Lone Star Legacy Read Online Free PDF Page B

charming the socks off easy marks, and it didn’t pay to be careless. On the bright side, he’d be working at the clinic, too, and could keep an eye on her for a while. In fact…
    “You know what, I was just thinking.” He bared his teeth in what he hoped came across as a friendly smile. “I’m looking for more construction work. I could come over Monday morning and shoot you an estimate on your remodeling projects.”
    Definite alarm flared in her eyes. “I…think I’m pretty well covered already.”
    “How far out are those contractors booked?”
    “A—a month or so.” She set her jaw. “Which will work just fine.”
    “That’s a long time to wait,” he said mildly. “And you know those dates are probably very optimistic, in order to snag your business. At least let me take a look.”
    “I don’t think so. She glanced at Walt, who gave her an encouraging smile. “It would probably be a waste of your time.”
    “He does mighty fine work,” Walt said. “Just look at what he’s done so far in the clinic. But of course, I’m probably biased.”
    “I…” She wavered, biting her lower lip. Then her shoulders sagged, and Joel knew she felt trapped by common courtesy to her host—and new boss—to at least let his nephew look at the project. “I…suppose another estimate wouldn’t hurt,” she said after a long pause, her voice noticeably devoid of enthusiasm.
    She clearly didn’t want anything to do with him, and Joel could hardly blame her for that.
    So he was going to make an offer she couldn’t refuse.

CHAPTER FOUR

    “A RE YOU SURE ?” Beth looked down at the paper in her hand with a dubious expression, apparently adding up the numbers a second time. “This is way below the other estimates.”
    Joel shrugged. “Seemed fair enough to me.”
    “B-but the materials. Your time.” She looked up at him and frowned. “Have you actually done much remodeling?”
    “You can check out what I’ve been doing over at the clinic. I also worked my way through college on a construction crew.”
    Joel watched her expressive face as she sorted out what was, in truth, an estimate far below the going rate. He didn’t need the money right now—he’d only started the remodeling work for Walt to fill his time with something worthwhile, though if he stayed in Texas, he might turn it into a business.
    But in this case, he’d wanted to make doubly sure that the client would accept.
    The irony was that perhaps he’d gone too low.
    “Honestly, I hadn’t intended to even consider you, but this estimate is just too affordable for me to pass up,” she said slowly. “I know you’re still working on the clinic, though, and that should come first.”
    He nodded. Either way, she wouldn’t be far out of sight.
    “So how about this—quote me an hourly rate for your labor if I go pick up the materials myself.”
    He suppressed a grin, and again he shot her a low quote—one that barely topped the wage of a convenience store clerk in Dallas.
    “Let’s go one project at a time, then,” she murmured. “If that’s okay with you, then I guess we have a deal.”
    “So…where do you want to start?”
    She led the way from the café into the dark and dingy kitchen. “Once I can get the café up and running, it will help finance the rest of the work, and might also make this place more desirable to buyers.
    “I’ll do the painting.” She tapped her copy of Joel’s estimate. “But all of those old wooden butcher-block counters have got to go. The floor tile needs to be replaced. The vent system is filthy, to say the least. The three-compartment sink leaks. With this low estimate of yours, I’ll be able to afford a small commercial dishwasher, but it will need to be installed.”
    “Not a problem. So tell me,” he added casually, “why are you tackling this whole place on your own? No steady guy around to pitch in?”
    “I…” She turned away and picked up an old teapot. Studied the label