Flirting With Disaster

3

There were at least forty people milling around in the church parish hall when Josh arrived there on Saturday morning. A long folding table was loaded down with a coffee urn, pottery mugs and trays of doughnuts and pastries. He wasn’t convinced there was enough caffeine or sugar in the world to get him through the weeks to come, but he filled a cup to the brim and grabbed a couple of glazed doughnuts before going in search of Cord.

He found him in an alcove, deep into what sounded like a very serious conversation with an unfamiliar man. Josh was about to back away when Cord spotted him.

“Hey, there you are,” Cord called. “Josh, get over here and let me introduce you to Caleb Webb. He’s the minister here and the driving force behind this project.”

Surprised, Josh took another look at the man dressed in worn jeans and a polo shirt. He didn’t look like any preacher Josh had ever known. For one thing, he was built as if he’d been working construction all his life. For another, he was young. Certainly no older than Josh’s age, thirty-four.

The few preachers Josh had encountered in his brief brushes with religion had all been old and mostly crotchety. They’d spent a lot of time talking about fire and brimstone, which had been pretty scary stuff to a kid. Caleb looked like someone you could enjoy a beer with at the end of the day. He also didn’t seem like the kind of man who’d try to frighten a youngster into behaving.

“Sorry for interrupting,” Josh told them. “I just wanted to let Cord know I was here.”

“Not a problem,” Cord assured him. “Caleb was just filling me in on a couple of problems that have cropped up.”

Josh should have guessed this project wouldn’t be the picnic Cord had promised him. “What kind of problems?”

“Nothing for you to worry about,” Caleb assured him. “I just have a little rebellion in the ranks among my parishioners. Some of them don’t approve of what we’re doing. It’s gotten a little ugly, but I’ll get it straightened out.”

“Ugly in what way?” Josh asked, trying to imagine why anyone would disapprove of building a home for someone in need.

Caleb gave him a wry grin. “There’s a camp that thinks I ought to be run off for doing this for Amanda O’Leary. They’re very vocal.”

Josh didn’t get it. He looked blankly from Caleb to Cord. “Okay, what am I missing here?”

It was Caleb who responded. “I assume Cord filled you in on Amanda’s situation.”

Cord nodded. “I know her husband was killed a while back.”

“It was more than that,” Caleb said. “He’d gotten himself into serious debt and she was forced to declare bankruptcy. She’s been working two, sometimes three, jobs to try to pay off all the bills. She was about to be evicted from her apartment when we stepped in. At first we were just going to help out with the rent, which we did, but then someone had the idea to build her a house. Most of the congregation jumped on board, but a few people think we’ve picked the wrong person to help.”

“Why?” Josh asked.

“Because Amanda’s daddy is William Maxwell,” Cord explained. When Josh shook his head, Cord added, “Big Max is one of the wealthiest men in Charleston. Some folks think Big Max is the one who ought to be helping Amanda, not the church.”

There was obviously still some critical piece of information that Josh was missing. If getting this woman a place to live were that simple, it would have been done long ago.

“Why isn’t he?” Josh asked. “I assume there’s a reason.”

“There’s a lot of bad blood between the two of them,” Cord said succinctly.

“That’s an understatement and it’s not without reason, at least on Amanda’s part,” Caleb said. “Since you’re involved in this now, you should know what’s going on. Here’s the short version. Big Max disowned Amanda when she got married. He didn’t approve of Bobby O’Leary. He dug in his heels. Amanda refused to cave in to his pressure, so he hasn’t had a thing to do with her for almost ten years now. He’s never even set eyes on his grandkids. I think he regrets all that now, but he’s too stubborn to fix it, and Amanda’s too hurt and has too much pride to turn to him now that she’s in trouble because of Bobby’s mistakes.”

Josh got the picture. “But some folks think she should swallow her pride and go running to daddy now, instead of taking this opportunity away from some other family, one with no other resources.”

“Exactly,” Caleb said.

“I suppose I can see their point, but obviously she doesn’t think she can turn to her father or doesn’t want to after the way he treated her,” Josh said. “I can’t say I blame her.” He could empathize. Even if he discovered tomorrow that his father was rolling in dough, it would be a cold day in hell before he ever turned to the man for help, no matter how dire his own circumstances.

