“See, that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid.”
“Perhaps we need to sit down for this,” Serena said.
Looking over at her, Macy noticed that her assistant was breaking out in a sweat. The last thing she wanted was for Serena to get sick. She had finals coming up soon and she needed all the studying she could get. This was exactly why she wanted the boys here this weekend: because she wanted to give Serena a break.
“Yes, please come in and have a seat.” She stepped aside and waved her hand to the left, toward the parlor area. The hardwood floors echoed with the heavy footsteps of his rather large feet. Duke sat down in the Queen Anne chair and crossed one leg over the other. He filled the chair like royalty. Serena sat beside him on the adjacent matching couch, still batting her eyes at him. Macy stepped into the kitchen first to grab Serena’s glass of juice.
Once everyone was situated, Macy sat down and sighed. “So what is it you’re trying to avoid?”
“Well.” Duke placed both feet on the ground, rested his elbows on his thighs and leaned forward. “You seem to care about Monique, and you are aware Pablo is practically my brother. I just want to do a good job for them. I would hate for Monique lose her viewers due to my stupidity.”
“Aw, you are so sweet,” Serena cooed, leaning forward in her seat. She folded her hands underneath her chin and cocked her head to the side. It looked uncomfortable as she sipped on her juice.
If the girl flirted any more, she’d be sitting in his lap. Macy shook her head at her. Was she really going to believe this? It was a ploy, Macy thought. Somehow, Serena was doing one of her matchmaking schemes. Macy leaned back in the chair opposite him and studied his face.
“I told you, I don’t have time. On top of everything else, two of my employees took off this weekend, which is going to push any time that I have to the limit.”
“What if I paid triple?”
With that, Serena choked on her juice again.
Macy ignored her. “It doesn’t work like that, Duke. I have limited time.”
“Well, technically, you just have the homes tomorrow to do for the ones that are out of town.” Serena offered up the schedule. “Too bad we’re missing our handymen to help out.” She gave Duke a wink. Reaching out, Serena touched Duke’s biceps. “Oh my, what big muscles you have.”
He at least had the sense to blush. “Thank you.”
“Serena.” Macy sent a warning glance at her friend. “Control yourself.”
“What? I’m just pointing out that our usual muscle guys are going to the big game this weekend and I guess they drove down early.”
“So I can help,” Duke said excitedly. “I’m off until Monday, but even still, after that I am done with the morning news by seven. I can help you during the day with your work, and that will free up your time to help me throw my party, right?”
Serena sat back in the couch and grinned, ignoring the evil glare Macy shot her. “Beggars can’t be choosers, Macy. Besides, don’t forget that the boys are going to have exams coming up soon, so they’re not going to be able to help out as much over the next few weeks.”
“No.” Macy shook her head.
“Why not?” Duke asked.
Serena leaned forward and faced Macy, putting her hand over the side of her face so that Duke couldn’t see what she was saying, even though her whisper didn’t do what it was supposed to. “He’s paying triple, Macy. With your new house, the additional sheds you’ve ordered and the two trucks, the money will come in handy. Remember, I do the books...it’d be nice to see a chunk in there.”
“No,” Macy hissed.
“Why not?” Duke and Serena chorused.
“For starters, we typically meet up at four in the morning.”
“Um.” Duke cleared his throat. “I’m doing the morning news. I’m always up at four.”
There was nothing more Macy wanted to do than to protest, but if she did she would only look silly. Monique and Pablo were her dear friends. They were the first people to help her get her business started, by offering free advertising. Every year, she decorated their home for free, just because she felt she owed them. What Duke had done was stupid, but Macy also knew he could be the cause of viewers leaving Monique’s show. She couldn’t let that happen.
She could handle working with Duke. She could handle his cockiness. Lord knew she’d been through worse with Mario. Macy gave Duke a once-over. She still doubted, regardless of his solid six-foot-four frame, that he had ever done manual labor. Had he been on a ladder? Could he string lights? Would he know how to test if one bulb was broken and what to do if it was?
Macy’s mental argument raged on in her head. He’d be more in the way than anything else. And more likely Duke would ask to work inside. If that were the case, she figured he’d sit inside half the time while she stayed outdoors. That would work out perfectly, because then she wouldn’t have to spend too much time with him.
Folding her arms across her chest, she looked at him and reluctantly said, “Fine.”
“Well, that settles that,” Duke beamed. “I’m all yours.”
The pot of coffee finished percolating at the same time someone knocked softly on the door. Macy stopped briefly on the bottom step in the waiting room and glanced at the grandfather clock chiming away at four in the morning. Since the kids were spending Thanksgiving with their father and his family this holiday season, she’d stayed at work last night. She slept in her old bedroom, curled up with anticipation for her day with Duke Rodriguez. Fortunately, Serena was going to act as a buffer.
Macy had awoken thirty minutes ago. And what a wasted thirty minutes it was. Not only had the Wainwrights rejected her latest designs she had bike-messengered over last night, she’d spent the first minutes trying to figure out if each pair of jeans she had in the closet of her bedroom made her look too bulky. When did she ever worry about her clothes? First thing in the morning and Duke already flustered her. Ten minutes ago, she’d settled on a pair of dark-washed jeans, comfy gray furry boots and an oversize long-sleeve gray shirt.
Cutting into the silence of the early-morning hours of the house was another knock. Macy literally stood still until the third knock, still debating whether or not she would greet Duke at the door before or after her first sip of coffee, or even let him in. She decided on the latter and opened the door. Sexy Santa greeted her with his usual ho-ho-ho greeting, which made her grin as she did so.
“Good morning,” she said sweetly. Her fingers twisted the scrunchie wrapped around the doorknob and maneuvered the band to her wrist.
Duke Rodriguez filled the doorway with the essence of a man. Macy braced herself against the door’s frame to stabilize herself from her weakening knees. He wore another pair of well-fitting jeans that hung low enough on his hips, a black V-neck T-shirt and a pair of classic wheat Timberland boots. The front part of his shirt was tucked into his jeans, showing off the obvious silhouette of his washboard abs. His face had a slight morning stubble, which made him look even more rugged. His mouth opened wide as he smiled at her. “And good morning to you!” he said cheerfully.
“I didn’t think you’d really come.” Macy held the door wider. “Come on in, the coffee just finished brewing.” She braced her back against the door, watching