Dawson's Fall (Welcome to Covendale #5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

They’d already erected the frame, and she could see the house would be incredible. Of course, the front yard wasn’t in the best shape right now, but that happened during construction. Once it was landscaped, it would be perfect.
    She parked behind a dark blue sedan at the curb and got out, studying the scene for a moment. A small silver trailer sat near the sidewalk, and there was a folding table with four chairs on the grass next to it. That must be the onsite office. On the whole, the place wasn’t exactly crawling with workers. She could see one figure on a ladder working near the roof, and another way back in the frame.
    Maybe they used a skeleton crew on the weekends. It was a fairly hot day, so not many people would want to work outside in this. Even for overtime.
    She headed for the trailer, and stopped when a pile of two-by-fours started emerging from behind it. Soon the man carrying them was visible—shirtless and heavily muscled, tanned skin glowing with sweat. He was looking toward the house, and she didn’t want to startle him. So she waited.
    He carried the lumber to an oversized wheelbarrow and loaded it in, then grabbed a t-shirt that was draped over one of the handles and mopped the back of his neck. Without turning, he stretched his arms over his head. Aubrey tried not to notice the way his muscles rippled, even though she was practically drooling.
    She decided it had been way too long since her last experience with sexual gratification, and she probably needed a cold shower.
    Finally, the man turned her way. She actually opened her mouth to say hello—and felt the friendly smile on her face freeze as Mark Dawson’s green eyes drilled into her.
    “What the hell are you doing here?” He threw the shirt on the ground and stalked toward her, and she backed away fast. His lip was bruised where Jason had hit him, so that wicked sneer he was sporting must’ve hurt. “This is private property,” he said, stopping scant feet from her. “If you’re looking to get some more kicks in, you’ll have to catch me in public.”
    “Oh, God,” she said. “You work for the company.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “The crew. The contractors Mrs. Vanderbright hired,” she stammered. “You work for them.”
    “Look, sweetheart. I don’t know what you’ve got to do with Mrs. V., but I don’t work for anybody.” His sneer deepened, and he pointed angrily at the trailer. “I am the goddamned company. And you’re on my job site, so leave.”
    Aubrey followed his gesture, and finally noticed the small words stenciled on the front of the trailer. Dawson Construction.
    “No.” She shook her head and took another step back, feeling like she’d just swallowed a mouthful of sludge. This was absolutely not happening. “You can’t be the contractor,” she said. “Mrs. Vanderbright hired a crew. She told me.”
    “That would be my brothers,” he said. “ My crew. So whatever you think you’re doing—”
    “She hired me,” Aubrey said. “Last night. I’m an interior designer, and she hired me to work with her…with the crew.”
    Mark went very still. “What?”
    “I’m supposed to work here.” She tried to swallow, but the rawness in her throat remained. “Until the house is finished.”
    “No.”
    “Hey, I didn’t know she’d hired you. I didn’t even know you were—I mean, that you had a construction company.” The initial shock was finally wearing off, and she could almost breathe again. “But I already agreed to do this, so I guess we’ll have to figure something out.”
    “ No. ” Mark pulled a phone from his jeans pocket and started dialing.
    “Um. What are you doing?”
    “You are not working with us. Period.” He glared at her as he brought the phone to his ear. “So you might as well leave now. You’re fired.”
    Okay, now she was getting a little angry. “You can’t fire me.”
    “Watch me.” He turned his back on her. A moment later, he said, “Mrs. V.? Yes, it’s Mark