The days went by faster than she realized.
Zoe was amazed when the final week of renovations arrived. The painting would be done over the weekend and she was closing the library due to the fumes.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Nate talking to her assistant. The small redhead listened intently but they were too far away for Zoe to read their lips. After a few minutes, Beth shook her head and headed for Zoe’s office.
Every morning since construction began, Beth entertained her withoohsandaahsabout the good-looking construction staff. She was a few years older than Zoe and married to her high school sweetheart.
She explained, “I ogle. There’snothingwrong with ogling.”
Zoe understood. Nate and his men were excellent at what they didandnice to look at.
Appearing in her office doorway, Beth made a funny face. She always spoke clearly, so her boss could read her lips. “Nate wants to speak to the person who designed the actual space.” Zoe frowned and her assistant shrugged. “He said he appreciates my help but needs to talk to the big boss.” She added, “There’s an issue in the children’s area on the first floor he wants you to see for yourself.”
Zoe gazed across the library. The levels extended around the edges with the center section open to the first floor. Nate stared at her with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.
Nodding, she left her office and walked in his direction. His longer legs beneath the kilt chewed up the distance between them.
“Hi, Nate.”
“Zoe, how are you?” She signed that she was fine and he looked her over closely from head to toe. She fidgeted, suddenly self-conscious in her standard work attire. “Why haven’t I worked with you directly during the project?”
“I stay behind the scenes.” The excuse fell flat.
For a long moment, he didn’t respond. “Were you always shy or just since your accident?”
How perceptive.
Zoe hid her surprise. His expression was gentle and it was hard to reconcile with how big he was.
“I was always very shy. Losing my hearing made it worse.”
* * *
Nate wondered why someone didn’t tell this womanevery dayhow lovely she was. He looked forward to the day when she could approach him without feeling nervous.
He’d suspected from the beginning that she was the mastermind of the ingenious library makeover, but had only communicated with the assistant librarian throughout the course of the job.
“This has been one of the smoothest jobs I’ve ever done. Your requests for bid were concise and detailed. You made a decision in twenty-four hours and haven’t killed us with change orders.” His smile was slow. “I wish every client was as capable and considerate.”
He waited for her to milk the compliment and got nothing but a light blush as Zoe twisted her fingers together.
“I wanted to speak to you about the children’s area on the first floor. There are the beginnings of dry rot and what may be termite damage on the dividing wall to the teen section. There’s a large bookcase on the opposite side and it could eventually cave if anyone leans on it.”
“Oh no!” She was instantly worried.
“Will you come down and take a look at it with me?”
She nodded without hesitation. He gestured for her to lead and followed her to the stairs. At the landing, he touched her forearm lightly and she glanced up.
Prettiest brown eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Have coffee with me when you finish today. Say yes and put me out of my misery.” Her blush intensified. She rolled her eyes as if there was no wayshecould inspire misery and shook her head. “When such a lovely woman rejects me again and again, I have to wonder if it’s me.” She tilted her head. “Just coffee. I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”
Tugging her lower lip between her teeth, she gave him a careful nod and he grinned.He kept the fist-pump of victory in his head.
She turned and continued to the children’s area Beth told him Zoe redesigned when she arrived. Everyone in town loved the bright and colorful transformation.
“This section was designed to be aesthetically pleasing but the contractor who did the work didn’t use good materials.” Nate crouched near the wall and watched her eyes settle on the portions of his legs that were bare beneath the kilt. He was careful to hide how her attention pleased him. “Look at the bottom six inches of wood.”