicopter for emergency airlifts?
Bill turned and hurriedly led the way back along the lake.
“She was just walking. A bunch of us were by the lake—you know how Tim and Sonny love fishing. We were all hanging out. So when she came into view, we watched her. Then she just dropped like a rock.”
“Damn!” Jackson saw the crowd of men. He began to run.
The men parted so Jackson could get to the center of the group. Tim knelt beside her, gently shaking her shoulder and calling her name.
There on the ground lay Jackson’s new secretary. Her blond hair spread around her like a nimbus, highlighting the rusty-brown color of the ground. Her legs were bent, her arms outstretched. Her eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell quickly.
Jackson swallowed hard and stooped down.
“Mandy?” He shook her gently. He glanced around. “Did she trip on something? Who saw her fall?”
“A lot of us, boss,” Tom Harmon said. “We were all watching her walk along, speculating if she’d speak to us on her way back, when she seemed to stumble, then just crumpled up. She didn’t hit hard. We didn’t see any rocks around.” The ground was strewn with a thick carpet of pine needles, which would have softened the hard-packed earth.
Jackson gently patted her cheek. “Mandy, wake up.”
Her breathing was rapid and her color pale. He didn’t know what was wrong, but whatever it was, it was worse because she was pregnant.
Slipping his arms beneath her shoulders and knees, he rose, holding her against her chest.
“Someone find Jeff and have him call for an ambulance,” Jackson said, heading toward the trailers. She didn’t weigh a thing. Was she too thin? Against one arm, he could feel the softness of the skin beneath her knees. Her head was nestled on his shoulder, her fragrance swirling around him.
Ignoring the tingling tendrils of awareness, Jackson pushed through the group and began the ascent to the trailers.
She stirred and opened her eyes, blinking a couple of times as she tried to get oriented.
“What happened?” She looked up into Jackson’s face.
“You took a tumble. Knocked yourself out, I think,” he replied.
She rubbed her forehead with one hand and struggled. “Put me down. I can walk.”
“We’ll wait for the paramedics to determine that.”
“I don’t need paramedics. I’m fine. Put me down.”
“Jeff’s calling an ambulance. You’ll be in Julian in no time.”
“I’m not going to Julian. I’m fine!” She pushed against his shoulder. “Really, Jackson, this is embarrassing. Please, put me down.”
He stopped. The group of men trailing behind him stopped. Slowly he set her on her feet, keeping his arm around her shoulders, watching for any sign of weakness.
Mandy drew a deep breath and clutched his free arm. “I do feel a bit wobbly, but that’s all. If I can just sit down, I’ll be fine. Really, no paramedics.”
He glanced at one of the men and nodded toward the office. “Catch Jeff, tell him to hold off on the ambulance for the time being.”
“Forever,” Mandy muttered, glancing around. Color rose in her face. “Good grief,” she murmured softly, “is the entire crew here?”
“I don’t know who’s here and who’s not. It doesn’t matter. Let’s get you to your trailer. Then I want some answers.”
They walked slowly, silently, to her trailer. She clung to his arm, but walked without other assistance. Behind them, the men began to disperse, until only Jackson and Mandy walked up to her steps. She dug her key from her pocket and inserted it. She opened the door, and he followed her in before she could protest.
Twice now she’d interrupted his evening routine. Did she plan to make a habit of it? He scowled. He knew she’d be trouble.
“I’m fine. Thanks for the rescue,” she said, sinking down on her sofa. She leaned back and closed her eyes, her hands resting protectively on her stomach. How was it he seemed to take all the air from the room? He towered over her and she kept her eyes closed to establish a modicum of control over the situation.
“What happened?” His voice was grim.
“I don’t know. I was taking a walk. Then the next thing I knew, you were carrying me up the hill.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. “No small feat these days.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “You didn’t trip on anything?”
“No, but I have a piercing headache. I had it before I blacked out. I don’t think I hit my head on anything.”
