Beneath the Palisade Read Online Free PDF Page A

know what I think.
    “Sure. You’re lucky. You have a clean slate to work with back here. Why don’t you let me know what you’ve been thinking about.” Ian reached down into his pocket to make sure he had his phone. If nothing else came of tonight’s meeting, he was leaving with a picture. A keepsake.
    “Well, I’ve lived here for three years now. The people before me had a large dog they kept back here, and as you can see, the grass has never recovered.” Harper stood in the center of an area of compacted dirt. “I’d like to start with a patio. Maybe a patio with an arbor or some type of structure over it? Vines, would that work?” Harper placed his hands on his hips, drawing Ian’s attention to the ample bulge in his sweats.
    “You mean vines covering an arbor?” Ian needed to be sure he was tracking.
    “Stupid idea?” Harper winced.
    “Not at all. There’re several varieties that are fast growing. I can contract out for the arbor construction, that’s no problem. Before we get too far along, did you have a budget in mind?” He wanted to make sure the client didn’t get worked up over an idea he wouldn’t be able to afford. It happened all the time, and to backtrack away from it was never easy.
    “You mean I have to pay for this?” Harper feigned amazement, wiping an imaginary band of sweat from his forehead.
    I’m sure we could work something out. Positive, in fact.
    “Sucks, doesn’t it?” Ian fought off a brief urge to jump his devastatingly handsome new client.
    Did you just say sucks, doesn’t it? Sucks? Sucks, Ian? Get a grip. This is business.
    “I hadn’t thought about a budget, to be honest. Can we just shoot for the moon, and then if I have to, scale the design down if it gets to be too costly?” Harper returned his hands to his hips and strolled over to the side of the yard facing the street, treating Ian to a marvelous butt shot.
    “You bet!” Ian gave the yard another once-over.
    “What team do you play for?” Harper turned suddenly to face him.
    “Excuse me?” Don’t go there, Ian. Oh, buddy, you don’t want to do that! He fought for control. “I play for the Hornets… in a city league.” When he felt it was safe, he glanced up at Harper to make sure he’d interpreted his question correctly. Never give up hope! He had. “Do you play?”
    “Not since Little League, and I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I love watching baseball. I have it on in the background a lot when I’m working.” Harper reached down and plucked out an early weed.
    “Well, if you’re ever interested in watching, we play at Beecher Fields. They’re just south of the lakes. Regular games are on Wednesday nights. Usually we start about six thirty.” Or we can play catch back here. You know, just you and I.
    “Hey, thanks, I might have to check you guys out.” Harper tossed the weed over his shoulder.
    Okay, that’s enough of the chitchat. Back to business.
    “What else did you have in mind back here?”
    “I was thinking….” Harper strolled across the yard to the far corner.
    Get the phone out. This is the perfect time to take a shot.
    “Can we talk water feature?” Harper turned to face him.
    Snap!
     
     
    “ W HAT the hell is this?” Andy asked, staring at the phone. “Is it part of a shoe?”
    “I know. I’m so bummed. I thought I was holding it at the perfect angle, but it turns out I wasn’t. You won’t believe this guy, Andy. I wanted you to see for yourself. He’s serious hot. A little taller than I am, say five eleven and maybe 175 pounds. He’s our age, late twenties, thirty tops. Great shape. Well, he had on sweats so I couldn’t tell for sure.” Ian was surprised he was getting so carried away, but he was talking to Andy, who was used to it. “But his face, man, his face is so incredible. Chiseled chin, nice five o’clock shadow going on, deep black eyes and jet black hair. I’m not kidding you! The man is hot!”
    “Maybe you should contract this