“As far as Amanda’s concerned, her father burned that bridge,” Caleb said. “She won’t ask him for a dime. So as far as I’m concerned, she’s a struggling single mom who’s as deserving as anyone else. And she’s doing everything she can to get back on her feet. It’s not like she came looking for a handout. People just saw a need and wanted to help. She’s one of our own. We have an opportunity to help her and we’ll all get something out of doing it.”

“So you want to go ahead, even though it’ll anger some members of your congregation?” Josh asked.

“Absolutely,” Caleb responded without hesitation. “And it’s really only one member who’s dedicated himself to stirring the pot. He just happens to be wealthy and powerful in his own right. He could complicate things if he switches from talk to action.”

“What sort of action?” Josh asked.

“Let’s just say he’s politically well connected and could hold things up,” Caleb replied. “Especially if he thinks he’s doing Big Max a favor in the process.”

“Has he threatened to throw up real roadblocks?” Josh asked.

Caleb shook his head. “Not yet. Mainly he’s been working to get the congregation on his side. He’s succeeded with some. We expected a larger turnout than this initially.”

“And as of this morning, Amanda’s balking,” Cord explained.

“Last night she got wind of the battle that was brewing, and she doesn’t want the congregation divided over this,” Caleb said. “I’ve tried every way I can think of, but I can’t get through to her that it’s only George Winslow flexing his muscles.”

Silence fell as they all pondered how to break the impasse. It was several minutes before Josh realized that Cord was studying him speculatively.

“You know, Josh, you might have better luck than Caleb did,” Cord suggested mildly.

“Hold it,” Josh protested. “When did this become my problem? I’m here to build a house, not to provide counseling services. Besides, I don’t even know this woman. Why would she listen to me?”

Cord didn’t answer.

“There won’t be any reason to build a house unless we get Amanda back on board,” Caleb pointed out.

“Hey, that suits me,” Josh said.

Cord regarded him with disappointment. “Josh, take a look out there,” he said, gesturing toward the main room. “See those kids. Who do they remind you of?”

Reluctantly Josh turned to look at Amanda O’Leary’s three children. They were sitting on metal chairs, their expressions glum. Two little boys, who should be out running and playing ball on a Saturday morning, and a pint-size girl with huge blue eyes who looked as if she might cry any minute. She was clutching a worn stuffed bear by one arm. Josh saw himself in each of those solemn faces. Once again he cursed the day he’d ever confided in Cord about his past.

“Well?” Cord prodded.

Josh wondered how different his life might have been if someone had ever sat his mother down and had a heart-to-heart with her about giving him a real home, instead of dragging him from city to city, from motel to motel. He heaved a resigned sigh.

“Okay, where is she?” he asked.

“Over in the corner trying to stay out of Dinah’s path. Dinah’s already tried and failed to persuade her,” Cord said. “Knowing Dinah, she’s just taking a breather, but maybe you can head her off.”

“I think you’re giving me way too much credit on all fronts,” Josh said. “But I’ll give it a shot for the sake of those kids.”

Rueing the day he’d ever met Cord, much less agreed to take on the building of this house, Josh crossed the parish hall to where Amanda O’Leary was sitting all alone, her jaw set stubbornly and her chin lifted high.

“Mind if I sit down?” he asked, already sliding onto the chair next to her.

“There’s nothing you can say to change my mind,” she said before he could say another word.

He grinned at her defiance. She might be down, but she was definitely not out. He had to admire her for that. “What makes you think I’m here to change your mind?”

“Oh, please,” she said disdainfully. “I saw you with Caleb and Cord. I’m sure they’ve given you an earful about how stubborn I’m being.”

Josh grinned. “They did say something along those lines. To tell you the truth, I get where you’re coming from. I grew up with folks thinking I was the perfect target for their good deeds. It wasn’t much fun.”

Amanda regarded him skeptically. “Then why are you over here pressuring me?”

