Anna thought about what he'd said and knew he was right. Hell, it was what she'd been thinking before he'd mentioned it. It was the perfect time to make some changes in her boring life.
"You're right, dad. It's time I made some drastic changes to my life. I don't know why I haven't done it before now," she said, taking off her work gloves and laying them on the shelf half-way filled with power saws. She enjoyed working in the store because it was an easy way to be apart of small town life, without actually being a part of it.
"That's my girl," he said with relief. "I was hoping you'd at least give it a try. If you hate it, there will always be room with me."
Anna gave her father another hug, but her mind was already thinking of the future. "Can you get our attorney to purchase some property in the area? And have him call Mr. Maguire and set up an appointment for two weeks from Monday. That should be plenty of time for the new me to be presentable."
"Why don't you give Mel a call? I bet she'd like to be a part of the new you, too."
Anna thought of her childhood friend and smiled. Amelia James, was called Mel by everyone except her own mother, and she was Anna's complete opposite. She had a bubbly and outgoing personality that drew in anyone around her and a witty sarcasm that could cut people off at the knees without them knowing it.
She was petite and willowy next to Anna's more statuesque figure and she was in constant motion. Anna realized she'd like Mel's company very much. She'd neglected her friends like she'd neglected herself, but that was about to change as well.
Dylan Maguire sat at his desk and thought about the sexy brunette he saw every week at Hollis Tools. She had a great body that she kept hidden under layers of clothing. The only reason he'd found out the secret of her curvaceous figure was because he couldn't take his eyes off of her when he was in the store, and he'd just happened to catch denim and cotton stretch in strategic places as she reached up to a shelf.
He'd made a stop by the hardware store at least once a week for months to get a glimpse of that sexy body she tried so hard to hide. He'd have to be a saint not to notice a body like hers, lush and round just the way a woman should be. And everybody knew that Dylan Maguire was no saint. He genuinely appreciated all facets of a woman, whether they were twenty or one-hundred twenty, thin or plump, homely or beautiful, they were just fascinating creatures. Of course, one that was twenty might hold his attention for a different reason.
Sometimes he had to make up excuses to stop in Hollis Tools, but it was always worth the trip. He also stopped by for the useful pieces of information he was able to get out of Jack Hollis. Dylan knew the girl was Jack's daughter and that she'd been extremely withdrawn since her mother's death. He also knew Jack was trying to get her to come out of her shell.
Dylan had casually mentioned he was in the middle of his slow season-though the truth was the opposite-just to see if Jack would tell him some more information about Anna. He'd hit a gold mine.
Jack had come up with the idea of Anna getting out on her own, and he thought Dylan was just the person to help her out. Jack would probably have changed his mind if he'd known the only thing he wanted to help Anna out of was her clothes and a good bit of her innocence.
The woman had a body that wouldn't quit, and she'd caused him plenty of uncomfortable nights since he'd first set eyes on her several months ago. Anna was a natural beauty, and there was nothing she could do to hide the fact. He'd spent many a night fantasizing about what it would be like to unravel her braid slowly and run his fingers through her thick hair. He could imagine it curly and untamed, spread out on her pillow as he made love to her gently, and he could imagine it wrapped around his fist as he took her from behind with harsh, fast strokes.
He'd take those horrid glasses off her face that hid the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen and throw them in the trash. He'd seen her staring at him one too many times out of the corner of his eye, and he also knew she was just as attracted to him as he was to her. All he had to do was walk by to feel the sexual tension crackling through the air, and his cock automatically hardened every time he imagined stripping away those layers of clothes she wore like a shield..
His sexual appetite could be voracious at times, and he knew that Anna's shyness could be a problem. But God. . . he hoped she was open to a little adventure. It had been too long since he'd been truly satisfied by a woman.
He heard two knocks before his architect and best friend, Mitchell Casey, walked through the door.
"Whoa buddy, from the scowl on your face am I to assume you're having woman trouble?" Mitchell said, good-naturedly.
"No, you're the only annoyance I'm seeing right now," Dylan said.
"Well, from the size of the boner you're sporting, consider me flattered."
Mitchell just laughed at the obscene gesture Dylan shot him and sat down in the empty chair in front of the desk. "So who's the lucky lady this time?"
"I'm not saying a word," Dylan said adamantly. "I haven't even had a conversation with her yet."
"Ahh . . . Lust at first sight. My favorite."
"You're a degenerate. No wonder you have a hard time finding a date," Dylan said, even though he knew women were practically taking numbers to go out with The Mitchell Casey. He was the ultimate love-em'-and-leave-em' man.
The two of them had become friends in college, and they'd been working together ever since. Mitchell had helped him through his divorce several years ago, and he had helped Mitchell survive after the death of his wife.
Of course, Mitchell had turned into a hardened, cynical man, and it was obvious to everyone but Mitchell that he went through women like water to drown out the pain that was still smothering him. They owed each other a great deal, and they'd decided the best place to start anew was Paradise, Texas. What could be better than that?
The buzz on the intercom brought his thoughts and body under control as he reminded himself that he was at work. His secretary buzzed a second time, and he picked up the receiver ready to get back to the grindstone.
"Yes, Janet," he said.
"Mr. Hollis is on line one. He said that he'd talked to you earlier about building a house for his daughter," Janet said, curious as always.
"I'll take the call on my private line," he said, knowing that would pique her interest even more. He couldn't help having a perverse sense of humor.
Janet Porter was in her early thirties and reminded him of a modern day pin-up girl from the forties. She had bleached blonde hair, a curvy figure and a kewpie doll mouth she kept painted bright red. She was more cute than anything, and he'd always been surprised he'd never been attracted to her, but he knew she was the one that kept the office running smoothly. They'd eventually become friends, and he was satisfied to leave it that way.
"Aha. Jack Hollis. That explains everything," Mitchell said. "The only place you've been today is to Hollis Tools, and I know just the brunette who could put that look on your face. I've never thought much of her face or the frumpy clothes, but she does have the type of body that could make a man crawl."
Dylan looked at Mitchell sharply, warning him with a glance that he'd better stay clear of Anna. "And how would you know anything about her body," Dylan growled.
"I'm a professional observer of all women. Believe me, I know what a woman looks like without her clothes on no matter how much she tries to hide. But don't worry, my friend, I've looked, but she's not my type," Mitchell assured him with a dimpled grin. "I like my women with a little more flash."
Dylan shooed a laughing Mitchell out of the office and answered the phone.
"Mr. Hollis?" Dylan asked.
"Call me Jack, son. I'm glad I caught you in the office. I've talked to Anna, and she's agreed to meet with you and get started on a new place of her own. I thought she'd put up more of a fight, but I hardly had to prod her at all."
He worked fast, Dylan thought to himself. Either that or Anna was more anxious to meet him than he'd thought. Boy how he'd love to be the one to break her of her shyness. He had a whole new world to introduce her to.
"I've had a nice piece of property tucked away that I bought some years ago. It would be the perfect spot for Anna. It's full of trees and a little creek runs along the property line. I'm going to sign it over to her as a surprise."