Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

incredible home, but it was definitely something that paid well.
    “Sophie, I’d like you to meet Jamie. Jamie’s on site each day. He’s responsible for all of the construction.”
    Sophie smiled at the tall man walking toward her. “Hi, Jamie. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you.”
    His unsmiling face relaxed into an almost friendly gaze. “It’s nice to meet you. Ryan tells me you’ve done some interior painting. Have you ever used an electric spray gun?”
    Sophie shook her head. “The only painting I’ve done has been with a brush, but I’m happy to learn.”
    “That’s good to know, but we’ll start you on something else.” Jamie looked across at Ryan. “Take Sophie into the room you’ve finished undercoating. She can put the plastic sheeting over the windows and doors before we start spray painting. I’ll be in here if you need me.”
    He looked at Sophie. “If you need to use the bathroom, use the one that’s attached to the second bedroom. Ryan will show you where everything is. If you use any tools, put them back after you’ve finished with them. Trash goes in the bins and isn’t left lying around. Come and see me when you’ve finished and I’ll give you something else to do.”
    He started to leave the room, then stopped. “It’s good to have you working with us.”
    Sophie didn’t know whether to be grateful for the job she’d been offered, or worried about what would happen next. She couldn’t blame Jamie for being less than enthusiastic about her being here. But she was determined to show him that she could make a difference.
    “Come with me,” Ryan said as he walked toward the far end of the room. “This area is going to be an open-plan kitchen and dining room. Jamie is lining the walls so we can paint everything at the same time. The flooring contractors are arriving soon to sand and varnish the wooden floors. After that, the kitchen joinery will be installed and the plumbing finished. We’re on a tight time-frame so another pair of hands is appreciated.”
    “I don’t think Jamie is impressed that I’m here.”
    “Don’t worry about Jamie. He expects perfection. As long as you get close to that, he’ll be happy.”
    Sophie put a hand on Ryan’s arm. “I’m not perfect,” she whispered. “What if I do something wrong and it can’t be fixed?”
    “We’ll start off small and work up to the big stuff. Jamie doesn’t expect you to know everything.” He went into a room off the kitchen and picked up some plastic sheets. “You take these ones and I’ll take the others. I’ll show you how to hang them.”
    Sophie took the plastic sheets and followed Ryan up the stairs. There wouldn’t be many genetic microbiologists who worked as a laborer in their spare time.
    Except this wasn’t her spare time. It was the only life she had for the next few months.
     
    ***
    Sophie ran a critical eye over the last bedroom she’d been working in. The plastic sheeting was firmly attached to the architraves around the windows and doors. There was no way the spray paint would hit anything it wasn’t supposed to.
    “Good job.” Ryan walked across to one of the windows and ran his hand along the edge of the tape. “Danny’s heading downstairs for a break. How about we follow him? You can put more plastic sheets in the rooms downstairs after we’ve had a drink.”
    “Okay,” Sophie said. She felt a strange sense of pride at the work she’d finished. It wasn’t rocket science, but it had made Ryan’s life easier by doing a good job. “What color are you painting the walls and ceiling?”
    “Arctic White ceilings and Ocean Breeze walls. I’ll show you the paint samples when we get downstairs.”
    Danny met them on the landing. “How’s the rookie going?” he asked with a grin.
    “Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a walk-in closet are all ready for painting,” Sophie said with pride. “They’ve just been given the seal of approval by