“Pressure?” Josh scoffed. “Sweetheart, this isn’t pressure. This is just two people having a get-acquainted chat. Obviously I know who you are, but since we haven’t been introduced, I’m Josh Parker.”

Her gaze narrowed. “The builder Cord hired?”

“That’s me.”

“So you’re out of work if I don’t go along with this thing,” she said with a biting edge of sarcasm. “Not my problem.”

“It’s not about me. I don’t need the work.” He studied her intently, then glanced toward her kids. “But those children over there look to me like they could use a nice home.”

“And I’d love for them to have it, but not if it’s going to split this congregation apart,” Amanda said spiritedly. “That’s too high a price. Things might be a little cramped where we’re living, but we’ve been managing for the last year.”

“With a little help, I understand … Anyway, Caleb seems willing to pay the price, however steep it is.” He leaned toward her and confided, “Personally, I think he has visions of teaching some lessons about humanity and generosity.”

Her lips twitched. “I imagine he does, but it’s not up to him. I will not be responsible for him getting fired or friends taking sides against each other.”

“Friends might disagree, but they’ll patch things up. As for Caleb, who said anything about firing him?”

“Some anonymous caller left a message for me yesterday, and I heard a few people talking about it this morning. Word’s getting around that George Winslow wants Caleb gone. He’s not going to let this drop, not as long as he has my father whispering in his ear. He’s determined to stir up trouble if we go forward. Caleb doesn’t deserve the aggravation.”

“People talk about a lot of things. It doesn’t mean they’ll act on it. I’m sure whoever left the message figured you’d cave in, because they knew instinctively that you’d back away from a fight.”

Her eyes flashed. “I’ve never backed away from a fight in my life,” she said indignantly. “But George is as rich as my daddy and just as powerful. He and Big Max are allies. When it comes to me and my father, there’s little question about whose side he’d take. He’ll happily bring down anyone who tries to help me, and he’ll consider it a favor to my daddy.”

“He doesn’t seem to scare Caleb. Isn’t that what counts?” Josh asked.

“I’m not willing to take that chance.” Her gaze narrowed. “Besides, didn’t you just say it wasn’t much fun being the object of pity? Maybe I’ve thought it over and decided I don’t want to be in that position, either. I’ll be indebted to these people forever if I let them build the house.”

“I could certainly understand it if you were to come to that conclusion,” Josh agreed.

“Then we’re agreed. I’m doing the right thing.”

“No, we’re not agreed,” Josh said. “Because I don’t think that’s what happened. I think you got scared off, just the way this Winslow person—or your daddy—wanted you to.”

Despite her earlier indignation, she didn’t seem to have enough fight left to argue. “Does it really matter?”

“I think it does. There’s a big difference between being proud and being scared,” Josh told her. “And even if you think this is all about pride, I’m not sure you’re in a position to let pride get in the way of doing what you need to do for those kids of yours.”

She studied him intently. “Something tells me you would have thrown this offer right back in their faces, too, especially once it got complicated.”

“Possibly,” Josh agreed. “But I like to think that I’d have taken another look at it if someone had offered my mom the one thing that might have made a real difference to us.”

“What was that?”

“A home,” he said simply. “I’m not just talking about four walls and a roof over our heads, Amanda, but a real home with a community of people who cared enough to build it for us. That’s what you’ve got happening here. I’m not sure you should be so quick to turn your back on it, especially not just to protect Caleb, a man who doesn’t seem to think he needs your protection.”

“But there are a lot of people, not just George Winslow, who think building this house for me is the wrong thing to do. Maybe they’re right.”

“Thumb your nose at them,” he advised. “After all, what do they know? You have your reasons for not asking your daddy for help, and those reasons are none of their concern. If they knew, they might just admire your gumption. I do.”

“I suppose,” she said, though she still sounded doubtful.

“Sweetheart, there are always going to be people who find fault with everything. Are their opinions more important than your kids?”

“Of course not,” she said.

“Well, then?”

“I can’t stop thinking about the fallout for Caleb. He’s been such a good friend. I don’t want to repay him by causing him trouble.”

“He strikes me as a man who stands on his principles. He wants to do this for you and your family. I think you should respect his wishes.”

