Everywhere and Every Way(14)

Her, crouched over that magnificent chest. Revealing each hard, carved  muscle inch by inch, while she flicked open button after button with her  teeth.

Lord have mercy.

Morgan jumped up from the chair in a fake flurry of activity. "Well,  this has been quite productive! I'll sign off on the finalized plans and  meet y'all back on-site."

Caleb stood up with a frown. "I want to walk the property with you first. We can drive over in my car."

"I'll take her."

Dalton also stood up. His manner was easygoing, with a charming smile  curving his lips. But the moment the words left his mouth, the  temperature in the room dropped like a faulty elevator. She glanced back  and forth, but there was some silent communication going on that she  had no clue about.

"No need. I'm sure you have some wood to take care of. Elsewhere."

Huh?

Dalton curled his lower lip in a sneer. "Actually, I don't. My schedule is wide-open. I'd be happy to accompany Ms. Raines."

Brady cleared his throat. "Umm, guys?"

Caleb leaned over the desk. "I think it would be better if I took her.  You can work on another . . . project that needs your attention."

Tristan bowed his head and groaned. "Not now, okay? I have a headache."

Dalton groaned with disgust. "I never took your wood! I'm tired of  repeating the same story over and over. I was trying to protect you. You  picked the wrong wood."

Caleb bristled. "No, I didn't."

"The wood was faulty, but you were too stubborn to see it!"

"It was mine!"

Morgan's mouth dropped open. This was the strangest family business  she'd ever been involved in, but it was too late, and she had to deal  with what she got. The pseudo-symbolism was also off the charts, because  it was obvious they were talking about some woman. With men, it always  revolved around women and sex.

Tristan sent her a beseeching look of apology and stood with the rest of  them. "Enough of the Full House repeats, okay? I'll escort Ms. Raines  to the property. You two hotheads cool off."         

     



 

"Mind your own business, Tristan," Caleb growled.

"I'd like to, but since I'm stuck here when I'd rather be anywhere else, I think I get a say. At least this time."

Morgan briefly wished for Dr. Phil to help figure things out.

"Playing the blame game again? You win, Tristan. I failed you, like you consistently remind me. Can we move on?"

"I have, you egomaniac!" Tristan hissed.

Caught between horrified laughter and sympathy for the brothers, who  were definitely not a unit, Morgan took a deep breath, ready to stop the  brawl threatening to explode right in the fancy conference room. Until a  booming voice that brooked no argument cut through the air.

"May I have everyone's attention?"

Everyone turned toward the curvy redhead framed in the doorway. Sydney  pushed the no-nonsense gold glasses up the bridge of her nose and glared  with the fierceness of a pissed-off mama bear ready to corral her  naughty cubs. She jabbed a finger at them in time to her words. "I. Am.  Sick. Of. This. Behavior. I told you before, if you want to take  potshots at each other, do it at home, not in my office. It's my safe  haven. Got it?"

Morgan watched the four strapping men meekly nod.

Sydney relaxed and gave her a dazzling smile. "Good. Now, let's  apologize to Ms. Raines for the interruption and move onward. Caleb, can  you please meet us outside in ten minutes to escort Ms. Raines-"

"Please, everyone, call me Morgan."

Sydney nodded. "-escort Morgan to the property. Dalton, you have an  appointment in half an hour to talk to Ms. Ferguson about new cabinetry.  Brady, let's get these revised plans finalized. Tristan, you have a ton  of phone messages you refuse to return, and I'm running out of excuses.  Let's get to work, gentlemen."

Morgan noticed how her voice seemed to trip over Tristan's name. She  also averted her gaze slightly, as if looking full into his face was a  problem. Interesting. Tristan shifted his feet and didn't look at her  directly, either.

Unfortunately, she had no further time to delve deeper because Sydney  motioned her out, and Morgan trailed behind her. She was led back down  the hall and into a full kitchen that held all the standard appliances, a  high black granite bar with red stools, and an array of foodie toys: a  soda machine, an espresso maker, a juicer, and an old-fashioned popcorn  maker. She grabbed a tall glass from the counter and poured from a  pitcher of water infused with cucumbers and mint, then handed her the  glass.

