Aaron Under Construction

“Will the crew get reassigned to a different project?”

“I’m afraid not.” Juan had several children. Pedro had a wife battling breast cancer and the medical bills were astronomical. Her crew consisted of family men who worked hard to provide for their loved ones. And then there was Aaron. Although she sensed he didn’t need the job the way the others did, she wasn’t ready for him to walk out of her life—not yet.

“What about a community fund-raiser?”

“The people here could never raise the amount of money required to complete construction on the house.”

“Have you considered petitioning local businesses?”

“That’s a possibility. I’ll talk to my boss. Mrs. Benitos doesn’t deserve to live in someone’s basement for an entire year while she waits for a new house.” Helplessness and anger filled her—emotions she hadn’t felt this deeply since her mother and brother had died nine years ago. She ached to cry, an act she rarely indulged in. Hard work, not tears, made a difference in the barrio.

An uncharacteristic tightness gripped Aaron’s chest when Jennifer’s eyes welled with tears. He’d grown up in an all-male household and didn’t have the faintest idea how to deal with a weepy female. After the deaths of his parents, the only tears he and his brothers had ever cried had been from physical pain, never anything sentimental. On occasion, he’d witnessed one of his female employees cry over the death of a loved one or a family member’s illness. But there had always been other coworkers to offer comfort and kind words. He didn’t know what to say or do to help Jennifer feel better.

“I’m sorry.” He put his arm around her shoulder and tucked her against his side.

Rubbing her eyes, she grumbled, “Damn allergies.”

“What should we do with the construction materials lying around?”

“I’ll handle everything. You can pick up your final paycheck at the main office next Thursday.”

“I’m not leaving you with this mess.” He tilted her face, relieved at the gratitude shimmering in her brown eyes.

They spent the next two hours hauling supplies into the house and loading Jennifer’s truck bed with expensive tools. She wasn’t in a talkative mood, which allowed Aaron plenty of time to dwell over the phone call he’d have to make to his grandfather later.

Appearing as if she’d lost her best friend, Jennifer got into her truck. “Thanks for your help.”

“Anytime.” An urge to be her knight in shining armor startled him. Rescuing her sounded an awful lot like that word that gave him the willies—responsibility.

“I’ll be forever grateful to you for saving Juan’s neck.”

“I guess I’m better at saving people than I am at pounding in nails straight.”

Throaty laughter floated through the open window and Aaron wished he could capture the sound and store the seductive musical notes in his pocket. Tonight, alone in his bedroom he’d remove them and let them lull him to sleep.

“All the best to you, Aaron.” She released the parking brake and drove off.

You haven’t seen the last of me yet, Jennifer Alvarado.

Chapter Four

“Hi, Louisa,” Aaron greeted Barrio Amigo’s secretary as he entered the office located in a dumpy strip mall. “I’m here to collect my paycheck.” Even now, Aaron was amazed at how much he’d accomplished in the five days since construction had stopped on Mrs. Benitos’s home. More amazed that he alone had figured out a solution to everyone’s problem.

“Hola, Señor Smith.” Uncurling her slouchy posture, Louisa thrust her double Ds heavenward and waved a check in the air. “Thursday is payday. I have your money right here.”

“Thanks.” He made a grab for the paper slip, but she pulled her arm back.

“You go to happy hour with Louisa after work?” She ran her tongue over cherry-red lips and fluttered her false lashes. The brassy señorita had the act of flirting down to a not-so-subtle art.

“I appreciate the offer, but I have plans.” Plans he hoped Jennifer would agree to. A glance at his watch assured him that the meeting between Jennifer and Barrio Amigo’s top guns should have ended by now. In a few minutes he expected her to prance into the office with a huge smile on her face. And he had every intention of making the most of her good mood.

Jennifer Alvarado. From the first moment he’d laid eyes on her, she’d thrown his thoughts and emotions into a state of constant confusion. Everything he assumed he desired in a woman, needed in a relationship, all of a sudden became muddled.

“Tsk-tsk. Who’s the lucky chica?” Louisa smacked her glossy lips and made a loud kissing sound.

Grinning at the woman’s outrageous behavior, he asked, “Have you considered acting school? With your beauty and…personality—” he sat down on the corner of the desk “—you’d give those Hollywood actresses a run for their money.”

Her eyes glazed over as she gazed into space. “I want to be a soap-opera star.”

“Have you checked into acting scholarships?”

She flickered her false lashes one too many times. The fake lash on her right eye popped loose at the outer corner and lifted toward her brow, giving the right side of her face a permanently startled expression. “Scholarship?” She handed him the paycheck, then stood and cleared her throat. “Listen.” Pressing her fingers to her stomach, she inhaled deeply. “Romeo, oh Romeo, where are you?”

After several seconds of silence, he realized that was all the Shakespeare Louisa had memorized.

Hands perched on her ample hips, she demanded, “What? No good?”

“You were great. But I believe the line goes—’O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?’”

The bell above the door clanged, abruptly cutting off his and Louisa’s laughter. Jennifer stopped mid-stride when she spotted him and flashed a brilliant smile that lit up her whole face. Warmth filled him at the knowledge that he’d been the one responsible for her high spirits.

After the door whacked her backside, she edged farther into the office. When she noticed Louisa behind the desk, her smile dimmed as her gaze shifted between him and the secretary. Interesting.

Ignoring Louisa’s whispered “Ah, the lucky chica,” he devoured Jennifer with his eyes. After five nights of tossing in his sleep because her face, the sound of her husky laughter, even the scent of her herbal shampoo haunted his dreams, he decided he’d never tire of watching her.

Today she wore her raven-colored hair loose. The silky strands brushed her shoulders and gleamed under the fluorescent ceiling lights. Khaki shorts showed off her toned legs, and the bright watermelon-colored T-shirt set her skin aglow. Made him itch to run his finger down her thigh to feel if her skin was as soft as it appeared. “How’ve you been, Jennifer?”

Her smile regained its brilliance. “Fine. As a matter of fact, wonderful.”

“Why you so happy?” Louisa asked.

“Barrio Amigo found a sponsor for Mrs. Benitos’s house.”

Louisa’s false lash inched higher on her lid. “This is good, no?”

The sparkle in Jennifer’s eyes made Aaron fiercely glad he’d discovered a way to fund the project. This past Saturday when he’d left the worksite he’d decided not to phone his grandfather. Instead, he’d contacted his vice president, Steve. They’d batted ideas back and forth and come up with the McKade Import-Export community development program. His staff had wholeheartedly approved of the plan and the accounting department had all but cheered at the tax deduction. The details still had to be ironed out, but the groundwork had been laid.

Excited about his idea, Aaron had been tempted to share the news with his brothers and grandfather, but had stopped short of informing them. They’d only have tried to dissuade him or put their own stamp on his project.

“A local business, McKade Import-Export, has some sort of community fund that channels money out to worthy organizations. Whoever told them about Barrio Amigo is a saint in my book,” Jennifer explained.

Saint? Aaron could hear his brothers’ laughter in his head.

“I’d like to put some sort of dedication plaque on the house honoring this McKade company. And one of their managers should attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony when we turn the keys over to Mrs. Benitos. Louisa, will you take care of that?”

“Sí. I ask for the boss man at the company.”

Aaron’s ambitious plan began to feel like a noose around his neck. He trusted his staff with keeping his identity a secret, but it was only a matter of time before someone mentioned his name. “Back to business as usual, then?” he asked Jennifer.