She sat silently, her expression thoughtful. Josh waited, knowing that he’d pushed as hard as he dared. The decision was hers to make. He suspected when it came right down to it, she would make the only choice a good and decent mother could make.

Finally she met his gaze. “Are you married, Josh?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“You should be.”

He shuddered at the certainty in her voice. “I don’t think so.” Curiosity got the better of him, so he asked, “Why would you say that?”

“Because it’s a shame to let all that compassion and sensitivity go to waste,” she said.

She grinned and Josh saw a glimpse of the beautiful woman she must have been before tragedy had weighed her down.

She studied him thoughtfully. “I think I’d better let you build this house for us.”

He regarded her with suspicion, not feeling nearly as triumphant as he might have before she’d made that comment about him needing to be married. “Oh?”

“It’ll give me more time to find just the right woman for you.” She winked at him, then added, “I’ll go tell Caleb and the kids what I’ve decided.”

Josh sat there feeling doomed. He’d seen firsthand just how stubborn and determined and principled Amanda O’Leary could be. Fortunately he’d had quite a few years to perfect his own stubbornness and determination. Amanda O’Leary wouldn’t get to first base with her matchmaking scheme.

Besides, from what he could see in a glance around the parish hall, the few females there were already paired off and unavailable. He didn’t have a reason in the world to worry.

So why the hell were his palms sweating as if he’d just made a pact with the devil?

Maggie slipped into a seat beside Dinah an hour after the organizational meeting had begun. “What did I miss?” she asked.

“The nail-biting when Amanda announced she didn’t want the house, after all,” Dinah said.

Maggie was shocked. “Why? What’s wrong with her?”

“Don’t blame her. She was trying to protect Caleb.”

“And Caleb is?”

“The minister.”

Maggie was confused. “Was he in some sort of danger?”

“A few people think he ought to be fired over this project. It’s a long story. Bottom line, the deal is back on.”

“And I thought this was going to be boring,” Maggie said to herself, settling back in her chair as Cord began to speak. Of course, Dinah didn’t hear her wry comment. All of Dinah’s attention was focused on her husband. It was disgusting, actually. All that rapt attention from a woman who’d once been in the thick of some of the world’s most important—and dangerous—stories. Now the most important thing in her life was a man. Of course, Dinah was barely back from her honeymoon, so Maggie supposed she ought to cut her some slack.

Cord didn’t waste time getting to the point, which seemed to be introducing the man who would be in charge of building the house. “As long as you follow his directions, he’s going to make you all look like master carpenters,” Cord promised. “Josh Parker.”

The man who walked to the podium looked embarrassed by the introduction. It must have been the combination of that hint of humility with the most gorgeous biceps and chest Maggie had ever seen that made her snap to attention. This was a man made for blue jeans and tight T-shirts.

“My, my,” she whispered to Dinah. “Where has Cord been hiding him?”

Dinah chuckled. “In Atlanta mostly. I met him when I went looking for Bobby when you and Cord refused to tell me where he was.”

“Ah, yes, your failed quest for your backup guy. Yet even after seeing Josh you still came back here and married Cord,” Maggie said with exaggerated amazement.

“Fortunately for you I was interested in more than a great body. I love Cord for his mind,” Dinah said piously.

“Yeah, right,” Maggie retorted. “As I recall, Bobby Beaufort had a great mind. It wasn’t enough.”

“If you’re interested in Josh, I could introduce you.” Dinah offered, her tone casual.

“I’m a big girl. I can introduce myself,” Maggie said. “If I decide I want to.”

“If? You’re practically salivating now,” Dinah said.

“All the more reason to wait,” Maggie said. “I don’t want to appear too anxious. Besides, I’ve sworn off men, remember?”

“Maybe so, but can I assume that in the last five minutes you’ve experienced a miraculous recovery from your heartbreak over Warren?” Dinah inquired wryly. “It would be fitting if it took place here in a church.”

Maggie frowned at her. “Warren didn’t break my heart. He just put a dent in my ego and threw a monkey wrench into my self-confidence. None of that means I can’t appreciate a fine male specimen when I see one.”

“So you’re simply admiring the view?”