"Drink. You probably need it after that display. I apologize."

Morgan drank, smiling gratefully at the cool, clean flavors as the  liquid slid down her throat. "Delicious. Thanks. Do they always act like  that?"

Sydney wrinkled her pert nose and sighed. "Sometimes. They haven't  worked together in a long time, so there's some growing pains. But don't  worry, their bickering will never interfere with their work or effort.  Pierce Brothers is the best you can get."

"Have you worked for them a long time?"

Sydney laughed. "You mean because I feel comfortable yelling at them?  Guilty as charged. I lived right down the road, so I grew up with their  family. Started working for them when I was eighteen and never stopped."  A faint shadow darkened her face, and Morgan wondered at her obvious  secrets. "They had a falling-out years ago, but after Christian passed,  they decided to run the company together again. This project will be  good for them, especially after meeting you."

"Why?"

Sydney laughed. "You won't take their crap. You also know exactly what you want, but you're willing to listen to other ideas."

Morgan cocked her head. "How do you know all this? Come to think of it,  how did you hear everything in the conference room when it's all the way  down the hall?"

The mischief lurking behind those amber eyes glinted to life. "My office  is over there." She pointed to the other side of the hallway. "I bugged  the conference room."

Morgan choked on the next sip of water. "Excuse me?"

Sydney winked. "Trust me, it's better this way. They have huge hearts  but can use a little looking after. They're also pretty brilliant, which  you'll find out. I hope we get to spend some time together while you're  here. Where are you staying?"

"The Hilton." Morgan smiled. "And yes, I'd really like that. Something  tells me it'll be a huge advantage to have you in my corner."

They were both laughing when Caleb poked his head in, a fierce frown  marking his brow. "Are we ready? Or do you want me to get you both a  Disney teapot for tea time?"         

     



 

Sydney rolled her eyes. "Only if you play Prince Charming."

The joke hit Morgan right in the funny bone. She burst into laughter at  Caleb's astonished face, as if he suspected Morgan had confided in her  assistant about his secret nickname. Without waiting for Sydney's  questions, Caleb grumbled something under his breath and practically  stomped out the door. Morgan followed, cramming her fist against her  mouth to stifle her mirth.

Oh, yeah. She was going to like having a friend around here.


So, the little hellcat was amused, was she?

He'd need to make sure Sydney and Morgan didn't get buddy-buddy. God  help them all if they hooked up, because they both had a bit of spitfire  brewing beneath the polished surface. Together, they'd be worse than  Thelma and Louise.

Still, her outbreak of giggles had done a funny thing to his chest. He  usually hated that sound, but on her it was kind of charming. He never  would have pegged the woman even able to giggle, she was so serious.  She'd held herself like an expert at the meeting, pushing his respect  for her knowledge even higher. It was rare to meet a woman who could  talk wood, design, and property features without falling asleep. Sure,  they all thought they were experts because they liked the HGTV channel,  or those two brothers they all sighed over, but most couldn't handle the  reality of the day-to-day. Soon he'd find out if she held the stamina.

"I like your team," she said, breaking the silence. "Am I going to have to worry about who has better wood?"

He spit out a laugh. Damn. How could such a reserved woman have a wicked  sense of humor? It was a total contradiction. "No. I can't promise you  there won't be outbreaks, but it won't affect the job. You have my  word."

"I'll need more than that. I don't care if you beat each other up after  work, just as long as we meet deadline and hold strict quality control."

Embarrassment rushed through him. He hated that she had to be a witness  to their dirty laundry, but it was his fault for losing his temper. He'd  literally flipped out when Dalton offered to drive her. It wasn't so  much the words he said as it was the look of intention carved on his  face. His brother loved to play, and females fell to their knees to  worship him for some strange reason. Yeah, the guy was good-looking, but  he went through women faster than those Hershey bars he was addicted  to. Cal did not want him ruining this job by making a pass at Morgan  just 'cause he was bored. She deserved more than that. Hell, if anyone  was going to try to seduce her, he'd be first in line. At least he'd  take more care than his brother. A lot of care. Preferably long, heated,  naked hours spent in tangled sheets with a lot of screaming.