“Altitude sickness, maybe?”
“Shouldn’t be. I walk all the time in Denver.”
“Which is several thousand feet lower in elevation. It takes a while to get acclimated to the high country.”
“Noted.”
“You’re a liability here, Mandy Parkerson. Not only to the job, but to yourself. What if you’d been injured? How long would it take an ambulance to get here?
You’re risking your own safety and that of your baby. You’ll have to leave. We’ll pay you for the week.”
She flew to her feet and glared at him, her hands clenching into fists on her hips. “Now just a minute here, Jackson Witt. You can’t fire me for falling on my own time. I’m not hurt. Thank you for your concern, but I was hired to work for your company, and if you fire me for some trumped-up, bogus reason I’ll sue you up one side and down the other!”
“A cheap price to pay—at least I’ll know you and your baby are safe. It’s too dangerous here for someone in your condition. I don’t want anyone hurt. If you won’t think about yourself, at least consider your child!” He glared at her for a long moment, then spun around and left.
Mandy slowly sank back onto the sofa, her knees weak as wet spaghetti. What had that been about? It almost sounded as if he cared about her safety. Or was it only to minimize any liability to his precious construction site?
“Jackson, what’s going on? Is she all right?” Jeff hurried over from the office, his face creased with worry.
Jackson nodded. “She fell. I think she fainted. It’s not uncommon in pregnant women. And we’re at a higher elevation from Denver. I think she overextended herself. She claims she’s fine, but she’s history. Get rid of her, Jeff. You hired her, you fire her. She’s a danger to herself and that baby.” He strode off, angry with the woman for taking risks. Angry that he even cared.
The ache that took hold wouldn’t let go. Sara had never taken risks. She’d been careful her entire life—especially so when pregnant with Sammy.
And in the end, it hadn’t mattered. It hadn’t been enough.
But to deliberately take a risk when a child was involved was unacceptable. He wouldn’t be a party to it!
Jeff knocked on the trailer door. Mandy answered immediately.
“Hi, Jeff, come in.” Stepping back, she smiled wryly. “I guess you heard.”
“I came to see if you’re all right.”
“Honestly, I don’t know what happened. One minute I’m walking along, the next…” The next she knew she’d been swept into the strongest pair of arms she’d ever felt. Jackson had carried her up the incline from the lake as if she’d weighed nothing.
She could still feel the strength of his arms, the muscles of his chest. She couldn’t ever remember anyone so strong, anyone who handled her so gently.
The special male scent that radiated from his skin seemed to linger and cause all sorts of reactions, just as it had in the office earlier. The heat that had enveloped her when she realized he was carrying her made her act silly. Once in the safety of her trailer, she had lashed out in retaliation—and made an idiot of herself in the process. He’d only been watching out for her safety. There was nothing personal in his concern; he probably felt that way with all his employees.
She swallowed and sat down again, knees definitely wobbly. Should she listen to his advice? Leave when she’d just arrived—without even proving how competent she was? She couldn’t do that. She had too much riding on this job.
“Guess I tried too much. Jackson suggested I’m suffering from altitude sickness. Can I use the phone in the office to call my doctor? Just to check in?”
“I can take you to the hospital in Julian,” Jeff said instantly.
“Maybe, but first I’ll check in with my regular obstetrician. I’ve heard of pregnant women fainting—although it’s never happened to me before. Maybe Jackson is right and it’s just a reaction to the higher altitude. Which means I’ll have to take it easy until I get used to being at this elevation. But I need to get some exercise. I can’t just sit at a desk all day.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to run you into town to be checked by a doctor?”
“Let me check in with mine first.”
Jeff escorted her to the office, which was miraculously empty. Thankfully, Mandy sat behind her desk, glad she didn’t have to face Jackson again so soon. She dialed the phone and spoke to the answering service, leaving her number. Hanging up, she looked at Jeff.