Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
‘I was referring to the roof,’ he says, looking at me with interest. ‘Why, is there another problem?’ He’s goading me, trying to press my buttons and force a confession out of me – how I can’t stop thinking about him, how my body burns with want for him. He can try all he likes.
‘No, there’s not.’ He knows as well as I do that we have more than a construction problem here, and we need to sort it out quickly. If it can be sorted out at all. ‘What’s your solution?’
‘To which problem?’ he asks seriously.
I breathe in a patience-building shot of air. And maybe a resistance-strengthening one too. ‘My roof problem,’ I clarify, keeping my face straight and serious.
‘Oh, that problem.’ A sick smile ghosts his lips, a knowing smile.
‘This isn’t funny, Jack.’
‘I’m not laughing, Annie.’ He points to his car. ‘I think I have a solution to our roof problem. I’ll show you.’
I look to his car, as wary as I should be, and back to Jack. ‘Show me what?’
‘A project we undertook last year. A museum.’ I frown, and he goes on. ‘The structure wasn’t adequate to take the roof.’
My back straightens. ‘And what did you do?’
He sighs tiredly, stepping back to give me space. ‘Let me show you?’ He’s not begging, but he’s not far from it. ‘I want to see your roof come to life as much as you do, Annie. I want to help you.’
I try to read his body language, try to figure him out, totally torn. I don’t know whether he’s purposely trying to entice me, or whether he genuinely wants to help me. But there’s only one way to find out.
‘I’ll follow you there,’ I say, hoping I’m not making a huge mistake.
The drive takes a good twenty minutes, me tailing his silver Audi in my Golf, and the whole time my mind is batting back and forth between my work problem and my personal problem. Every time I think work, though, Jack overpowers those thoughts and I find my mind reeling with so many questions. Questions about his wife, their relationship, the so-called rumours about her. But as quickly as those questions pop into my head, they go when I remind myself that it’s none of my business or concern. Focus, Annie. Focus on work.
I pull up behind Jack outside an Edwardian-style building and join him on the pavement. ‘This?’ I ask, looking up at the stone façade.
‘It’s at the rear.’ He wanders ahead, leaving me to follow. ‘This way.’
I make my way around the back of the building, keeping my distance, finding myself in a beautifully manicured garden. ‘This is a museum?’ I ask, taking a few steps towards the face of the building.
‘Dedicated to a local artist who died in the fifties.’ Jack points upwards, and I follow his indication to look at the roof. ‘It’s not glass, but it’s pretty hefty.’
‘And how did you support it adequately?’
Jack moves to a window and points inside. ‘Come here.’
I make my way over, curious, and join him at the window, but my height prevents me from seeing through the raised glass. ‘I can’t . . . oh!’ I’m lifted from my feet and presented to the window. ‘Jack!’
‘See that back wall?’ he asks, ignoring my panicked screech.
I try to numb myself to the feel of his big hands on my waist, looking through the window. ‘Yes,’ I practically squeak.
‘That was where the building ended. The original wall was too old and weak to sustain the pitched roof of the extension, so we basically demolished it and rebuilt it with a double skin using reclaimed stone. It meant no support columns had to be used, so the space remained open.’
‘And you think we could do the same on Colin’s project?’ I ask, trying not to let my excitement get the better of me before we know for sure.
‘We’ll need to have the structural engineer confirm it.’ He lowers me to my feet, moving his hands away. I faff with my dress in an attempt to look unaffected by the fact that his big hands had me held at that window with absolutely no effort. ‘But I can’t see there being a problem at all.’
I lose the ability to contain my excitement, looking up at him. ‘Really?’
Jack smiles brightly, and this time it’s that full-blown, gorgeous Jack smile. ‘You’re back on track, Annie.’
Forgetting myself completely, totally overcome with relief and a ton of other emotions I dare not analyse, I launch myself at him, so bloody grateful for his help. ‘Thank you,’ I breathe, squeezing his shoulders.
His strong arms lock around my whole body and lift me from the ground, his face sinking into my neck. ‘Any time,’ he replies softly.
It would be appropriate to detach ourselves from each other right about now, yet neither of us shows any signs of releasing the other, both of us content to remain locked together. I can feel his heart beating, his chest pulsing into mine, and his smell, pure and Jack, takes over my senses completely. I begin to succumb to every intoxicating element of Jack Joseph, feeling myself weakening where I’m held in his arms.