Teresa Southwick - Her McKnight in Shining Armour

“You and Jill must have hit it off.”

“We did. She even invited me to the wedding, since it’s going to be right there on their property by the lake where I’ll be living.” A smile lit up her face like the town square at Christmas. “C.J.’s actually the one who insisted I had to come to the ceremony, because he’s wearing a tuxedo. That little guy of hers is just as cute as can be.”

“The kid is something else.”

“Anyway,” she continued, “I was relieved to find something, and the silver lining is that it’s more homey than a hotel.”

“It has great views of the lake and mountains.” Right now Alex had no complaints about his view. Ellie Hart sure did brighten up a drab, boxy, portable construction trailer.

“A definite plus. But now...” Her tone turned regretful. “Y’all have been so nice, but I need to make up for bein’ late on my first day. It’s not the way to make a good impression. Time for me to get to work.”

She’d made an impression all right. Time would tell whether or not it was good. And as testy as he’d been about her tardiness, he couldn’t believe he was going to say this. “Look, if you need time to settle and unpack, take it.”

“That’s really sweet, but...” She shook her head. “There’s a lot to do, and the foundation’s being poured tomorrow. I need to check the fittings for the bearing walls and go over the next phase of the project.”

“I already did that. So, unless you want changes—but I can’t see why—the plans are good,” he said. “Really good.”

“Thank you for sayin’ so.” She allowed herself a small smile. “But I don’t want to leave anything to chance.”

“I respect that.” He waited for her to respond, but she focused on her computer.

Finally she looked up. “Was there something else?”

“Just one thing.” He folded his arms over his chest. The guy who’d been told he could charm the bloomers off a man-hating spinster had been sucked in by her charm, because he couldn’t believe he was going to say this, either. “You were a couple of hours late through no fault of your own. It’s okay to cut yourself some slack.”

“All due respect, that’s not how I see it.” She met his gaze. “I’m a woman in a traditionally male occupation.”

“If you’re worried about gender bias, don’t be.”

“Y’all are a man, and you can’t really understand why I have to earn respect.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s my responsibility to plan, design and oversee the construction of the clinic to make sure it’s functional, safe, economical and environmentally friendly. It has to meet the needs of the people who work there and everyone who uses it.”

“In my opinion, you left nothing to chance.”

Alex had studied in detail the final construction plans, and he was impressed with her attention to local and state building codes, zoning laws and fire regulations.

“It never hurts to check and double-check. If alterations need to be made, the sooner the better. Otherwise the project could go over time and over budget. And everyone will be checking and watching just a little closer because I’m a woman.”

That was why he was checking her out, and it was no consolation that he hated himself for it. Obviously she wouldn’t want to hear that. So, he tried to put himself in her shoes, which wasn’t easy since they were four-inch heels.

“I see where you’re coming from, Ellie, but I’ve been in the building business for twenty years. Fetching, carrying and learning the trade while I was in high school. In college they actually let me use tools,” he added, gratified when his self-deprecation earned a smile. “Eventually I started my own company in Southern California.”

“I thought you lived here in Blackwater Lake,” she said.

“I do. About two years ago I opened a branch of the business here.”

“Why?” She seemed genuinely interested.

To answer her fully would require him to reveal details about his personal life, and that was something he wasn’t prepared to do.

“This town is a diamond in the rough. Word is spreading outside of Montana that it will be the next Aspen or Vail. It has a lot to offer recreationally during the winter and summer. Clean air and water make it an ideal place for a vacation home or settling in for retirement. There’s going to be a building boom, and I wanted in on that.”

“So y’all are ambitious and career-oriented.”

“Yes.” Partly because he no longer had a family, and work kept him too busy to think about all he’d lost.

“Good. I feel the same way.”

He nodded his approval. “Already we have something in common.”

“I’m tickled y’all understand where I’m comin’ from.”

“I do. It’s nice to know we’re both on the same page.” And there was one more thing. “How about a drink tonight after work at—”

She held up a hand. “I need to stop y’all right there.”

Maybe if he explained. “It’s a McKnight Construction custom to buy the architect a drink on the first day of a new job. For luck. Call me superstitious.”

The corners of her mouth curved up, showing off dimples and the delicate shape of her lips. But the smile didn’t make her eyes sparkle this time. “I’m goin’ out on a limb here and say that y’all don’t often work with a female architect.”

“You’d be right. What gave me away?” he asked.

“Again—out on a limb, but I’m willin’ to bet that means y’all don’t usually flirt with your architect.”

“You’re wrong about the flirting. This is just me being friendly.” Did that sound as smarmy to her as it did to him? He really didn’t mean it that way. “It’s sort of like pouring a solid foundation that sets the tone for a good working relationship.”

“Yes. Until it’s not.”

“You’re saying the male/female work dynamic complicates things.”

“I am.” Conviction and determination made the Southern drawl even thicker. “You have my word that our working relationship will be just fine during regular business hours and won’t suffer at all for lack of alcoholic beverages afterward.”

The thing was, in theory he agreed with her, but in reality he really did buy a drink for his architect on the first day of a new job. Considering his strong reaction to Suellen Hart, he should have been grateful that she’d turned him down flat.

“Whatever you want.” He stood and started to walk away. “But for the record, Ellie? ‘No first-day drink’ means I am treating you differently.”

“Understood. And, Alex?”

He turned. “Yes?”

“I need to put something out there.”

“Okay.”

“I’m not being rude, just honest.” She took a deep breath. “Don’t let the short skirt and Southern accent fool you. I’m not anyone’s idea of a magnolia blossom. I don’t wilt or have the vapors. I’m smart and I can do this job as well or better than any man. And that’s what I intend to do. One bad experience can set a career back, and that’s not going to happen to me.”

Again. She didn’t say it, but the word hung in the air between them. Offhand he’d guess someone at work had hit on her, it didn’t go well and her professional reputation had suffered. Getting a good recommendation from the firm after that would be next to impossible and could account for the twelve-month gap in her work history.

“All right. Duly noted, Ellie.”

“Okay. Good.” She turned her attention back to the computer and tuned him out.

Alex returned to his corner and realized his hot female architect had finally arrived, but now his problem was worse. He needed a woman more than ever, and he made a mental note to take this itch away for a long weekend, somewhere no one knew him.