“Excuse me, Mr. Preston. Jax would like to see you in his office.” Alexandra Cassle, or Alex, as she preferred to be called, pasted on her most beautiful smile. Now there was a woman who never had to diet. Alex could eat a full plate of fettuccini smothered in Alfredo sauce every day of the week, and it would never affect her slender figure in the least.
Ellie struggled to keep her thoughts Christian.
Watching Cole look Alex over with appreciation, Ellie expected him to start foaming at the mouth at any moment, just like every other male who entered the office. She watched the scenario with interest, wondering if Jax knew he might have some competition. After all, Jax and Alex had been dating for, what, six months now? This little scenario could have real humor potential.
“Thank you. I’ve been there, but would you mind showing me where it is once more?”
Alex swung her thick chestnut waves behind her shoulders, batted her lashes a couple of times and let out a feminine chuckle.
Ellie stared in awe—at a true master at work.
“I’d be glad to, Mr. Preston. Just follow me.”
“Please, call me Cole.” His voice faded down the hall as he walked away without so much as a backward glance.
Yes, real potential, indeed.
Ellie mentally shook off the thought and shrugged. Maybe she was just jealous because she didn’t know how to hook a man. Her thoughts stopped abruptly. What was she thinking? Hook a man like that! The very man who had stolen her job promotion? Her dreams? Her future?
She started to move and heard a crunch. Only then did she remember the puddle of broken crockery.
Cole settled into the cranberry leather chair across from Jax’s desk. Alex walked out the door, closing it behind her.
Cole let out a low whistle and smiled at Jax.
“Careful, that’s my woman, you know.”
Cole raised his eyebrows and hid a smile behind a drink of coffee. “You two serious?”
Jax shrugged. “Alex is a nice girl. I’m not sure that it’s serious, but I’m not ready for someone else to cut in.”
Cole held up his hands. “You’ll get no problem from me. I’ll have my hands full just learning this business and trying to keep your best employee happy.”
Jax laughed. “You mean Ellie?”
Cole whistled and rolled his eyes. “She’s got her hackles up, that’s for sure. Why didn’t you warn me? It’s obvious she wanted to be your partner.”
Elbows on the desk, Jax dropped his chin into his hands. “I know. But she just wasn’t ready for the responsibility.” He thought a moment and leaned back in his chair, plopping his feet on his desk. “Now, don’t get me wrong, Ellie works hard. But, well, I’m not sure she could handle all the aspects of the job.” He looked away a moment. “I didn’t mean to hurt her, though. She’s not only my best employee, she’s also a good friend. I should have warned her.” He turned back to Cole. “Then she wouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“Yeah, thanks a lot.”
“I think you can handle yourself.” Jax smiled. “As I told you, I’m taking some classes with an eye to teaching at the local college eventually. Right now, I need the business to help fund my education, but one day I’m hoping to be able to sell it, when I’ve completed the education requirements and when the right buyer comes along.
“That means I need someone like you for the position, with more experience and a more forceful personality. Ellie’s too nice to deal with some of those tough guys on the home sites. And I just don’t think she could handle it alone.”
Cole piped up. “Remember, this is a trial thing. I’m not sure I’m ready for a lifetime commitment. We’re just trying this thing out, right?”
“I know all about you and commitments. That’s why you’re not married.” Jax laughed.
“And your excuse is?”
Jax shrugged. “Seriously, Cole, I appreciate you at least giving this job arrangement a chance. The business needs someone like you. We both know your reputation. You’re not afraid to let someone go, if need be. You’ve got a good business head on your shoulders.” Jax twirled a pencil between his fingers. “Lucky for me, the advertising company in Chicago had a corporate takeover. When you told me you’d lost your job, this seemed the perfect fit. For both of us. Of course, I know you’ll miss the adventure, the travels, the million-dollar clients.”
Cole shrugged. “Those things have their place. But they come with headaches, too. I’m ready for a change.”
Jax lowered his feet to the floor, laid the pencil on his desk, and picked up his coffee. “I’m glad to hear that. I was hoping you could manage to stick around long enough to make some money here.” Jax winked before sipping his drink.
Cole shrugged. “Okay, so I’m not exactly Stanley Stability. You don’t have to go into my sordid past. I’m turning over a new leaf. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accepted.”
Jax cocked an eyebrow. “So, why the sudden change of heart?”
Cole looked toward the window. “I’m not sure. Just feels like this is right, you know?”
“Good. I knew I was taking a risk when I asked you. I’d hoped you would stay.” Jax quickly added, “But I understand it’s a trial thing. No promises.”
Cole nodded.
A knock on the door caused them to turn.
“Come in,” Jax said.
Ellie stepped inside and paused. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you had someone still with you.”
Jax perked up. “No, no, come on in, Ellie.” He stood and walked over to her.
“I need to be going, anyway,” Cole said.
Jax closed the door then turned to them. “No, I need to talk to both of you, won’t you sit down?”
Cole settled back into his chair, and Ellie sat down in the remaining one beside him. Jax returned to his seat. “We’re going to be working closely together. All of us.” Jax looked at them in turn. “Cole’s going to relieve me of some of my responsibilities out on the job sites.”
“But, I—”
Jax held up his hand. “I know you’ve been doing that, Ellie, but it’s too much for one person. Of course—”
“Too much for one person, Jax? Have I not handled things well by myself? Remember the Ollis job? Didn’t I come through for you when there was a mix-up with the contractors? How about the Person house, didn’t I handle the cabinetry problem without your help?”
“Well, yes, Ellie, you did, but—”
“Then I don’t see why we need to change things. We were handling situations just fine before. Why the change? Why couldn’t you leave things as they were? It makes no sense, Jax.” Her eyes flashed, she straightened in her chair. “Just last week, wasn’t I the one who wouldn’t give up when—”
Jax held up his hand to silence her, but anger wouldn’t shake her free.
“—the Mills were—”
“Ellie.”
“—angry about the—”
“Ellie.”
“—foundation crack? Didn’t I put in extra hours to get that matter settled? And when—”
“Ellie, enough.” Jax’s eyes pinned her. “As I was saying, Cole will oversee things, and he’ll need you to carry out assignments that he can’t do.”