Free Following Love by Celeste O. Norfleet Page A

promised to be wherever as soon as possible.
    He stood as he hung up. “I’ve got to go. We’ll have to work on this later. But feel free to talk to Darius or Jordan, either will be happy to answer any questions you might have.”
    â€œSure,” she said.
    He walked to the door then turned. “By the way, I got the cookies. Thanks, they were delicious.”
    â€œYou’re very welcome.”
    As he left Dena closed her notebook then turned back to the monitor screen she’d been scanning before he arrived. She sighed, realizing that her focus had been shot. Frowning she cupped her head in her palm and leaned on the desk. What was wrong with her? It seemed that every time she saw Julian her hormones raged like a high-school student on prom night. She needed to do something about it. One way or another she needed Julian Hamilton out of her system.

Chapter 5
    I t was the perfect interruption.
    Ten minutes more in the office with Dena, and Julian was sure he’d need crutches to walk out. He shook his head miserably. His brothers had known exactly what they were doing when they’d hired her. He’d forgotten that it was the start of a calendar quarter and since they each took turns in the office each quarter and it was his turn, he wasn’t sure how long he was going to last.
    And the brilliant idea he had of going into her office stone-faced and aloof disappeared as soon as she’d looked up and smiled. This had to end. There was no way he was going to survive much longer.
    â€œYou’re late,” Ellen said as she met Julian in her driveway with her hand on one hip and the rolled up plans slapping against her leg. “Your crew dropped off some supplies and is long gone.”
    â€œEvening, Mrs. Peyton,” Julian said.
    â€œDon’t ‘Evening, Mrs. Peyton’ me. I called you over two hours ago. You’re losing daylight and you know that I need this grill up and running by next month.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” he said, smiling and shaking his head. He got out of his truck and walked around to the backyard. She followed. He looked around the open space seeing the more than adequate job his crew had done the Saturday before. Gone were the remains of the horrendous cinder-block wall and the hunks of dried cement. The patio, which he had put in a year earlier after another Ellen Peyton disaster, was back to its original state.
    He walked over and bent down, checking the cracks and dents unavoidably left by the heavy machinery. Rubbing his hand over the surface he eyed the level plane. It was as he suspected, he needed to do some prep work before beginning work on the built-in grill station. “Did you see the plans Jordan worked up for you?”
    â€œYes, they’ll do just fine with a few alterations.”
    â€œChanges?” he said, knowing that there would be.
    â€œA few. I had one or two new ideas, but all in all, it was a good start.”
    Julian nodded. “I’ll have him call you or stop by tomorrow if his schedule isn’t too tight.”
    â€œNot necessary, we’ve already discussed my alterations. He sent over revised plans this afternoon.” She unrolled and gave Julian the altered plans. “Mind you, I’ll be happy to do it myself if you’re too busy.”
    â€œNo, not at all, Mrs. Peyton. I’ve already put you on my schedule, but if I get tied up at work either Jordan or Darius will be over to continue the job. We know that you’d prefer working with one of us.”
    She nodded, slightly disappointed that she wouldn’t be more hands-on involved. “Have you eaten yet?”
    â€œThanks, but I grabbed a bite earlier,” he said evasively but with good reason. Many an evening, he or one of his brothers sat in Ellen Peyton’s kitchen enjoying a tasty home-cooked meal after working on something in her home. He headed back to his truck to get his supplies.
    â€œAre you