“Exactly.”

And to prove her point, Maggie waited to be the very last person in line to get her assignment for the start of construction next weekend. After all, nobody on earth recognized trouble as readily as she did. Why would she rush right into it?

And if waiting in line gave her a few more minutes to study Josh’s fine body, so much the better.

Josh had done his share of hiring and firing on the various jobs he’d held through the years. He’d been on the receiving end of more interview questions than most people here today combined. He approached the task of assembling this roomful of volunteers into a construction crew with guarded optimism.

So far he had twenty-seven people who’d never done a home repair more taxing that plunging a stopped-up drain, five who’d painted the interior of their homes, three who owned decent tools and one who’d actually worked construction—thirty years ago as a summer job. It was discouraging.

“Next,” he called out, already sliding a form across the table.

The well-manicured hand that reached for it immediately caught his attention. Long, slender fingers, silky-looking skin and nails painted fire-engine red. He sighed at the sight and snatched the form back almost before she’d put her fancy Mont Blanc pen to paper.

“You don’t need to fill this out,” he said, his dismay complete when he realized the owner of those hands was his last chance to complete a decent crew.

Dark eyes clashed with his. “Oh? And why is that?”

“Because …” He glanced at the form she’d begun to fill in. “Ms. Forsythe, I’m assigning you to the lunch team.”

“Excuse me?” Her voice shook with indignation. “Did I hear you correctly? You want me to fix lunches?”

“And coffee,” he said, meeting her gaze for the first time. The fire in those eyes could have seared the paint off old lumber. It certainly sent a jolt through his system.

“What sort of macho head trip are you on?” she demanded. “I’m female, therefore I cook?”

“Works for me,” he said, gathering up the forms that had been filled out and trying not to meet that disconcerting gaze.

“Well, it doesn’t work for me, Mr. Parker. Dinah and Cord talked me into volunteering because they thought I could make a real contribution on this project, and I intend to do just that. I’ll be here on Saturday with my tools. I plan to use them.”

“You want to hammer a few nails after lunch, we’ll talk about it,” he countered. “Make sure there are plenty of sandwiches. Construction is hard work.”

Ms. Maggie Forsythe whirled around and stalked away. Josh had a hunch it was the last he’d see of her. That suited him just fine. The woman spelled trouble. The last thing he needed on this job was some hoity-toity society woman going crazy because she’d broken a fingernail.

Then, again, if she ever wanted to rake those nails down his back, something told him he wouldn’t say no.

“Do you realize that not one single person in that room has ever built anything bigger than a birdhouse?” Josh grumbled when he, Cord and Caleb went out for a beer after the meeting at the church. “How am I supposed to get this house built? I’ll be spending all my time fixing what they screw up.”

“Think of this as your chance to teach others the skills that have made you a great carpenter,” Cord said. “You’ll be sharing your knowledge. It’s a noble endeavor.”

Josh lifted his beer in a mocking toast. “Nice spin. You should go into PR.”

“Thanks, but I’ll stick to working with my hands,” Cord responded. “My brother’s the spin master.”

“All in all, I think it went really well,” Caleb said, appearing more relaxed now that the organizational session was over. “I think it will be exciting to build something substantial and enduring. In the end, despite whatever Winslow has up his sleeve, I think this project will be a unifying thing for the church. How long do you think the house will take to build?”

“With any luck, good weather and at least a few people on-site who are quick learners, Amanda and her kids should be in there by Thanksgiving,” Josh said. “The plans aren’t that elaborate or complicated.”

Cord chuckled.

Josh regarded him with a narrowed gaze. “Okay, what was that for?”

“You’re assuming that everything’s going to go according to the blueprints.”

“Of course I am,” Josh said. “That’s why we have them. What’s your point?”

“Let me ask you this. Did you meet Maggie Forsythe?”

Josh didn’t have to give the question that much thought. “Yeah, we met.”

“I don’t suppose you noticed that she’s … opinionated,” Cord said.

It had been a brief but definitely memorable encounter. “I noticed.”

“She’s bossy,” Cord added meaningfully.

“Doesn’t surprise me a bit,” Josh replied.